57 
first importance, and no forest officer's official credit will 
be lessened because of such an outcome. 
ACTIONS UNDER LEGAL PROCESSES. 
AFFIDAVITS. 
Most forest officers are already familiar with the making 
of an affidavit. This can not be used directly as evidence, 
but is useful for the moral effect upon the witness as to the 
gravity of the testimony covered, by the affidavit; it also 
safeguards this testimony in allowing a basis for cross- 
examination should the deponent later repudiate his 
statement. 
ARRESTS, COMPLAINTS, AND WARRANTS. 
Under the acts of Congress of February 6, 1905 (33 Stat. 
700), and March 3, 1905 (33 Stat. 872), forest officers have 
authority to arrest upon warrant any person charged in a 
proper complaint with violating the Federal laws or 
regulations relating to the national forests. For offenses 
under the State law, forest officers have authority to arrest 
on warrant only after having been appointed deputy State 
fire or fish and game wardens. 
For offenses committed iij their presence, forest officers 
have authority to arrest without warrant, in case of either 
Federal or State offenses. 
Warrants of arrest .—For State offenses, warrants must be 
obtained from and returned to a State magistrate, that is, 
justice of the peace, police magistrate in towns or cities, 
judge of the superior court, or justice of the supreme court. 
When the name of the person who committed the crime 
is not known, the magistrate can, for satisfactory cause, 
issue a John Doe warrant. 
In Federal cases arrest should be made in advance of 
indictment only when this is absolutely necessary to 
prevent the escape of the accused, or when the offense is 
committed in the presence of the arresting officer. For 
the Reasons for this statement see “Preliminary hearings,’’ 
page 73. Federal warrants should ordinarily be procured 
from the nearest United States commissioner. If it is 
