The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-11-24
From Tuesdays Daily.

the nineteen pet deer kept in Sib-
ley park, Mankato, says this morn
ing's st. Paul Pioneer Press.
The following story also appeared
in The Pioneer Press:
Word of the Staying of the deer
by order, Of Benjamin Bangerter
park commissioner of Mankato, was
received in q special dispatch to
The Pioneer Press from that city
last night.
None Of the butchers who had
done the shooting on order from the
park commissioners, according to the
dispatch, held a big game license.
The deer killed, it was stated, were
placed on the market and retailed at
rs cents pound Two of the larg-
est bucks cannot be accounted for.
The slaughter of the pets, accord
ing to the message, has aroused the
people of Mankato to a high pitch
of indignation, and there is cOnsid-
cradle talk of prosecution.
Rider Will Investigate.
Mr.. Rider said he will order an
immediate investigation of the
charges by C. V. Johnson of Eagle
Lake, deputy game warden for the
Mankato district, and if they are
substantiated the state commission
will start prosecutions. AS no tags
for domesticatiOn of the animals
had been procured, according to the
records of the state office, the park
commissioner of Mankato may be
compelled to pay fine of from
800 to $4,000 for selling the undo
INVESTIGATED animals, while each
butcher lacking a state game license
who had any part in the slaughter
will be subject to fine of from
$25 to 500. Tags for the domes-
tication of big game are issued by
the state commission Oh payment of
so cents. provided names of owners
and list of premises where the
animals are kept are furnished.
Commissioner Asked for No Tags.
"a man who said he was park
commissioner of Mankato came into
my office last week." said Commits
sioner Rider, "and told me he had
more deer than the city could take
care Of and asked me what steps
should be taken before disposing
of them. I acquainted him with the
law governing the case, but he made
no application for domestication tags
He asked me where he might dis
pose of any of the animals and
told him l thought the Longfellow
gardens could use couple of them.
That's the last I've heard of the
matter until now"
Admit Killing of Deer.
The deer was slain last Friday
afternoon in the presence of a num-
Der of men who had evidently been
informed of what was going to
take place and who went out to see
what great many people term
brutal exhibition. According to the
report of one of the local butchers,
six and not seven deer, were killed.
N. M. HermansOn. who conducts a
meat market at 315 South Front
street. was interviewed today by
The Free Press and admitted that
he killed one deer. He said that he
had received permission from Park
Commissioner Benjamin Bangerter
J. P. Schweitzer, who has meat
market at 319 South Front street,
was interviewed. He became very
indignant and denied having any
thing to do with the killing of the
deer. He said he did not know any
thing about it. and wanted the news
paper men to keep away and not
stir up any trouble.
you newspaper men are always
trying to get others into trouble"
trying to get others into truoble,"
said Mr.. Schweitzer. ''If you want
to stir up trouble go somewhere
else" and Mr.. SchweitZer glared at
the reporters in rather ferocious
manner Mr. SchweitZer talked SO
rapidly that it was impossible for
the newsgathcrers to get word in
edgewlse.
When Charles i. GunstrOm, pro-
prietOr of the meat market at sol
South Front street, was interviewed
by the Free Press he admitted hav-
ing taken part in the killing last
Friday.
GLOW many deer were killed." he
was asked.
six, as far as know" answered
GunstrOm.
"How many did you kill?"
Five. Mr.. Hermanson shot one
aud then his fingers got cold and
SO shot the other five"
It is reported that another but
cher cut the throat of the deer. but
this part of the exhibition will no
doubt be brought out in court should
the parties be arrested and they
stand trial.
Claims He Had Permission.
Mr.. Gunstrom said that he had
received permission from Commits
sioner Bangerter, and that he did
the killing with the idea that he
was committing no offense. He ad-
mitted selling the venison in the
local market
No big game licenses had been is
sued to any of the butchers accord
ing to the county auditors state
ment. Neither had any dOmestica-
ton tags been purchased. Any per-
son who desires to shoot big game
in his own county must be provided
with a license.
When Mayor Taylor was inter-
viewed he said that he did not know
any CT the particulars of the deer
killing. He said he had talk with
Commissioner Bangerter shortly
after the latter had visited st. Paul,
when the latter had called on the
game warden, to ask what dispOsi-
ton should be made of number
of the deer at Sibley park as there