Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-07-27
COYOTE Case GOES
TO SUPREME COURT
Wealthy Rangeley Summer Wis
itor Hopes Escaped Pests Will
Breed and Spread All Over
Maine, She Asserts, After Be-
ing Bound Over to Supreme
Court.

The second chapter in the Rangeley
coyote case was written on Monday
when Mrs. J. r. Martindale of New
York city. wealthy Summer visitor at
Pickford's Camps, was arraigned at
Phillips before Trial Justice Cony NJ.
Hoyt, charged with having illegally
introduced wild animals into the State
Of Maine, reports the Franklin Journal
of July %. Examination was waived.
plea Of not guilty entered and the re-
Spondent was held in $500 for the Sep
temhor term of the Supreme Judicial
Court
The case has attracted much attcn-
ton as it is the first prosecution under
the statute in this section. The law is
very explicit and provides that whoever
introduces a wild animal or bird into
the State without the written permits
sion of the commissioners Of Inland
Fisheries and Game is liable to n fine
of not less than $50 nor moro than $500
for each offence. Mrs. Martindale has
been an annual visitor at Rangeley
Lakes for a number of years, has taken
prominent part in the summer social
life there and that section is much
stirred over the episode.
On June % four wild COYOTES. con-
signed to Mrs. Martindale, were re-
ceived by express from Colorado and
were delivered to her at Pickford's
Camps. The animals were put in
small enclosure and attracted much
attention as they were the first live
species Of this branch of the wolf fam
lily ever seen there. The coyotes were
young, having been dug out Of a den in
Colorado during the last Spring and
had not attained their full growth
when they reached Maine. They were
accustomed to the presence of human
beings and their actions were watched
with more than passing interest.
On July the animals escaped. Later
the matter was brought to the atten-
ton of Game Warden r. H. Lowell of
Rangeley and on Saturday, acting un-
der orders from Harry p. Austin of
Phillips, Chairman of the Game Com
mission, warrants were served by Dep
utY Sheriff George NJ. Esty Of Range
ley upon Mrs. Martindale The hearing
was set for Monday morning at Phil
l.
prosecution was conducted bv County
Attorney Thomas p. Austin, while ].
Blaine Morrison appeared for the res
pond"nt. Chairman Austin was also
in attendance as was Warden Lowell.
Witnesses had been summoned as fol-
lows: Dane Nose. Morris Dow. Ira
Huntoon and Harold Fuller, all OF
Rangeley. They were not called upon
to testify
Mrs Martindale admitted having the
animals at Rangeley, hut denied that
they had been introduced by her. She
explained that they were sent to her nv
friend in Colorado and when she re-
ceived word that they were to be for
wardod. she immediately telegra phed
telling nor friend not to send thom
The animals had been shipped before
tho telegram was received. According
to her statement no one informed her
that the presence of the animals was
illegal until after they had escaped.
She stated that Game Warden Lowell
knew they We're at the camp several
days before they got away.
After bonds for her appearance in
September had been furnished in $500
by Harry F.. Pickford and Ira Huntoon
Of RangeleT. Mrs. Martindale ad-
dressed herself to Chairman Austin
and said that she hoped the coyotes
would breed and cover the whole
state" That this may be the outcome
Of the animals being at large is just
what IS worrying Chairman Austin as
the coyote is great pest in the West,