The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-11
ILLICIT DlsrlLLERs.
A Number of Moonshiners Be-
fore Commissioner Rhodes.

Yesterday was IN unusually busy day
with certain United States officials OF
this city and section.
a reporter for THE TIMES, early in the
day, noticed that United States Com
missioner Rhodes. Deputy Marshal
Mills and Deputy Collector White
seemed to have an affinity for each
other that betokened something out Of
the rdinary channel Of official business
and he turned his reportorial nostrils to
the wind to catch q scent OF the news
he felt sure was in the air.
The scribe ran the game to cover in
the Office of Justice Howerton whom
Com missioner Rhodes heard charges
against one citizen OF Roanoke county
and five of Bedford. Liquor, the be-
setting sin OF thousands of men and
half as many women Of the United
States. was at the bottom of the trouble
these mon had become involved in.
The commissioners quietly combed his
called for tho warrants. The deputy
marshal quickly produced them, and
the parties named therein were ar
raigned and their cases disposed of as
follows:
s. b. Hancock, OF Cave Spring, Roa-
noke county, charged with refilling a
stamped package. He waived an ex
animation, and furnished bail in the
sum of $500 for his appearance at tho
spring term of the United States dis
trict court at Lynchburg.
A. ID. Horrell, of Bedford county,
came next. lie was charged with
Illicit distilling. Conscience had evil
IDENTIFY got in its work On him, for he
n1a Of nd
nized in the sum of $500 for his appear
anco at court.
Joseoh Dallas had two charges to an
swer to. An illicit distillery had been
discovered ON his farm in Bedford and =,
in addition to this offense, no was
charged with aiding and abetting illicit
diStilling. He was recognized in the
sum of $500.
John A. Wilson, another BEDFORD man,
stepped forward to answer the same
charges preferred against Dallas. The
same disposition was made of his case.
j. f. Bebo, also of Bedford, was next
invited to turn his optics towards the
benign countenance of tho commits
sioner, and answer the charge of illicit
distilling. Failing to do this satisfac-
torily he was recognized to appear at
court in tho sum Of $500.
Jerry Watson was the next victim.
He is from Bedford and came up ON
double charge. He ran Debo's distillery,
an offense against the laws of Uncle
Sam, and was compelled to face the
additional charge of aiding and ahetting
illicit distilling He did this with all
the grace and hcroism that could be ex-
pected under the circum stances, but the
commissioner held aloft the scales of
justice, and Watson was found lacking
in weight He gave bail in the sum
OF $500 for his appearance at Lynch
burg.
"Where ignorance is bliss tits folly to
be WISE" had evidently been impressed
on the minds of Dallas and Wilson.
Illicit distilleries had been found on
their lands, but how they got there and
just where they were situated was mys-
terry to them.
They were as ignorant of the presen CO
of these Objectionable and unnecessary
adJuncts to successful agriculture as is
six months'-old HotteDtot Of Latin or
Greek.
Commissioners Rhodes wore hat to
the Office of Justice Howerton. He
went away bareheaded. During the
trial some one borrowed his head cover
ing. He does not complain, as he is
satisfied that the borrower will return
1T as soon as the weather moderates.