The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-05-11
A REVENUE OFFICE SOLD.

h. The Wyandotte Democratic Union,
published at Upper Sandusky, relates
the following amusing incident which
recently trapspired in that locality:
In these, the happy days of the Re-
public, men and business are put un-
der the especial espionage of the gov
erhment officials, whose duty is to
smeH around, trusting and hoping
that their clutches may fasten upon
some poor native for violation of
the Internal Revenue law. 1t so hap
pened that a deputy of this branch of
the government, whose headquarters
are at Kenton, Hardin county, believ-
ing that he must do something to inn
mortafize himself, determined to un-
ravel little mystery that was believ-
ed 10 hang around the town of Ada.
LIT had been whispered to this sagac-
ious official that more ''red eye tangle-
foot was sold in Ada than found its
way to that place through the regular
channels made and provided for by
law. Repairing to the place, armed
with legal authority to act as a grand
inquisition, he called upon several of
the citizens of that quiet rural village
fand applied the pumping process, but
t7freIn one and all whom he approach
ed, he received flat denial to the in
sinuation, that distillery was secret
[ Iy working in their midst. At length
he approached loyal son of Escula-
pus, who, by the way.is fond OF fun
zand never lets an opportunity pass to
play a practical joke. Seeing in the
aforesaid ofiicer.a fit subject, he vague
ny limited to him that for some time
he was Impressed with the belief that
some secret work was being carried
on in the second story of o certain
building, which he was not slow in
pointing out to the deputy, remarking
at the same time that the windows
were darkened, and that often at a
late hour ofthe night lightc be seen
shining through some aperture left
uncovered. Being doubly assured he
demanded the keys of the room, but
the party who wass siiitrustedA with
them refused to yield them up, telling
him that they held secure the work
ing tools of a lodge Of Good Templars,
and nothing in which, or over which,
he or the government of, the United
States had any control. Not believ-
ing the story, and reporting to his
worthy friend, the Doctor, he was as
sured by him that some secret work
was carried on in that room that need
ed1explanation, and which should be
promptly. exposed. The officer, con-
vinced that be had got hold of the
facts, and that under the name of
Good Templars the room was being
used for the manufacture of the ar
dent, he hied to. the telegraph Office
and dispatched Gen. Pleasanton, tel
ling him what ''mare's nest" he had
discovered, and asked for instructions
in the premises. Soon on the wings
of lightning came back the order !:
I'll. the keys are refused break down
the door ond seize the apparatus, and
hold the owner for trial" Armed with
this dispatch, and calling upon fe.w
of the "truly loyaP' of the place, he
took an axe, proceeded to the door o.
the room, and in the name of the
United States, with Herculanean
blow, battered in the door; when 10,
his astonishment at finding nothing
more or less than the regular books
and papers belonging to the members
of aflodge of Good Templars. Real
.izing. that he had been sdeceived, and
likewise sucked in," he made tracks
from the town amid the jeers and
laughter of the citizens of that quiet
village Sold Z l4t! 'sH ~