Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-02

MOONSHINERS IN WASHINGTON.
An Illicit Still Within Two Squares
of the Treasury.
Seizure by Revenue Officers.
At II O'Clock this morning an illicit distiilery,
almost within stones throw of the Executive
mension and quite as near the Internal Reve-
nue. bureau, was seized, and the operators
thereof captured by officers of the government.
1t appears that for two or three weeks past Mr..
Geo. Pearson, deputy collector OF internal rev.
enue in the District Of Columbia, has suspected
that building known as 1881 street "a three
story brick, standing alone), owned by Mr.
John l.. Kidwell OF Georgetown, was ab3ut II
be used for illicit dtstilling. THIS building was
rented by the owner to F. I. Brooks {who occu-
pies the lower story as provision store) about
three weeks ago. and 1t is stated that Mr.. Kid
well had no knowledge OF the use 1t was to be
put to; so carefully has the place been watched
that the authorities ascertatned when it was
rented, when the tubs (used In the busiue ss)
were put In place, who put up the brick work
around the boiler, made the connection from
the second story with the sewer, &C., and they
have carefully watched the place ever since.
THE RAID.
This morning warrants for the arrest of the
parties were determined upon, for the officers
had ascertained that no later than yesterday
six tubs were sent here from Baltimore and
were got into the place last evening. Accord
1Dgly the warrants were procured and placed
shal's Office for execution, and the hour of II
O'Clock was agreed upon to make the raid. At
that hour precisely officers were seen to gather
about the corner OF 18th and streets and ad-
and Mr.. Taylor, with Mr.. Clements, of the Dis
trict revenue service, Mr.. EcklOff, OF the Inte.'
nal Revenue bureau, Lieut.. Noonan and Ser
geant Buell.. approached the house. 1t was
observed as they approached that smoke was
issuing from the chimney, and the officers were
certain that they would catch the operators at
work.
Mr.. Brooks was found quietly, sitting at the
store door, and when Mr.. Taylor placed him
under arrest he seemed very much surprised.
having been placed at the rear OF the building
to prevent any one from escaplng-the visitors
proceeded by the side door up stairs, and In the
second-story found among the tubs, &C., Richard
T. Dyer, young man, Richard Burke, rather an
aged man, who, It is believed, was engaged In the
Lynch distillery above Georgetown, when 1t was
who, it will be remembered, was about year
since pardoned from the pentitentiary to which
he had been sent under communication of death
sentence imposed for the killing Of Cunning
ham some years since. These were all marched
under Lieutenant Noonan to the 4th precinct
station and officers were placed in charge OF
the house. While watching the house young
man named Marion Lewis appeared and was
taken into custody, as also one OF Mr.. Brookes'
sons. The latter very 1ndescreetly told Lewis
to run while he had chance, and Lewis took
the tn, hint but was overhauled by Of1icer Kerby.
This added to the excitement caused by the
raid and quite crowd gathered, among it
many OF the people Of the neighborhood who
were astonished when they heard that moon
sinners were at work right under their noses
THB BUILDING
(No. 1881 streeD is on the north side of the
street, between 18th and 10th streets, about the
center Of the square. and the owner (Mr. j. L.
OF druggist there. 1t is about 25 feet front, OF
brick, pairted OF drab color, and three stories
high; The first story, used by Messrs F. I.
Brooke & Co. as meat and provision store,
common to all In the same building. In front
Is private door leading to the upper
stories by stairway, the landing Of
which Is middle way OF the hall.
THE DIsTILLRRY.
The nd-story Is where the paraphernalia
OF the dstillery is located in the front and rear
rooms. The main room, in which is placed the
still and mash tubs, is in front. about IA by 20
feet, having two windows opening to the street,
both OF which were found TO be closely sealed
up with thick paper or roofing felt being tackled
closely all round the edges, making the place
from the street impossible. The still Is quite a
large one for such small premises, probably
three hundred gallons. 1t is of copper, and is
the chimney for f1ue, and when seized this
morning had been fired up In the furnace UNDER
meath, with hot water in the still for cleaning
out purposes, before receiving the mash which
was ready In the tubs. There were found four
mash tubs, filled with fresh mashes, ready for
running Oh, and six empty ones, all about
three hogsheads. -Four OF these empty tubs were
In the same room, all cleansed, ready to receive
the malt and grain. stout hogsnead was
found no beside the stu containing the copper
vapor from the still is condensed; the hogshead
containing the coil being filled with cold water.
The goose neck connecting the still and worm
purpose OF washing out the still, which CON
tanned warm water when the officers took
charge OF the room. wooden pump and
and wooden spouts were standing in one corner
OF the room. Recent plumbing operations were
plainly visible where waste pipe had been
placed O., convenient s4, for running OF the sops
large lead pipe, running vertically to the
sewer. In one corner OF the room was about
a ton Of soft Cumberland coal and guam
Buckets, Selves scales, bottles, dippers, ladies',
empty sacks, &C, made up the balance OF the
articles scattered promiscuousiy about In the
found cooking stove, from which it appears
that men were boarding on the premises and
lodging In the rooms tn the third story which
were rel found to be empty The window frame
knocked out, and the bricks torn away, making
quite large aperture In the north side OF the
mouse, through which the still and mash tubs
had been ho1sted. Immediately In the rear OF
Of the house stands an old diiapidated frame
shanty, formerly used as dwelling house
This serves to shield observation from the
houses on that side, and further down the yard
Is q wide gate opening to the alley communi-
eating with K street through which all this
material must have passed. After the arrests
had all been made, and keepers stationed in
front and rear, Mr.. Pearson sent to the Treasury
department for Mr.. A. G. Bliss, in charge OF
g guages, to come and take the strength Of the
with Mr.. Butt and with a saccharOmeter
made a test OF the mash. Tub No. containing
a fermenting mash, somewhat sour from over.
standing, was found at temperature OF So
and specific gravity at zere; tub No contained
the same, and the temperature and gravity the
same, showing that the men were about to
pump these mashes into the STILL Tub No. 8,
contents showed temperature at Sc, with spe.
enc gravity at OF, with mash little sour. just
on the turning point Tub No. 4, temperature
sS,teTIt sS, With specific gravity at OF, The
same, the grain used being rye and corn, the
flrst-named largely predominating, and indI-
eating that pretty good quality of whisky was
being made there. No high wines were found,
ana from Indications 1t Is probable that the first
Trial or the paraphernalta was about tn ha