Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-07
WILL MAKE WAR
ON RUSTLERS
ANTELOPE VALLEY CATTLE
MEN ARE AROUSED
Intimate That Acquittal Of Russell
Burns Means They Will Have
to Take Steps to Pro-
tect Herds

If we cannot be protected by the
law, we will keep careful eye on our
cattle and do what we can to prevent
theft, but at any rate we will not quit
the cattle business in the Antelope
valley"
Following the acquittal of Russell B.
Burns, who was charged with cattle
stealing by a jury in department one
of the superior court yesterday, meet
ing of prominent cattle owners of the
Antelope valley was held in Sheriff
Whites office, at which the above sug"
gestive declaration was made.
According to the statements of the
cattle owners there is a war on in the
valley between the owners of large
herds and the small owners for the
possession of grazing grounds.
The lands of the valley are outlaw
grounds and the herds are turned
loose each year and allowed to roam
about for months without a caretaker
In this way many a head of cattle
could be taken and the loss remain
undiscovered for months.
"a Thousands of Cattle on Range
'"There are thousands of cattle on the
range" said one of the cattlemen yes
terday. early each year we turn
the cattle out and allow them to Craze
for several months. There is plenty
of good food and enough water in the
valley for everybody, and we do not
round up until during the heat of the
summer months, when the cattle have
to receive careful attention.
Meantime the herds have mixed
and intermixed so that it would be i'm
possible for an owner to tell within
200 of how many cattle he actually
had on the range. He knows, of course,
how many he sent out, and as few
of the animals die during the year he
can count on having within five OF the
number he sent out.
But when the cattle thieves get busy
and rustic off hundred head from the
range no man will be the wiser until
the loss is noted months later, when
the boys round up the animals.
I'VE had hoped to secure some pro-
lection, but since Burns, whom we be-
lieye to have been a member of the
gang, has been released we do not know
whether the law will protect us or not
Will Make 1t Warm for Thieves
"There is not an owner in the valley
who would not rather quit the busl-
ness than be compelled to try the
Winchester game on the rustlers, and
we do not think any such measures
will be necessary. We shall keep such
a watch on the cattle, however, that
these thieves may find the valley just
a little too warm for their health"
Burns was alleged to have been a
member of a gang of rustlers in the
Antelope valley. He Is a. butcher re-
siding at Herald station, near the Sole
dad canyon. Some months ago he solo
q steer to Mrs. J. B. Baselar, wife oi
a prominent cattle owner of the sec
ton. Four days later the steer disap-
peared and when Deputy Sheriff Bert
Franklin called at Burns home and
demanded the Baselar steer the man
is alleged to have told his boy to &C
and get a certain animal.
When the steer was examined Burns
brand, "2-A," was found on the hide
over the ribs, while Baselar's brand
"B," could barely be distinguished on
the hip. A branding iron had scared
the initial so that 1t could not be made
out.
Burns was arrested on charge Of
having taken the steer, but the prose
cution failed to show the actual theft
and was unable to prove that the ga
brand was not on the hide when it was
first sold to Mrs. Baselar.
Silas S. Duntley and r. A. Caldwell
small owners of the valley, are un-
der arrest awaiting trial on charges
of having rustled away more than a
hundred head of cattle.