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GUN CLUBS WILL SUE THE STATE GAME AND FISH COMMISSIONRefuse to Pay Statutory Fees f or Convictions Secured Through the Activity of Members of the Virginia and Hibbing Organizations Who had Fprmer Game Warden Wood Made Deputy Sheriff—Fees Amount to Approximately $500 and Victor Power Is Retained to Sue the Commission Through Executive Agent Ryder.There is open war between the gun clubs of the Mesaba range and the state game and fish commision. The commission refuses to pay to the Virginia and Hibbing gun clubs the statutory fees provided for the arrest and conviction of game law violators. Former Game Warden Wood, upon whom, through the interest and influence of the gun clubs, was conferred the authority of deputy sheriff, acting under the instructions of the gun clubs, has during the past three months made numerous arrests. Bills presented by the officers of the Hibbing gun club, said to be in the aggregate about $600 have been held up by the commission, which questions the legality of the convictions with the result that the officers of the gun club have retained Attorney Victor Power at Hibbing to sue the commission through Executive Agent Ryder to recover the money alleged to be due.1 There promises to be opened up a highly interesting case in the courts which will throw much light on the manner in which the state game and )fish commission has discharged its duties with regard to game and fish preservation in this section and there is every prospect that the whole matter will be gone into thoroughly with the result that there will be some highly interesting developments.State law clearly provides a fee for information which results in the arrest and conviction of game law violators. The chief contention of the commission in holding up the gun club bills is that Wood has been securing convictions illegally. Unless the courts hold against that body range sportsmen will have to foot the bill of Wood’s expense.When the gun clubs decided to retain Wood as a special warden it was decided that Dr. F. W. Bullen, one ofworking in conjunction with certain of the state’s paid representatives.This is said to have so incensed Executive Agent Ryder and some of his understudies that Game Warden Cummings was threatened with discharge if he persisted in double teaming with Wood. Wood has secured (more convictions than have any of the state's regularly appointed wardens (since he has been acting as deputy sheriff. He has not attempted to interfere with the work of other wardens.Executive Agent Ryder has no warm spot in his heart for the sportsmen of the Mesaba range country. Following the discharge of Game Warden Wood for which he and the commission were roundly criticised in the newspapers, Ryder bearing an olive branch came to the range. His visit here was to assure range sportsmen and others interested that Hie discharge of Wood was a great and wise act. He was entertained at private clubs in Virginia and Hibbing as becomes a gentleman, but later he learned that he had made a blunder in recommending the discharge of Wood, in the estimation of range sportsmen. At Hibbing he was roundly grilled by one of the most prominent citizens of the town and one who stands very near the present administration in a political way. Ryder went away disappointed. He laid strong stress in supporting his statements on the fact that the commission had little money available to pay wardens or pursue campaigns for the enforcement of the state game and fish code in this section.•It was then decided to retain Wood through the gun clubs and have him work on the reward basis. In connection with the present controversy it is also developed that the state game and fish commission has sentout a pamphlet purported to contain the officers of the Hibbing Gun club,1 * printed copy of the state game and should swear out all the warrants. I **ws which contains - several •Wood was to get the evidence and , blunders and has resulted in consider-prosecute the cases. ; He has I-een Able confusion, very active and haa secured a large! Attorney Power is expected to bring number of convictions, sometimes suit to recover this week.
Newspaper Details
The Virginia Enterprise
Virginia, Minnesota, US
Fri, Dec 05, 1913
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
George W.
USA 27 Sep 2022
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