The surviving editions of the Delaware County Free Press from 1865 do reveal, through the earliest ordinances adopted by officials of the new city, what issues were most important to Muncie's founders. Curbing prostitution and, incredibly by today's standards, encouraging the widespread shooting of dogs were near the top of the list. Another ordinance made it lawful for Muncie residents "to take up and kill any animal of the dog kind... found running at large, without wearing a muzzle." It also made it the duty of the first city marshal, John T. Robinson, to "kill all dogs found running at large," and to be paid 50 cents for each canine he both shot and buried. The Free Press — which wasn't free; a subscription was $2 a year, to be paid in advance — celebrated Marshal Robinson's dog-killing exploits, at one point noting he had killed 42 in a single week. "The bark of a dog has not been heard by any one of our inhabitants for more than two weeks," the paper reported. "They are believed to be in mourning." The marshal also received 50 cents for each hog he found running at large in the city. But those animals were to be impounded, not shot down like ... dogs. http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2015/01/31/walker-roysdon-report-muncie-history-killing-dogs-prostitution-politics/22604511/