Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-06

said an old deputy United States marshal yes
terday, but it is not SO dangerous. The wives
and daughters Of moonshiners, az O rule are
smarter than the men and much more sus-
plcious OF stranger. l over in Clay
county on u raid once, and was in a locality
whore almost every man owned still. In such
place it ID 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 land agent prospecting for mineral lands,
was after noted moonshiner
named Newt Bledsoe, who was known
to have been operating a still in that
locality for two years. had trouble in finding
place where they would let me stay all night,
but finally native suggested that try Deacon
Bledsoe. Their Deakin's sot OH ligion, the
Bible and SIGH, an g allus takes in strangers
said the native. was directed to the deacons
house, two miles down the valley, and arrived
there an hour after dark. did not once asso-
ciate Deacon Biedsoe. who was sot on the
Bible with Moonshiner Newt Bledsoe In re-
spouse to my hello q tall, innocent-looking old
countryman came out to the gate, and by the
light of a pine torch which he carried in his
hand he looked me over. BE youuns the new
Methodist circuit riderT he asked. l decided
to play preacher for once, and answered in the
affirmative.
Light, parson; I'm hardshell, but you're
he don't belong to my church. and the deacon
received me with true mountain hospitality
AT bedtime Bledsoe brought out WELL worn
family Bible and invited me to lead III prayer.
had not prayed since was a boy at Sunday
school. but was in for it, and reading a chapter
in the Bible we all knelt down and I delivered
some sort OF prayer. In my petitions I 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
In1
'Amenp
Il rose early the next morning, and finding
That breakfast was not ready, started for
short stroll in the woods back Of the house.
as left the yard l noticed Bledsoe's wife
watching me with evident suspicion. I walked
on down to small branch which ran through
the wooc :, 800 yards back OF the house. I saw
smoke ric,ng 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. de seemed as much surprised as
was, and in an instant it dawned ON me that
Deacon Bledsoe and Moonshiner Newton Bled-
soc were one and the same person. Before he
recovered from his surprise had him covered
with my revolver and telling him who was,
ordered him to surrender.
Drap that thar weepin. / knowed You
warn't no parson,' said q female voice behind
me at that moment, and turning saw Blsdsoe's
| wife. She had the drop on me with long rife
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. H
Wont you pray for rs agin, parson. fore
you Rov said Bledsoe with grin - rode
| away. - later returned with strong
posse, caps ! Bledsoe and destroyed his
still eoa.a have made case against hia
] wift Jut wouldn't do it