Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-09-29
ACTOR FISHERMAN
BEFORE THE COURT


theaters, Wednesday afternoon was
declared mot guilty." when arrested
for fishing without a license, and
thereby hangs a tale. Dunn and his
wife were taking in the beauties of
Rogue river. down at that portion
in the vicinity OF the steel bridge on
Sixth street. They heard much talk
OF the many fish in the stream, and
decided to try their luck. SO Dunn
borrowed a pole and line and with
his spouse took up position at the
dam near the bridge, and was in
tently watching for ''bite," when
Game Warden Wright hove in sight
and arrested the actor for fishing
at dam. The disciple of Booth was
presented to Justice John Holman, a
jury trial was demanded. Then the
question arose as to whether the
dam was dam; whether 1t was
pile Of rubbish or a real Simon-pure
dam. To make the matter safe, the
complaint was changed, and Dunn
put on trial for fishing without H.
cense. The man was ignorant of the
fact that he had to have license; al
so ignorant of the law regarding fish
ing near dam.
The case went to trial before the
jury, and Attorney Fred Williams de-
Tended the accused actor. The de-
fense OF Mr.. Williams was hummer,
the lawyer contending that the case
was not one wherein a man should
be punished When the jury took
the case 1t was the unanimous ver-
dict, and quick one, of not guilty
Therein lies the moral. The jury
took position that Dunn caught no
fish; that he might have been fish
ing for suckers for which no license
is necessary; that Rogue river is
becoming tied up like canal In Hol-
land, much to the detriment of the
uch-advertised fishing grounds
near Grants Pass, Oregon; that peo-
pie are invited here through lurid
and paint-bedaubed literature and
told they can catch more fish and
get more fun In 'steen minutes than
anywhere else on the continent; that
when a man with hungry wife
and two children in, tent tries to
snare one salmon among many tons,
with a "foulhook." and that when
an ignorant SIS week actor drops
an amateur line in the water
therefore for all these and other
reasons such petty arrests by game
wardens are unnecessary and work
injury to the city of Grants Pass. In
that tourists will soon fear to even
look upon the blue waters of the
Rogue, but will instead hurry
through the city enroute to places
where game wardens are Aot SO
Jealous in filling bastiles with shlv-
ering fishermen.
And now, bless your heart, Actor
Dunn was hauled up again, dragged
from Medford and had to face JUS
tice Holman a second time And
they do say" that Justice Holman
was wrathy at such goings on, And
the way that Dunn was put IL jeop'
ardy the second time was in thii
wise: When the jury declared hin
mot guilty of fishing without IL
cense' Game Warden Wrish' was
keenly disappointed that his man
went scot free. Then the game war
den thinked a thunk, and hit Oh
the plan TO nab Dunn on charge
of fishing near dam" In the
meantime. Dunn had gone to Med
ford to dance on the sawdust or de
whatever stunt is his specially OF
the theatrical boards. Now Game
Warden Wright did not so 20 Dep
uty District Attorney Van Dyke fo
this second complaint, but went t
Jacksonville where he told of hi
woes 10 District Attorney Mulkey
Then District Attorney Mulley sa
himself down and with his lega
quill wrote out an indictment charg
ing Actor Dunn with fishing with
in 200 yards OF fishway.' Thi
document Game Warden Wright pu
, in his pocket, and riding deep h
reached Grants Pass. Before Jus
, tice Holman he wenta second time
Justice Holman was compelled {
, act. He sent Constable Mock
Medford for Actor Dunn. Mock 60
his man. Brought him ba,k. Too
him to court Attorney F.cd WI
lIams was there. Attorney William
looked at the complaint. mo good,
: said Mr.. Williams. this man
charged with no crime under tn