Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-12-28

skunk pelts. The fox pelts were ex-
hibited in court and were positively.
as he put it, identified by the witness
as off two of his foxes. Mr.. Smith
explained the reasons for his positive
identifications at length, pointing out
pecularitieS of the fur in nature
color, weight. extra length of brush
etc, these characteristic to rauch-bred
Canadian foxes. Mr.. Smith $50 was
certain of the identity of at least two
of the skunk pelts. He pointed out to
the court and counsel a small black
spot in the white on the head of these
pelts. saying that he had handled hun
dreds of Silunl,s in his time and had
never seen any marked just like this
pair, fact he mad often commented
on while they were alive and in his
possession.
James Moran, who had been an en-
ploye CT Mr.. Smit ~ and who had
fed and cared for the foxes kept at
Mr.. Smiths for a year and n half had
seen the animals thousands of times.
he said, identified the fox pelts from
TWO OF the animals. He also identi-
lied some of the skunk peltS and stat
ed re knew from the appearance of
the Eur that all of them were ranch
raised.
Michael Grimshaw. Louis Barstow
and Frank A. Whipple were all called
to testify relative to the search at the
Ralph Tracy house.
James z. Smith brother of Robert
| G.. testified to trailing. with James
| Moran, the trail of blood from the fur
farm to the point where an automobile
STOOL
Henry Chase. Alfred Lariviere and
| John Labelle all told on the witness
| stand of bearing an automobile travel
| along the highway leading from where
| the turs are supposed to have been
! put into the machine to Ballouville at
| about 4.30 last Tuesday morning.
! Messrs. Chase and Laiviere were at
work in a barn at the time aud upon
| coming out commented on the strong
| odor of skunk left after the car had
| passed
| Prosecuting Attorney A. C. Bill had
| in court several well known fur buy
ers of this section to inspect the peIts
| shown. All agreed that the animals
! had not been SHOT. for there were no
shot marks upon them.
| Albert Mills OF Hampton, former
| game warden and q fur buyer for %
| y@arS, said he wCuld term all of the
| pelts from what he called tame" an
| imals. He figured the fox pelts worth.
strictly as pelts, Sc each.
/ o. A. Austin partner at Foster, r
l., in one of the branches of the
greatest fur raising industry in the
| country, probably his firm having a
| farm O. Prince Edward Island where
black foxes are raised that have sold
IOI DIS HnuCH as Si,UUO eacn, said that
everyone of the pelts of the slunks
| was from q ranch raised animal 81
could tell the difference between a
| ranch-raised skunk and a wild one a
| mile away he declared. and then
went on to explain how, describing the
difference in shading. condition of the
fur, weight and other points Mr.
| Austin also was positive that the fox
pelts were off ranch raised animals. He
had never been at Mr.. Smiths fun
| farm in his life he said.
Albert Henry Shippee. an East Kill
ugly farmer, said that any buyer who
Heould not instantly identify the pelts
l shown as from ranch-raised animals
would be apt to come home with ar
empty pocketbook and a poor lot OF
fur from an outing as a buyer. William
II. Shippee, North street, another vel
known fur buyer. also was called as
witness, but on account of the con.
dition of his sight, could not exercise
his usual expert Judgment on the
pelts shown.
While nothing was said about II in
court it was evident to all who heard
Robert G.. Smiths story of his loss thai
all of the pelts from the animals killed
have not been recovered-but that is
another story ripe for telling.