Arizona republican., 1909-04-10
Mesa Department
HENRY DAVIS EXPLAINS
 REASON FOR HIS ARREST
DOES NOT DENY HIS BRAND WAS
 ON ANIMAL OF ANOTHER.
Believes There Is No Question but
 What He Will Be Easily Acquitted.

Henry Davis. who was arrested at
 his ranch in the vicinity of the Four Peaks by Deputy Sheriff Jeff Adams, | and who was taken to Phoenix Friday
 morning where he was made to answer a charge of placing his brand upon cattle not belonging to him. has ar rived in Mesa, which has been his home all his life and where he Is
 known by practically every old resident
 of this community. The account of
 the events leading up to his arrest is very different from those alleged in the complaint made by Harry Shute. According to all accounts obtainable
 at this end of the line. Davis Is not
 so much guilty of any crime. The
 story of the entire transaction is about as follows: About one year ago Henry Davis and H. :. Peterson purchased
 the Pemberton ranch and range and cattle. The range extends from about
 two miles and half on the other side
 of Fish creek to the divide this side of
 Roosevelt. The cattle have increased
 in numbers until now the herd. includ-
 ing calves. numbers about 700. It is
 understood that about one year ago a man by the name of Shell came into the Roosevelt section and, according to the information available. he and Da- wis had not been on friendly terms at all on account of several threats which, is is alleged. he had made. Harry Shute. il is understood, is also another cattleman with a ranch near Roosevelt. Some time ago. according to Davis. he was notified that he had his brand on a calf belonging to ShUte- The calf. it appears, was branded in February from the nature of the wound which was just beginning to heal. The calf in question was unweaned and was at the side of its mother at all times and the mother of course bore the brand of Shute As soon as Davis learned that his brand was on the calf he i'm
 mediately went and vented his Iron. which in the parlance of brands. signi- fies that the calf is not in his posses sion. Two brands of the same kind on an animal signifies that it does not belong to the brand at all. Now. ac- cording to Mir. Davis. ne branded calves in December and again in March, and that he branded none in between those dates This is given as evidence to the effect that when Davis was called to vent his brand it bore the unmjs- takable indications that 1t had been originally branded for the first time in either January or February. Davis does not deny that his brand was on a calf belonging to Harry ShIte. but he does deny that he put it there. IL is often the case with cattlemen all over the southwest To get their brands on calves that belong to other herds. for in the branding process where hun dreds of calves are rounded up and marked in a short time it is impossible to always go through without leaving some go unbranded and also branding some belonging to someone else. How ever. here is the remedy for the brand
 ing of another's calves: As soon as cattleman is notified that he has his iron on another's stock it is his duty to immediately go and vent his brand. This MT. Davis states that he did.