Amador ledger., 1904-01-01
DETECTIVE WORK.
A Bit of INSIDE History in the Deer
Meat Comedy.

AS tending to show the animus under
lying the miscalled prosecution of the
editor of the Ledger for alleged viola
ton of the game laws, in ack nowledging
the receipt of venison in his columns,
we deem it not out of place to ventilate
little matter connected Herewith. If
the individuals who were instrumental
in causing this furore were merely oc-
cupying private capacity, we would
be content to allow the matter herein
referred to to remain comparatively
unknown. But the movers-or at least
those who allowed themselves to be
placed in that unenviable position
were all clothed with official authority
Their actions therefore possessed a
public significance, and the people have
right to know what their servants do
in their name, and by virtue of the
powers conferred upon them.
On Sunday, November 20, G. B. Ar
ditto, game warden, and o. Fl. Reich
ling. deputy, called on A. Jones
near Pine Grove. They went there to
look into the deer meat item which ap-
peared in the Ledger two days before.
They went not only in their official
capacity, but also as representatives of
the local game club, meeting OF whose
members had been held the night
before.
Mr.. Jones explained to them the deer
killing incident, when the animal was
killed, and the mistake of the item in
the paper. Mr.. Jones informs us that
they seemed perfectly satisfied with the
explanation, and that they had no
doubt the club would. The visitors,
however, intimated that the editor of
the Ledger might stir the matter up.
To this Jones said he did not think so,
and to avoid this he said he would
write note to Mr.. Webb asking him
to let the matter drop, and he was
satisfied he would do so. This arrange
mont was satisfactory, Jones then got
piece of paper and wrote few lines
thereon, as follows:
Pine Grove, Nov. 30, 1903.
| Mr.. Webb-Dear Sir:-The. game
warden was up here today l send you
this note in explanation. That venison
was killed about the 28th of Oct, and
l omitted to tell you so. l gave the
warden the horns to take home with
him. l hope the matter will be drop
ped, as [ think there has been no in
territorial violation of the law.
| Resp. yours,
A. JONES.
The question arose how the note
should be sent-whether by mail or
conveyed direct by the visitors. Jones
said as they were going direct to Jack :
son he thought they could take it, and
deliver it in person. This was finally
agreed to. The note was not sealed-not
even enclosed in an envelope. Mr.
Jones says he handed the open sheet to
o. H. Reichling, who promised to de-
liver it to the party direct. The pacific
spirit of the note is obvious. 1t was in
tended to prevent further agitation in
| the Ledger, and would most assuredly
have accomplished that object had \ it
been promptly delivered. But the note
was not delivered on time, The editor
knew nothing of it's existence until after
the paper was published, and Mr. Jones
came to Jackson aud Informed him of
the fact When asked by Mr.. Jones
for an explanation of his failure, Mr.
Reichling said that the district attor-
ney had told him not to give it up, as
| it might be wanted as evidence. What
part such d missiye could be made to
play in the case is beyond our compre-
| hension. 1t played 70 part. 1t was
never introduced. After the dismissal
of the suits, District Attorney Vicini
was asked for the document. He said he
| held it for a while, but on the day of
the trial, Dec. IA, he handed it back to
o. 81. Reichling, who, on four different
occasions has been req quested to sur
render it, but not until the 29th of De-
Gem ber-just one month from the day
| it was written--did it fall into the hands
of the editor of the Ledger, and then
through Attorney G. II. Crocker, who
had been asked to take hold of the
matter. With this simple narrative
of the facts, we leave our readers to
ponder over such tactics resorted to in
| the Sacred name of law iI1stica and
official duty.