Muskogee, I. T., Sept. 28.-
United States District Attorney Mellette and Lee E. Bennett, United States marshall, have placed the ban on roping contests
in the western district, and have notified the proprietors of the Mulhall Wild West show, which is billed to give performances
here at Hyde park Saturday and Sunday, that if they attempt to give the roping contests they will be arrested.
Deputy Marshall Ledbetter has been assigned to the duty of seeing that the order is not violated. The contests are
often the means of crippling animals come under the head of cruel sports. They are put under the same head as prize fights
and other brutal exhibitions. The federal statues governing Indian territory expressly state
that any unnecessary cruelty to animals constitutes a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of not more than $250 and
imprisonment.
The Mulhall show is the one in which Miss Lucille Mulhall of Oklahoma is the principal attraction. With the roping
contest eliminated, the exhibition will be somewhat crippled, but it is thought the show will be given. Recently
Judge Dickerson of the southern district issued an order prohibiting roping contests, which practically shuts out such
exhibitions from the largest portion of Indian territory.
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