Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-10-21

Hunting moonshiners is just as ex-
citing sport as hunting tigers in the
jungles of India, said an old deputy
United States marshal, but it is not so
dangerous. The wives and daughters Of
moonshiners, as rule, are smarter than
the men, and much more suspicious of a
stranger. was over in Clay county on
raid once, and was in a locality where
almost every man owned astilL In such
place it is hard to locate the still. and
almost impossible to obtain evidence
against the owners unless they are
caught in the act of making mountain
dew / introduced myself as a land
agent prospecting for mineral lands, and
was regarded with more or less sus-
picion. / was after a noted moonshiner
nsSaed Newt Bledsoe, who was known
to n6ve been operating still in that
locality for two years had trouble in
finding Aplace where they would let me
stay all niAht but finally native sug-
gested that rtry Deacon Bledsoe. 'Ther
deakin's sot OF. 'ligion, ths Bible, and
SIGH, an e allus tekes in strangers said
the native. We directed to the
deacon's house, two miles down the val.
ley, and arrived there one hour after
dark. did not once associate Deacon
Bledsoe, who was sot on the Bible
with Moonshiner Newt Bledsoe. In ne
Spouse to my hello "A tall innocent look
ing old countryman came out to the
gate, and by the light of pine torch
which he carried in his hand he looked
me over BE you'u the new Metho-
dist circuit riderY he asked. decided
to play preacher fer once, and answered
in the affirmative.
"'Light, parson; I'm hardshell, but
you're welcome. | never lays it up agin
man cause he don't belong to my
church, and the deacon received me with
true mountain hospitality.
AT bedtime Bledsoe brought out a
well worn family Bible and invited me
to lead in prayer. had not prayed since
l was boy at Sunday school, but was in
for it, and reading chapter in the Bible
we all knelt down and delivered some
sort of prayer In my petitions re-
ferred to those sinners who defied the
laws of God and man by making spirits,
and prayed the Lord to turn them from
their wicked ways. To this Bledsoe re-
sponded with loud Amenr
Il rose early the next morning, and
finding that breakfast was not ready,
/ started for a short stroll In the
woods back of the house. As left the
ward / noticed Bledsoe's wife watching
me with evident suspicion. walked on
down to a small branch which ran
through the woods, 800 yards back of
the house ] saw smoke rising among
the trees little ways down the branch.
and walking down that way found my
host, Deacon Bledsoe, building a fire
under one Of the largest moonshine stills
ever saw. He seemed as much sur.
prised as / was, and in an instant it
dawned on me that Deacon Bledsoe and
Moonshiner Newton Bledsoe were one
and the same person. Before he recov-
cred from his surprise had him COW
cred with my revolver, and telling him
who was, ordered him to surrender.
Drap that thar weepin. knowed
you warn't no parson,' said a female
voice behind me at that moment, and
turning saw Bledsoe's wife. She had
the drop on me with long rifle and
dropped my pistol Bledsoe picked up
my revolver and was marched back to
the house prisoner.
"'Thar's your critter ready saddled an
here's bite to eat; now git said Mrs.
Bledsoe, and she kept me covered with
the rifle while her husband handed me
back my pistol when / had mounted my
horse
won't you pray for us agin, parson,
fore you go7' said Bledsoe with q grin
as / rode away. A week later returned
with strong posse, captured Bledsoe,
and destroyed his still. I could have
made q case against his wife, but
wouldn't do it.
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