The morning call., 1890-10-03
A INCONSISTENCIES WIFE
Exciting Experience ola United
States Deputy Marshal. :.

Hunting moonshiners is just as exciting
sport as hunting tigers in the iungles of
India said an old Deputy United States
Marshal to a correspondent Of the st. Louis
Globe Democrat, " but it is not SO dangerous.
The wives and daughters Of the moon
sinners, as rule, are smarter than the men
and more suspicious of a stranger. :,
a. l was over; in Clay County on: raid
once, and was in a locality where almost
every man owned a STILL. In such a. place ii
is hard to locate a STILL and almost. impos-
sble to obtain evidence against the owners
unless they are caught in the act of making
mountain dew l introduced myself as a
land agent prospecting for mineral Ian Is,
but the natives did not all believe my story,
and was regarded with more or less sns-
picion. j was after a noted mOonshiper
named Newt Bledsoe, who, was known to
have Incorporating still in that locality
for two years. . y ~. :: -.
they would let me stay all night, but finally
native suggested that j try Deacon :Bed-
.S0e.l liner Deakin's sot ION IgiOn, the.
Bible and: Sich, an :: 'er: allus takes In
strangers said the native. was directed
to the Deacon's house. two: miles down the
valley, and arrived there an hour after dark.
z / did not once. associate Deacon Bledsoe.
whowas 'sot ON the Bible, with. Moonshiner
Newt BledSoe. In response to my hello a.
tall, innocent-looking old conntTyman came
out to the gate, and by the light OF a, zine
torch which he carried in. hishand ne lonked
me over. BE you uns. the new Methodist
cireuit-rider2 he asked. l decided; TO play
preacher for once, and answered: in the al.
: firmative 49,: .:t, H.. >: =.
i" Light, parson. I'm ahardshell, but you're
welcome. / never lays: it. up agin "a man
cause lie don't belong to my church, and
the deacon received me with true mountain:
hospitality, t-..as =: "!
AT bedtime Bledsoe brought out a we'll:
worn family Bible and invited me lead IN
prayer. | had not prayed since was a. boy
at Sunday school. but was in for 1t, and,
reading a chapter IN the Bible, we all knelt
down and delivered some sort OF a prayer.
In my petitions referred to those sinners
who defied the laws of God and man by
making spirits, and prayed the Lord 10 turn.
them from their wicked ways. 10 this:
Bledsoe responded with loud amen.
81 rose early the next morning, and find
ing that breakfast was not ready, / started
for q short stroll in the woods back OF the
house. As l left the yard I noticed Bled-:
soe's wife watching me with evident suspl-:
cion. i walked on down TO a small branch
which ran through the woods, 500 yards back
of the house.. l saw smoke rising among
the trees little ways down the branch; aud
walking down that way i found my host
Deacon Bledsoe, building fire under. one
of the largest moonshIne stills l. ever saw:
lie SttUltu IluCu SUI piioSu 40 "eSt S''U
in an instant it dawned ON me that Deacon
Bledsoe and Moonshiner Newton Bledsoe
were one and the same person. Before ne
recovered from his surprised bad him COW
cred with my revolver, and telling him who
was, ordered him TO surrender. -:
-. 'Drap that thar weepin'. knowed you
warn't no paTson,' said a female voice be-
.:bind me at that moment, and turning saw
Bledsoe's wife,. She had the drop on me
with long rifle, and j. dropped. my pistol.
Bledsoe picked up my revolver and was
marched back tothe house a prisoner. ~
"'rhar's your critter ready saddled. al:
here's bite to eat; now: git, said Mrs;
rifle while her husband handed me back my
pistol when had mounted my horse. -.
.;"'Wont you pray for us agin, pa,son,
fore you gos,s said BIeisoe, with grin as /
rode away. A week later returned with a
Strong posse, captured Bedsoe aud de-
stroyed his still. / could have made a case.
against his wife. but l wouldn't do :. :"