Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-01
Investigates Report
of "Cruel Attack" on
Deer at Whitefeld

immediately upon learning of the
reported cruel attack" on a. deer
with an automobile by one Merle
Griffin. of Cooper's Mills, Whitehead.
which appeared recently in several
newspapers, the Department of In
land Fisheries and Game detailed
Chlef Warden Richard J. Upton. of
the kennebec county district, to in
Vestlgate the reported incident and
TO make detailed report of all facts
connected with the affair at the earl
lest possible moment.
In view of the large number of
letters received from citizens in var
lous parts OF the State including re-
representatives. of the Maine Society
1or the protection of Animals, ur-
gentiy requesting the Department to
prlng the alleged offender to speedy
justice, a particularly thorough in
Vestlgatlon OF the incident was made
by Mr.. Upton, whose detailed renort
given below was filed in the Depart
ment late Wednesday afternoon. No.
vember 18th. The Department Is
giving this report in full to the Press
with the request that as much nub-
iicity be given same as was given the
items referring to the incident as a
'cruel attack"
Warden Upton's report is as fol-
lows:
1T appears that Merle Griffin. of
Coopers Mills. Whitefield, a young
man about II years of age, was
pressing hay with a crew at Kin
sllla's barn. in Whitegeld, on the day
IN question, Wednesday, November
list; he left the barn for his home
at 4.ZO +. M. that afternoon; while
en- route, as he approached a yery
sharp curve in the road, he was
confronted by a large (315 pound)
DUCK deer. The animal was only
about eight feet from the automobile
when first seen by Griffin, and com
ing around the sharp curve as he
was he could not possibly avoid a
collision with the deer, much to his
regret The deer was struck in the
hind quarters, knocked down. one
leg and his back broken. Griffin got
out of the car as soon as possible
having no weapon. as he was not
hunting. he picked up heavy maple
club and struck the deer on the
mead, with a view of putting it out
of its misery forthwith. The blow
Killed the deer instantly. Wishing to
bleed the animal and having only a
R"Ah VI SSAooOiSs WHICH ne tried to
use Intellectually, he went to a neigh
boris house and borrowed a knife
and bled the deer properly. The
deer, however, was dead before he
started to bleed it, having sbeen in
stantly killed by the blow on the
head, as above stated. The collision
with this deer damaged Griffin's car
to quite an extant, the 'wishbone' be-
ing broken, the steering geer disar-
ranged, as well as other minor dam
ages.
Another automobile came along
soon after and the occupant offered
to loan Mr.. Griffin a knife with
which to bleed the deer, but he had
previously done SO with the borrow
| ed weapon.
"A newspaper correspondent asked
Mr.. Griffin if he could write up a
story of the incident, and Mr.. Griffin
told him that he could if he wished
to, II he would give the true facts.
The story, as it appeared in the
papers, was so highly colored that
public sentiment was aroused"
| The Department of Inland Fisher
les and Game is anxious to give to
the public all facts learned by Mr..