The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-08-04
TIE MISSION or Boy DETECTIVES.
They Arc Called to spot the Breakers Of the
Prohibition Inv.
(From the New York World,

They Arc Called to "Spot" the Breakers of th,
Prohibition LAW.
(From the New York world)
Waldo and Theodore Barnes, two
eifcminato looking striplings, believe thai
they have experienced divine call tc
redeem Rhode Island from the ruin that
threatens in consequence of the dcfcc
tive construction of the now prohibitory
law. The act, which was framed by
Prohibitionists unlearned in the law was
made to read that no intoXicants shall be
made or sold cas- II beverage" thus lin.
ltinS the illegal purposes and leaving the
manufacture or sale open for all Other
purposes. The result of this has been
to convert the State into II vast cntomo-
logical museum. Nearly every third
person has taken an interest in ihc
alcoholic preservation of bugs, catapil-
lars and insects of every description,
and, therefore, the consumption of
spirits has abatcd little since the reign of
temperance began. Defiance of the law
was observed in all quarters, especially
IN the country, but no warrants were
issued, the authorities knowing that il
would be useless to act with the old gang
OF Spottcrs, whose raScally cOnnivancc
with vcnal magistrates was recently OK
posed by n legislative committee. The
frauds OF these spoilers were SO glaring
that no jury would convict on their tcS-
timony, and to the dismay of the Prohi-
bltlon party their amendment to the con
Stitution seemed dead failure. while
these bcardlcss boys presented them
selves and made known their alleged
mission.
The Joan-of-Arc call came to them
simultaneously while they were boiling
II dead horse, and they there and then
resolved to devote themselves to the ser
vice of the State as detectives. The
father of tho Barnes boys has carried on
the profession Of horse knackcr for many
years, and his sons have grown up to be
experts III the art of extracting the fats
from the carcasscs secured by the old
8cntlcman. The authorities were at
ilrst inclined to treat the young men as
manlaca, but the earncstncss, honesty
and candor of the lads pleaded for them
and they were allowed to try their
amateur detective hands on the violators
OF tho liquor law. Elatcd over their ap-
pointment, Waldo and Theodore re-
turned home and began to lay in an out
fit for their first crusade In the light
OF their knowledge of detective work,
derived almost wholly from books of the
jonathan Wild type, the lads believed
they could only accomplish their pur-
pose with the aid of DISCUSSES. From
the relics of long ago stranded dra-
matte company they procured wigs,
moustachcs, pirates boards, corsair
shirts and other suitable costumes.
Packing up these with map of the
state and Il copy Of the prohibition law,
the boys started out OH their expedition.
a pair Of horse pistols completed their
outfit. From the outset they met with
signal success, obtaining sales at scores
of places and collecting evidence of the
most incontrovcrtiblc character. They
could have obtained all they wanted by
wink Of the eye, but the striplings
were impressed with the idea that they
must he disguised and that their throats
would DC cut If their DISCUSSES should be
penetrated. Thus, instead Of walking
up and getting their drinks in n natural
way, they appeared as aged travellers,
castaway sailors, etc, bent with years,
trembling in gait and with hanging
tongues.
In this way the inspired youths sue
ceodod III bagging fifty law breakers,
and with one exception all have been
convicted or adjudgcd guilty and re-
mandcd for trial i'll the higher courts.
The boy detectives make good witnesses,
and cannot be beaten down by the cross
examination. They are honest and con
sclentlous in their alleged mission, and
have such phenominal memories that
they never mako any memoranda nor
can they be trippcd in court upon date
or day. In lone country inn where
they went disguised in costumes that
had been used in Ingomar, the landlord
was so scared at the sight of the fierce
looking visitors that he fled, leaving all
his illicit stock to them. Disguised as
clam diggers they visited another place,
and after making a sale they came into
town and were photographed They
show the portrait and relate the adYen-
lures with great relish. A few evenings
ago they imagined that committee of
dcperatc saloonists were charged with
the duty of dirkmg them, and they sent
out an alarm to the the police, but it
was nothing but their highly dramatic
imagination. Once within the walls of
their isolated dwelling, where the dead
horse cauldron is run, and they are safe
from the most daring assassin. The
aroma Of the sweltcring carcasses makes
the place imprcgnablo. The chief of
police has now u huge stack Of warrants
ready for service, and " given
night officers will sally forth and execute
them simultaneously. 1t will be another
slaughter of the innocents.