The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1888-02-09
BLIND rIsER NEAR AusIElL

Situated between Austell and Salt Springs,
just across the line in Douglas county, on
the side of the road in the woods, is a ten
by fourteen plank house, in which 'blind
tiger has been running for year or more
unmolested. Here whisky has been sold
day and night, Sunday included and
young boys have staggered into Aus,ell
drunk and the peace of the town has been
disturbed until the matter had become an
ntolerable nuisance Douglas county wait
ed for Cobb county to act and vice versa.
Both being prohibition counties, the law
was evidently being violated openly On
last Friday night seven citizens of Austell
went out to the den of the "blind tiger. .
They were L. W Medlock, s. d. Hearst d
X Lyle, j. b Medlock, j. +. Pair, F. NJ.
Bowen, and Mr. Benton Bowen who had
frequently bought whisky from the blind
tiger" approached and ratified the drawer.
1t was showed out by an unseen party, a
twenty-five cents piece was dropped in the
drawer, and soon bottle of whisky was
showed out The party then surrounded
the house, and demanded entrance. This
was denied. The party outside assured
those inside that they would neither be ar
rested or hagt, bat they were determined TO
know who were running the blind tiger. +"
Finally the door was opened, and two boys,
Henley Croker and Harris Croker l6 and
10 years Of age, were found to be the only
occupants. The oldest said he had come
to bring tlge bis supper, while the young
est said he was employed by Sam James to
sell the whisky. Hearst, the marshal of
Austell had warrants sworn out for the bows
next day. and they were taken to Douglas
vile for trial where they gave bond Dr
Medlock and j. f. Pair accompanied mar
shall Hearst, and they were arrested in
Douglasville at the trial charged with as
sault with intent TO murder on account of
their visit to the blind tiger" Friday night.
They each gave bond and we're released.
A Douglas county balitf started back with
the Austell citizens to be piloted to the blind
tiger so he could seize the whisky, and when
they got there they found Bud Moody and
old man Croker. there, armed with shot guns
and they refused to open the door, There
was an old hasp on the outside and they
fastened them in by placing it over the sta
pie. just about this time, it is said Wash
and Sam James came up armed with shot
guns, and remarked "Oh, d-n you, Med
lock- I've got you this time Don't touch
that door or I'll kill you Medock told
James that he had only come with the bal.
lift to show the way and not for a row.
Hearst started to Salt Springs to get the
marshal and the ballitf skipped when he
saw the Jameses, leaving only DR. Medlock
and Pair. Soon Bob James, Quillian How
ell and John James came up armed and be-
gan abusing them, Moody attempting to
choke Medlock, but they managed to get
away without being hurt but when Hearst
returned they fired upon him and, he says,
bullet hole was made in his coat sleeve.
On Sunday the Douglas county Deputy
Sheriff, with Sam. Wash and Bob James,
Howell and Moody, as a posse, came into
Austell and arrested Bowen, but he gave
bond. They had warrant for L. W. Med
lock- but he was in Marietta at'that time.
The posse said they would come back for
him Monday. There is a good deal of ex-
element about ii at Austell and the good
citizens of that place owe it to law aud or.
der and the protection of society to break
up the blind tiger and prosecute the par
ties engaged in running 1t.