Amador ledger., 1903-12-04
THAT DEER ITEM.
The dear people get an experience how
trifes are sometimes magnified into
mountains to suit whimsical notions
The deer law is interpreted to
mean a dear law

The Ledger of last week created 4
stir among the ranks of those who seem
to imagine that laws are intended for
the medium of the qualification of per-
sonal whims, rather than the safe
guards of individual and public rights.
An item appeared, acknowledging the
receipt of mess of venison, and the
item unwittingly stated that the deer
was killed ''last week" in the neigh bor-
hood of Hams station. The editor of
the Ledger is not in the hunting bust
ness. He does not charge his mind
with the date upon which the close
season for deer or any other game be-
gins or ends. He might have posted
himself by looking at the game law
kept right in front Of him. He didn't
do so, and thereon hangs d tale. OF
his own motion he fixed the date of the
killing as last week." as being near
enough for newspaper purposes. Now
the open season for deer expired on the
lst of November. So it came to pass
that when the wise men read the Led
ger they jumped stiff-legged at this
item. A few paused long enough to
think that there might be joker be-
hind it. They argued that no man in
his right senses would send deer meat
to the editor for complimentary notice
and at the same time tell him it was
killed out of season. Persons engaged
in unlawful pursuits do not usually ad-
vertise themselves in that way. Be-
sides this, the scene of the killing was
laid in the neigh borhood of Hams STA
tion, and some were disposed to look
suspiciOusly at it on that account
There was a memorable cow killing af-
fair in that locality not long ago, and
an equally memorable misft law suit
growing out of that transaction, which
has not altogether faded from recol-
lection. However, they concluded to
chances OF being chased by the ghost
of the COW, or STUN bling over it's car
cass in the attempt. The fact that
woke them to action more than any,
thing else was the Ledger editor ac-
kDowledged having partaken of the
meat, and the law says that any person
having such in his possession between
November and August is,gulty of mis-
demeanor. Why, the Ledger man was
convicted out of his own mouth.
A meeting of the local fish and game
association was called last Saturday
evening to consider the weighty mat
ters involved. 1t wouldn't do to let
the thing default. 1t had been sent
broadcast over the state that piece of
venison had been corraled by the Led
ger office. The matter was too fragrant
to be overlooked. The editor was told
by street tatlers that he was to be ar
rested for violating the game law. No
explanation was wanted, although it
was easily obtaina ble A vehicle was
hired and the guardians of the game
law hied away up the mountains on this
sacred mission. Upon their return, the
excitement had cooled down to zero.
The report was current on the street
that this dear deer had been Slaughter
ed in the expiring days of October, and
the meat kept during the interval so
as to make it more palatab BILE. For this
precious piece of information, which
might have been suggested right here
in jackson, the county treasury will
probably be called upon to dig up for
costs.
Why grasp at the shadow, and miss
the substances; looking at the letter
rather than the spirit of the law.