Putnam patriot., 1915-10-01
DEER CASE
Charles |. Torrey awarded $500 DAM
ages by Jury in Is Minutes
Judge Webb Rules II is Not Unlawful 10
Have Deer Carcass in Possession

have a peer CdrCass III POSSESSION
The jury in the civil action of Charles
/. Torrey of Putnam VS. John NJ.
Champion of New Haven, State Fish
and game Com missioner, awarded
damages of $500 to the plaintiff in the
superior court at Putnam Wednesday
afternoon after being out fifteen min
utes.
The case grew out of the finding of
the carcass of,a deer by the plaintiff
an 4 its demand by the county GENE
warden, acting under the instructions
of his superior, and an attempt to ar.
rest the plaintiff.
According to the story told by Mr..
Torrey and coroberated by other wit
nesses, a Mr.. Chase was driving along
a highway near the Torrey home on
Putnam Heights shortly after noon,
Nov. 2lst last when his horse became
frightened at the bleeding carcass of a
deer lying beside the road. Mr. Torrey
was notified and went with hired
man and an automobile and removed
the carcass to his barn where it was
dressed.
In the evening of the same day
County Game Warden, Arthur H.
Day and special game protector,
Fred Kies, went to the Torrey home
to make inquiries. After beingltold of
the circumstances and given such in
form alton as possessed by the plain
tiff they demanded the deer's carcass
and their demand was refused. Day
then came 10 the Putnam Inn in the
city and telephoned Superintendent
Champion and was ordered by him to
get the carcass and il Mr.. Torrey re-
fused to give it up to place him under
arrest for having it in his possession
and refusing to deliver it over. He
went back 10 the Torrey farm and
again demanded the carcass and WAS
again refused and ordered off the prem
ises Day then went to house near by
and again telephoned the defendant
and was instructed TO get the the car
cass or to arrest Mr.. TorFey. using such
force as was necessary. Again return-
ing to the Torrey house they invited
Mr.. Torrey 10 come out but he opened
the door and again ordered them oil
and closed the door. They then en-
tered the house and attempted To make
the arrest and a scuf1ie ensued in
which the plaintiff received numerous
injuries 10 his person and clothing.
Mr. Torrey was coroberated by Mrs.
Torrey, who was present, and also by
County Game Warden Day, who ad.
mitted calling up the defendant and
getting instructions.
After the plaintiff rested defendants
council made motion for direct YER
dict on the ground that the defendant
had no knowledge of the matter except
as he was informed by Day and that
he was not present and took no part
in the assault. The Arguments back
and forth lasted well into the after
noon when the motion Was denied.
After the arguments the judge
charged the jury and in that charge
stated that AS matter of law the
plaintiff did not violate any law in
taking the deer from the highway and
having it in his possession there in his
barn and also that the plsintiff was
within his, legal rights in resisting the
arrest. = 9
Attorney Yeomsns, who represented
the defendant, when the motion for
directed verdict was denied had IN eX,
ception noted and the case may go to
the supreme court. There WAS no evil
dence submitted by the defense.