The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-24
DEFENDS EMERSON PARTY.
Another Version of Recent "Raid''
Near Georgetown.

TO the Editor Of the News and Cou-
rier: The report from Columbia of
the recent raid by State Game War
den A. A. Richardson, through his
deputy, Funderburk. upon the guests
of Capt. Isaac e. Emerson, at the
palatial home Of the latter, near
Georgeown. last Saturday. Is so much
in error that true version is con-
sidered not only proper, but necessary,
to set those most directly interested
IN a correct light before the public.
There has been no attempt by Mr..
Emerson or his guests to avoid pay
ing the hunters license upon coming
into this State. He has never failed
to pay it for himself and his friends
since the passage Of the law, which
he believes Is a good one for the pro-
lection Of bird life, to which it only
applies.
Mr.. G. L. Ford, substantial mer-
chant Of this city land Mr.. Emerson's
agent here, has standing instructions
to take out licenses at once for all
guests visiting at Arcadia, upon their
! arrival in Georgetown.
The Emerson party arrived on
Thursday, and Friday morning Mr..
Ford repaired to the clerk Of courts
| office to secure a license. The clerk
being out for a short time, Mr.. Ford
! failed to get them. but did so in the
| afternoon, too late to send them by
the dispatch boat to Arcadia. Satur-
day morning Deputy Warden Funder-
buck took passage in q launch for
Arcadia. Upon landing he discover
| ed some ladies near the mansion with
guns in their hands OF them he de-
manded that they show the hunters
! license, which, Of course, they were
unable to do. But, mind you, Deputy
Funderburk failed to see these Ia
dies shooting anything. Then, Mr..
| Geo. w. Ewing, riding up on horse
back with his little girl before him
| on the pOmmel of the saddle, and
| absolutely unarmed, had a like de-
| mand made upon him. He stated he
| had been deer hunting with the rest Of
the party, but had not carried q gun
At the instance Of Deputy Funderburk,
Sheriff Ward then placed Mr.. Ewing
under arrest.
The trial Of Mr.. Ewing Saturday,
before Magistrate ]. N. Butler, was
soon over. the magistrate dismissing
! the case for lack Of evidence to prove
violation Of the statute. A new
warrant was sworn out, charging the
defendant, Mr.. Ewing, with failure to
show his license, and the case was
brought before Magistrate A. 3. Har-
relson, who, after hearing all the tes-
timony and finding that the statute
| does not apply to the hunting of
deer, and the further fact that Mr..
Ewing was not seen at any time with
a gun in his hands, likewise dismiss
ed the case. Mr.. Ewing a prominent
| citizen Of Baltimore. and veteran
member Of the Audubon Society. was
! thus put to a great deal Of inconven-
ience and embarrassment, causing real
, distress to his wife and little girl,
because too jealous game warden did
not know the law, which he Is under
oath to enforce. Mr.. Funderburk did
| not see the ladies with guns shooting
| birds Of any description, and ladies
are not generally supposed to be
! hunters, yet he demanded license Of
| them. He arrested a gentleman who
had no gun, but who admitted hav-
ing been on deer hunt to simply see
the sport; and the law under which
Mr.. Ewing was arrested does not ap-
ply to deer hunting.
Can a man be arrested by a game
warden on a mere supposition that
he is nonresident hunter? 1t GER
tainly seems that a catching of the
hunter in the act of shooting turkey,
partridge or quail, should be a prere-
Quisite of criminal arrest. Young Mr.
Funderburk bungled grievously, and,
1t is to be hoped, has learned a useful
lesson by this sad experience in at
tempting to hold up aw-abidins citi-
Zens without reason.
AS to the statement that Capt.
! Emerson and party left the State
Sunday afternoon on a special car 10
avoid litigation. that is utterly false
and extremely absurd. The special
had been chartered several days prior