Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-15
WHISKY A DRY COUNTY.
Three Negroes Hold for Violating the
Internal Revenue Law.

Internal Revenue Law.
The United States Commissioners were
busy yesterday. Three of the prisoners
arrested last week in Camden county by
United States Deputy Marshals Hall aud
Palmer were brought up to answer the
charge OF selling liquor without having
paid the special tax.
Ned Tattnall, an old stoop-shouldered
negro, whose chin Is fringed with a
scraggy white beard and who said that he
would be 70 years old to-day, was the first
tried. Ned had not recovered from his
surprise and fright at being arrested, and
seemed awed by the dignity of the court
officers and the biz pictures with gilded
frames that hang on the walls.
The case was heard by Commissioner
Beckett, and John Young was the first
witness. The prisoners and witnesses in
all of the cases were negroes. He stated
that he has bought whisky twice this
year from the accused. At one time he
got 80 cents worth and on the other occa-
sion he got % cents worth.
Robert Hunt, who lives at OWENS
ferry, Camden county, remembered buy
ing quart from Ned about the first of
1884, and at another time he got pint
Jerry Underwood stated that he bought
a quart Of whisky from the defendant last
year.
Old Ned In his own behalf declared that
the liquor was given him, and that the
boys came TO his house and got some
drinks. He said that he had been before
the Camden county authorities for violat-
ing the liquor law of the county. He
pleaded ignorance, and denied having
sold any liquor for two years.
The old man was not at home when the
Deputy Marshals called late at night, but
6anUhfpF w crf1a RI N
cabin, in which were found several gal
Ions of whisky scattered around under
beds and tables in jugs and kegs. TAFT
nall said that the stock which the officers
found belonged to his daughter Sophie,
who dealt it out to buyers in the woods.
Tattnall was held in $500 bond to APP
pear at the next term of court.
Clerk Marion Erwin, of the District
Court, in his capacity of United States
Commissioner, had the next case.
George Simpson is not as old as Ned
Tattnall, but he wears a red bandana
around his head.
Pink Moore told about a transaction In
which he gave Simpson $l.20 for pint of
whisky to enable his wife to make
some cam phor water. The witness guile
lessly added thai the whisky was so bad
that he could not drink it, and had to
throw 1t away. The next week he got
another quart from Simpson, who took
provisions out OF Moore's store in pay
ment. When the witness met Simpson
the next time he remarked: ''rhat was a
mean trick you played me. That was not
whisky bought; it was only water"
Jake Moore was sworn, but he did not
know anything about the case except
what he had heard, and he was told to
stand aside and give the defendant an op-
pOrtunity to make a statement, there
being no other witnesses.
Simpson swOre emphatically that he
never sold any liquor to any one in mis-
lite, but claimed that he bought pint
once from the prosecuting witness, Pink
Moore. 1t did not occur to him to show
by Moore's own evidence that ne d
never sold the principal witness any
liquor, for Moore had just testified that
the first quart he purchased was mix
ture OF he did not know what, and that il
was so mean that he did not drink it,while
the second quart he complained was only
natural water" In default OF 800 bond
Simpson was committed.
In the afternoon George Mcdonald, also
OF Ovens ferry, was taken before United
States Commissioner Locke. Moses Ham
iltOn testified that h. bought half pint
from Mcdonald! Dec. %, 1884, and paid
him 25c for it.
John Young said ne bought half n pint
on last Christmas day, and two pints on
OtneF occasions, paying QUO. pint.
Adam Cummings stated that he had got
whisky from the defendant.
Mcdonald cross-eXamined the witnesses
but did not get much out OF them that
benefited his side of the case. He re-
quested one OF the deputies to get
s3 80 from Young, declaring that
he let Young have it to get the boys to
swear that they did not pay for the
whisky they got. Mcdonald could not
md k4u. 10 f.aIF
court.
The case Of Ellis Owens was postponed
until to-day. Camden is a prohibition
county.