The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-07-17
Capturing a ..Moon.niner..,

CapturIng n s.Moonshiner.-
In the village Of Nicktown, Barr
township. Cambria county, has re-
sided for some eight years past a
German named Bernard Vogle. His
age is about thirty-six, and his gen.
eral appearance would seem TO iadi-
cate that be is not gifted with any
thing like good sehse-in fact, the
ordinary observer would get him
down as being rather simple. And
just here is where the ordinary OBJ
server would be al fault. for q more
cunning rascal it would be hard TO
fad anywhere. It is Row about
eight years since Bernard arrived at
the conclusion that there vas o for
tune in the manufacture Of "crooked"
whisky, so be went into the moon
shining" bnsiaoss. His operations
were rather contracted until nearly
three years ago, when be branched
out 100 much, and was gobbled By
the reyense authorities. Being APP
pareutly simple minded be escaped
imprisonment bel was compelled TO
pay q nominal hne and the costs.
As soon as be reached homo Bar
ney concluded 10 commence the same
business egain, aud Tor the purpose
Of evadias future arrests be s. ar
ranged bis domiciI with . series Of
trsp-doors and underground pas
sages as to defy capture. Deputy
Collector Gilbert, accompanied By an
officer, called to see him several
months ago, bus he wasn't at home.
They succeeded in finding his sill,
however, IN a cuaaiagly-cJneealed
portion II TIE cellar. His faithful
friends had warped him in good time.
and no trace Of The offender could be
discovered. lie soon rugged up q
new phafapiernaiis and added q bar
room to his establishment. until it
became notorious ,hst the seni-idio.ic
German could battle the officers with
impunity. Special U. S. Officer Har-
ris was entrusted with a warrant for
bis capture, and about the middle of
the second week of the june term Of
Court lie went out to Nicktown to
make the arrest After keeping Wig
il in the vicinity Of the house nearly
all night be finally made a descent
upon it, when Mrs. Vogle spoke to
him by name, and told him she
guessed her husband was away from
hcme. And so be was, for some
friend Of Barneys had penetrated TIE
disguise the officer wore, and again
gave timely warning 10 the offender.
But sfter being foiled nee Officer
Harris got his mad up" and deter
mined to secure the slippery custom
er. On Friday night last, about IL
O'Clock be lofs Ebensburg for Nick.
town on foot, and travelled a distance
of about fifteen miles. He had two
trusty friends with him, aud the par
ty concealed themselves il the yicin'
ity Of the bnilding where Nogle'' re
sided, remaining under cover all day
Saturday. Near midnight they went
to the house and demanded admit
lance, but the mother-ia-law Of tho
accused put her head out Of an up
stairs window, and ia broken Eng
lish asserted that Barney was not g.
home. Finally the officer kicked
open the door ald entered, after sta
tioning his assistants on the outside
where any attempted eight Of to,
man could be intercepted Mr.. IIar-
ris thea searched the three lower
rooms, taking care to avoid q semi
circular trap by which he might
have been dropped into n deep well
lie had been warned ID lJvk out for
this, and il was a fortunate matter
that be was aware Of the contri
vance.
Not finding the Office Of his searci
below, he started up stairs, being aid
ed by the light from a dark lantern
But there was sill no trace of Bar.
ney, aad he made his way to the
garnet. Snugly concealed behind
The fue was The "m30nshiner," aud
being brought to bay be stepped out.
From bis looks aDd actions The
officer thought be meditaied N at
task. aud, GfaWirg & revolver, be
called upoa hun 10 surrender. Tac
words had hardly {. capped shen TIE
sappl-,d p%risober suddenly dsap-
peaTed from sight The bolt Of Q
c1naingly c|Jnstiucted trap door had
been w|iihdrarn, and Barney landed
on the next floor, here there was a
similar door, by which be vas ems
bled to drop II the FIRST aJor, and
slili an9lbcs Trap landed him in The
cellar. Ills wife understood her
pa!t Ct the game, as she locked the
garnet door. but q few vigorous kicks
on the part Of the officer sent it fly
ing from It's hinges.
AS soon as Mr.. Harris got within
calling distance Of his companions
be told them 10 watch the real Of the
premises, as be had a diagram Of the
cellar, and suspected the curse that
would be taken. They hurried
around in time 10 see their bird
s~lreaking it through the field toward
the woods, and just as be was in g
a fair way Of %distancing pursuit the
officer fred 10 the direction be was
fleeing. Barney couldn't resist a
summons OF this kind, aud be wss
then easily captured. At l O'Clock
be was returned to his home, where
ne doomed his wearing appare! (hav
iDg been in bed when the first a.
tempt to ares. him nas milP) and
ten minutes after the party acre OF
their say to Bloomsbury. They
reached lere on Sunday evening
and Yesterday Mr.. Vogle was landed
in the jail Of Allegheny county
Such is the history of a rather ex
citing adventure ia the taking of 4
poted "moousLintr." - JohdstOlct
A Curious Habit.