West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-04-16
A xooNsHINER's SMART WIFE.
The Exciting Experience OF a United
states Deputy Marshal.

"Hunting moonshiners is just as
exciting sport as hunting tigers in
the junglss of India" said an old
United States Marshal, "but 1t is
not 80 dangerous. The wives and
dap ghters Of the moonshiners, as
rule, are smarter than the men,
and much more suspicious Of .
stranger
al was ever in Clay county, ".
Va, on q raid once, and was in a
locality where almost every man
owned a mill. In such place it is
hard to locate the still, and almost
impossible to obtain ev id enc Q
against the owners unless they are
caught in the act Of making noun
tain dow / introduced myself rs
land agent prospecting for MN
sral lands, but the natives did not
all believe my story, and l was re-
garded with more or less suspicion.
l was after n Noted moonshiner
named Newt Bledsoe, who was
known to have been operating Il still
in that vicinity for two years.
al had trouble in finding place
where they would let me stay all
night bat finally native suggested
that / try Deacon Bledsoe. Their
deakins sot on 'ligion, the bible,
and SIGH, an e allus takes in stran-
gers. said the native. I WIS di.
rected to the deacon's house. two
miles down the valley, and / ar
rived there an hour after dark. l
did not once associate Deacon Bled-
soc, who WAS 'sot on the bible with
Aoonshiner Newt Bledsoe. In re-
Spouse to my hello, tall innocent
looking old countryman came to
the gate. and by the light Of q pine
torch which he carried in his hand
ne looked over mo. BE you 'uns
the new methodist circuit rider p
ne asked. decided to play preach
err for once, and answered In the
affirmative.
Light, parson, I'm hardshell,
but you're welcome. l never lays
1t up agin man Gauss he don't
belong to my church, and the dea-
con received me with true mountain
hospitality.
"At bedtime Bledsoe brought
out a well-worn family bible and
invited mo to lead in prayer. had
not prayed since was q boy at
Sunday school, but l was in for it,
and reading chapter in the bible,
we all knelt down and | delivered
some sort of a prayer. In my pc
tition l referred to those sinners
who defed the laws Of God and man
10y making spirits, and prayed the
Lord to turn them from their wick.
ed ways. To this Biedsoc respon.
ded with loud amen.
ros, early the next morning
and finding that breakfast was MOI
ready started for stroll through
the woods back of the house. As
left the yard ] noticed Bledsoe's
wife watching me with evident sus-
picion. l walked OIL down to a
small branch which ran thro, Oh
the woods. $50 yards back Of the
house. / saw smoke arising among
the tress little way down the
branch, and walking down that
way found my host, Deacon Bled-
soe, building fire under one Of
the largest moonshins stills / ever
s'W. He seemel As much surprised
~ was, and in An instant il dawn
81 upon me that Deacon Bledsoo
AID MoOnshiner n or Bcdsoe
we're one and the same. Before he
had recovered from his surprise j
had him covered with my revolver,
and telling him who was, ordered
him to surrender.
"Drap that thar wsepin, l know
ed you Warn't no parson," said
female voice behind me at that
moment and turning saw Blsd-
'oe's wife. She had the drop on
me with = long rife, and dropped
my pistol. Blsdsos picked up ms
revolver and was marched back to
the house = prisoner.
That's your critter ready sad
died an here's bite to eat; now
git, said Mrs. Bledsoe aud she