The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-05-09
THREE WHITE MEN AND
4 NEGROES FINED FOR
SEEMING IN CITY LAKE

GINING IN CIIY LAKE
Hugh \. Ledbe tier a prominent at
torney of this city, Tom Dustin, who
is city Lake policeman, Leo Moore
head, chauffeur, and four negroes,
Wallace Moore. John Walker, Chess
Tramble and Harold Epps. We're arrest
cd about 10 o'clock Tuesday night at
the City Lake on charge of
seining for fish In that lake.
The arrests were made by Chief of
Police Chancellor and Policemen j.
w. Brown and Bob Stacy.
Shortly after Chief Chancellor went
and told that some men We're seining in
the city Lake. lie called Policeman
Brown and stacy. Accompanied 10y
Ray Peterson. who furnished an au.
tomobile for the trip. the three Off
GERS wont at once To the lake, where
they found the men named above sein.
ing in the waters Of the lake for fish.
The men. with the exception of Tom
DuNhv Were across the Lake from
the point where the officers car stop.
ped. Dustin was arrested first and, Il
revolver was taken from his person
by the officers. who sent him to the
opposite side Of the lake for the other
members OF the party OF seiners.
When tbs men came over TO the
party of officers, chief Chancellor look.
ed over the seine and the fish that
had been caught. He also took cog.
rIAnce Of the men ami recognized
Mr.. Ledbettcr, who the chief says.
explained that he had been seining in
the city Lake at the request of Il. A.
simpson, who according To Mr.. Led.
better, had made arrangements with
Bill l'raley, water commissioner. to pro
cure fish from th' city lake with
which TO stock Il lake southeast of the
city.
The case was set for hearing at 1880
this afternoon, when all of the defend.
ants entered pleas of guilty and were
fined $l9 and 81 cost each. which was
paid by personal check of Il. 4. Simp
son.
\ representative Of the Ardmoreite
interviewed MIR. Simpson and Mr.
Fraley in regard to the above case
Mr.. Fraley said that Mr.. Simpson
recently approached him and asked his
permission to seine u few fish out OF
tho City Lake, to be used for pro-
pagation purposes in a lake recently
built by the Battle Springs Club near
Brook, southwest of Ardmore. which
club which was organized by a number
OF local sportsmen.
Mr.. Simpson reminded Mr.. Fraley of
the fact when the City Lake was Gre.
ated about IL years ago that he and
other members of the Battle Springs
from the Rod and Gun Club and Chick.
asaw lakes, two privately owned lakes
near the city, and placed the fish in
the City Lake for the purposes of pro
paEaton. with the result that the city
Lake today has the reputation of he
ing one of the best fishing lakes in
the state.
Mr.. Simpson further explains that
the reason they came to the city for
these fish was that >the Chtclnsaw
and Rod and Gun club lakes We're so
full of moss as to render seining Virtu-
ally impossible.
Mr.. Franley told Nlr Simpson that
in view of the fact that the City Lake
really had more fish in it than was
good for the lake, considering the fact
that the water therefrom was used
for drinking purposes and realizing
Mr. simpsons service in Originally
stocking the lake, had no objections
to the taking out Of the few fish that
were asked for and accordingly
granted the permission asked. Mr..
Fraley told Mr. simpson that similar
request was asked Of the city about
six years ago by som Noble and
granted the fish being placed in a small
lake owned by Mr.. Noble.
Mr.. Simpson states to an Ardmoreite
representative that he insisted on
taking full responsibility for the act o.
the defendants seining the lake and
accordingly insisted that the judge fine
the men in accordance with the ordi-
nance, which was done, and the fines
were paid by Mr.. Simpson. Although
Mr. Simpson paid the fines out of his
own pocket, it is understood that
other members of the Battle Springs
Club insist upon the club relmbursing
Mr. Simpson.
Mr.. Fraley further stated that he
was not aware that there was city
ordinance prohibiting the seining of
the City Lake for transplanting pur-
poses and would, of course, have re-
fused permission had he known that
such acts We're Illegal He based his
action upon the state law which allows
seining in bodies of water within the
state for propagation purposes, and
stated that he also knew that the city
council had granted a similar permit
in the case of Mr.. Noble some time
ago.
SENATOR HITCHCOCK Is HIGHLY