The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-03-08
EDITOR JOURNAL:

n cOmmuuicatiop W youi "s1S
tuary 18th, signed "A Taxpayer" has lus'
been called to nv attention. The shaf"
and Insinuations contained In that article
are so pslpably unfair and malicious that
IN Justice TO the officers concerned. ask
you to publish our side Of the case take
he responsibility Of this for, within tbs
past rear In Bennington county, u oil &C
ions, except three, brought under tho I'D
and game laws, | have personally instisst
d the prosecutions, and did 20 10 the cas'
Il spesrius on the Bsttenkill river cited In
the article mentioned.
In the first place, Mr.. Editor, when "A
Taxpayer intimatss that these cases have
bsep brought by dishonest officials" Oh
.trumped up chargss' and are tinged win
corruptisn, / say he utters lie cut OF The
whole cloth, aud defy him OF any othtI
nan to prove such . charge. In oil my
prosecutions | have only endesvored 7"
,bsy orders from the commissioners and do
NV duty by the State and large and
growing body Of our best citizens who
want to see the nsh and game laws honest
iy enforced. Then u the laws are defsc-
tive We will know wherein to apply the
remedy whom the Legislature meets But
IL the officers srs negligent then how are
We 70 know whether the laws are goed,bsd
or Indifferent!
A fof the fees, County Game Wardsns
cot o. per diem for their work whether
obey Win or lose case, or, during an In
vestIgation II they believe no prosecution
. pscesssry they are paid just the same, &C
he incentive Of fees does not enter isto
he matter at all. Naturally snough.tboss
nsh and game hogs who want to catch al
the nsh and game, and when they hsv'
more than they can consume, sell same for
he best price they cap obtain; and that
other class Of "holier or better than thou,
people, who feel themselves immune from
prosecution for violation Of any laws, are
against us, but We exr scted to Incur their
snmIty and 90 do not care. Al for the
Ststs's Attorney he has been 40 ensrge'i'
and Jealous sficer In prosecuting thss'
casss, and, Of course, comes 10 for bis share
OF condemnation from the same source.
Now for the facts In the case Of spsarini
suckers 10 Sunderland. The alleged ofient'
wss committed Dec. 18th. l Was notinet
the following week. ] had scms doubt re
ssrdlne the law (sec. 45s4) and wrote u
he CommisaIoner for Instructions bsfor'
making any move. After SEINE delay,
received an answer and the Commissioner
letter csu,aised these instructions. "fo'
viii, stop al nshing through the Ice 81
the Battsnkill river" At frst opportunit!
| thereafter went to Sunderland to max
an investigation. Many citzeus there nrs
I'd me to prosecute the spearmsn. Ate
como delay | secured the names OF seve
sitsssses who would give direct svidenc
ssains, the parties. ! then procured
| sts,ss Attorneys complaint and warrant
wsrs Issued BY justice OF the peacs. III
| parties were arrAigped aud asked for a
immediate hearing. The State was NO
ll,sslly represented 90 We asked for cor
tiuuance. This was granted. Al the y
polp,sd time the states Attorney found
impossible TO BE- present, 90 We asked Il
another coatipusncs. This WAS rfuse
and the parties we're discharged. Not b
,us sstIs6sd 10 have the csse settled In III
manner without Judge psssi. q upon u
lac. ws procured new warrants under se'
Ssel, which fosbids persons being found Q
the waters With spears, etc, 10 their 20
sssstsn. After these warrants had bee
ssryed tbs State learned dsnrltely tn
Sec. asa had been repealed BY son
.frsakr Legislation which even memos
Of the Dab and game commits Who fern
, a,.d the las, lavs cosid not unders,sn
Action against the parties vas 'mmsdis,
! Inv Dropped without any further costa TO Y
state. Nov, I Ask, wss there snytbl'
dishcpess or unfair On the part Of The Of
: cara Ia these casess Were We ., fan
I whsr ne hsd tbs lac aud evidence Of
vIolasson piaisiy before uss Are We o
} sspse.ez 20 follow the laws TIA. are prir
D a for our guidance; or are We rssPonsit
for frsak ie6isla,ion'