The State : Law of West Wins a Test

Two Hollister area cattlemen who lost a court bid to stop foxhounds from trespassing on their ranch later rendered frontier justice by shooting the dogs. But Harold and Don Bayly had the state Food and Agriculture Code on their side when they killed seven trained foxhounds from the Los Altos Hunt Club and wounded another, said San Benito County Dist. Atty. Harry Damkar. Cattlemen have the right to protect their livestock, with guns if necessary, Damkar explained in saying no charges will be filed. “And we’re not going to prosecute the hunt club because they’ve certainly suffered an economic and emotional loss,” he said. “. . . But the parties can sue each other for civil damages if they choose.” “It’s like the Old West,” said Ginevra Hunter, co-master of the club. “An eye-for-an-eye is not how you do things in this country. Not anymore.”