Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-10-01
HOUNDS CHASED DEER.
Chitten,cn County Court Jury Finds
james Watson webb Guilty.


a rather interesting case and short !
one was tied before jury in Chittendcn
county court Friday afternoon, the
respondent being James Watson Webb
Of Shelburne Farms. who was informed
against as owning certain fox hounds
which were permitted to pursue deer.
1t being alleged on the part Of the state
that one of the dogs was seen chasing
a deer and that two others killed one.
The states attorney, Theodoro l..
Hopkins. assisted by Harry Il. Shaw,
appeared for the State and Ezra NJ
Horton defended. State Fish and Game
Commissioner j. W. Titcomh was an
interested spectator at the trial
The scene Of the alleged pursuit of
deer by hounds which practice Is for
| hidden at all times in and out OF deer
season, was alleged to have been in
| Charlotte Several witnesses were in
troduced by the State 20 show that three
dogs Of the pack owned by Mr.. Webb
we're concerned in the transaction One
witness. Louis Kellogg storekeeper,
| said he saw near the lake on October 10
or of last year deer and that
| little later he saw a hound which to
him had the appearance OF chasing the
|
and shot the dog. \ section hand named
Sears testified ono day about the same
! time he saw about go rods south of
Charlotte station. near the track. two
hound dogs When he arrived at the
station he came across a man who vas
looking for some dogs that We're lost and
| he informed the searcher he had seen
| them. The man then went to tn" spot
where the hounds We're and took them
| In charge. Mr.. Sears also testified that
| later when he was going back over the
track he saw what appeared to be a
piece of burlap where the dogs had been,
| but he was curious to know what it
| really was and made an investigations
| What was found was part Of a carcass
| Of a deer although there was not much
more than the pelt left. The carcass
still seemed to be fresh. George Grassett
of Charlotte, an employe Of Mr.. kimball
testified tat he saw hound about the
same time the other witnesses testified
to and the next day saw two and there
was blood about their heads.
The state introduced letter written
by Mr.. Webb to state Fish and Game
Commissioner John W Titcomb Of
Lyndonville in which Mr.. Webb stated
| that ne understood that complaint had
been made that his hounds had chased
a deer and that two OF them had eaten
a deer. He commented on the fact that
his hounds were all in kennel at the
time but three and that he had searched
for them and found one shot dead by
the roadside and the other two were
discovered and brought home. He also
remarked In the letter that the hounds
were not fed in the morning so as TO
max them keener of scent and that they
frequently ate carrion II they found any.
The defense was that the hounds ESQ aped
from the pack, despite the fact that
due diligence had been exercised, and
that the dogs had become lost for a
short time although every effort had
been made to find them. Another part
of the defense was that the dogs Were
trained against chasing sheep or deer.
| Hcrold Thompson OF Charlotte testified
to being in the neghborhood Of the
region where Mr.. Kellogg shot the dog
and ne said that prev,ous 10 this ne had
seen the hound, which followed him
along the road and appeared to be tired
; The witness said he saw no deer. al
: though he did see fox, which the hound
was not chasing. The principal witness
; for the defense was Harry Hopkins the
master Of the hounds at shelburne
Farms He testified that one morning
about the time alleged by the state that
the dogs had chased deer. Mr.. Webb,
Jack Grant and himself We're out with
she pack. which number @6. He did not
| recall what they We're taken out for
; whether IT. was drag hunting or for
exercise. It was discovered some time
after they had started that three OF the
hounds We're missing. The others of tht
pack were taken home and the witness
went to Charlotte to ind the MISSING
l members of the aCk, but was not success
ful. The next day he and Grant went e
Charlotte again and they found one o
the dogs dead beside the road and later
discovered the other two near Chariot,
, station The witness testified that IT,,
three men I'm charge of the pack wer'
perfectly competent to care for the dogs
= lie said tho animals We're especially
; trained against chasing deer and sheep.
This evidence closed the case and tn
l arguments Were made.
The jury, which received tho case AT nv,
- o'clock, reported verdict Of guilty afte
I an a hsence of 20 minutes. They We're ther
. excused until Monday,