The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-02-03
MoonShinerS Trapped.
The LAUREL HILL BAND ERoK-
EN- UP.
s.,oessfuI Raid on the Illicit Manu-
4scturers OF Mountain Dew.


A nosse Of {. S. revenue officials and spe-
=, ,aieers made raid on the moonshin-
yrs doing business along the Laurel hni
n,osn,sin dividing FGyeite, Westmoreiano
"a s,nsr.et counties. at an early hour last
FRIDAY morning. They captured Two s''iis
IN full operation, four hundred gallons o.
:. moonsbjue.' eight hundred gallons o.
besr a quantity OF spplejack. aud io' OF
new barrels. all of which were destroyed us
burning. Five men. Charles Boiesoy' 'ohh
Tiak-v- Amos Scs;tcbfeld, John MaTtheny'
and James Tnkey were arrested and taken
10 the Pittsburgh jail TO await trial in the l.
S. District Court
A number OF other localities were visited
by the posse and two brothers, named Pntls,
we're arrested on suspicion OF being engaged
in he manufacture Of mOOnshine," but
were subsequently released, the officers be
ine unable 10 collect sufficient evidence
against them TO insure conviction.
II was the original intention Of the posse
10 raid three or four places At the foot oi
the mountain in this county, where they
had reasons for suspecting iilici, stills were
in operation, bu; the day was 50 stormy ana
the roads 50 drifici that they were comPeil-
ed to abandon the project, at least Tor the
present
The fact that mountain dew was being
made along both sides Of the mountain hss
been known for years, and four or i've years
ago several Of the sinners were captured
their plants destroyed, and the criminals
were convicted in the T. S. Courts For
wear or two following very little was zeard
re-arding rmoonsbine7 whisky in this coun-
tv but for two years past, il had been general
lv believed that the industry has been re-
vived. and many stories have been put into
circulation regarding the strength and Sc
curity Of the sinners and the bOldness
with which they have been carrying on their
lawless vocation. Il is even said that one
of The sinners boldly comes 10 Somerset
once or twice month for his rye chop, and
for sheet-iron with which to hoop his bar
rels.
Another story is told Of q party working
on the road last spring, in one of the noun
tain townships when candidate happened
along, and it was suggested that be stand
treat for the crowd But what am 10
treat to- inquired the astonished Of
fice-seeker, exposing his inside pockets
Give me dollar replied one ofthe crowd,
as and III soon get the stuff The dollar
was handed the speaker, and he at once star
ted up the road on run. Hating al large
stone by the side of the road, he gave pc
caliar whistle and then retreated half way
back 70 where his brother workmen were
employed Here he paused for fifteen or
twenty minutes and then returned 10 the
rock. The next moment he could be seen
coming down the road, swinging gallon
Jug.
Another guilty Circumstance is related by q
lnmbermsn who was looking sffer a tract OF
mountain land in the same region, and who
employed man acquainted with the people
10 accompany him. " At different points in
the mountain be says, noticed trees
blszsd in q peculiar way. Inquiring the rea-
son OF my companion, be ST first replied that
they marked the county line, but when !
pressed him further, he merely shook his
head, and said, a / don't know" It wasn't
long, however, until discovered that they
were indexes for the guidance of those men,
bers of the mOonshine gang who were
unfamiliar with the location of the still. At
about every other house We stopped st, no
fioed that my travelling companion would
ask for 4 drink OF whisky. He was never
refused, and the stuff he got was white
as water. ! tasted il bur once. and ! am sat
ished It was what is called mountain dew. 4"
II is made in little stills and is pure white
As it is not put into charred casks like rye
it is easily detected by its color as well as by
its raw taste.
Stories Of the above character and many
more from authentic sources were reported
to Deputy Collector p. A. Johns, who visits
this county once a month on his official
rounds. He reported the facts 10 the Inter
nal Revenue Department, ard special Off
GERS were detailed to work up the cases. The
Information collected by the officers cul-
minated in the raid Of Thursday night.
The raid was planned by Deputy Collector
Johns, and special agent DR.. A B. Mason
says THAI be Is entitled to all the credit for
the success that attended the expedition, ano
furthermore, that it was the best planned
raid with which he mas been connected IN
bis experience throughout the country. Spe
cial Agent Culbsrtson was also loud in his
praise Of Mr.. Johns executive ability and
courage.
Mr.. Johns insisted that the party should
start from Somerset, but was overruled b,
the other officials. The party left Pittsburgh
Thursday evening in two squads, ole going
by way OF the Pennsylvania railroad 70 Mt
Pleasant, and the other over the Baltimore
aud Ohio, 70 The same place, arriving ihere
al different times and stopping at different
hotels 10 throw or suspicion. In the posse
were Agents Culberison and Mason. United
States Marshal Harrah, Deputy Collectors
Mitchell, Johns, keefer and Rudolph. Den
MY Marshal CARRIER, Inspector Harvey II
>lusser and about sixteen Others. including
several well-dnown Pittsburgh detectives
They all len Mt Pleasant st o'clock in the
morning, sixteen Of the posse mounted on
horses, and the remainder ia waeons and
proceeded al once 10 the country hack of
Trent postofsioe, on The Fayette county
SIDE This particular section Of country i
very Wild and ccsolste. The surface Is bro
Ken ana rocky and convenient hiding place
fsr wildcat distiliers Huge mountains Of
solid rock tower up on every hand. forming
deep Fayines between them, into which the
night Of day can scarcely penetrate. Irto
one OF those the officers pushed their way.
and were rewarded by finding the still and
complete outfit of Charles Bolesby. Bolesbv
was eDgssed AT stirring the mash when a
couple Of The officers entered, and in replv
10 = question said that his children had the
measles. and be was making q little whisky
70 cure them with Other members Of The
pDsse were a. onoe dispatched 70 Boiesby's
house, where James Narheny and Amos
scriichsield were ca0igred and brought 10 the
disiillery.
[ wish yon coald have heard thcse peo-
Pie lie to u said Dr. Mason. You would
have thought they were the most innocent
soais on sarih until finally one of them ask
I'd the penalty for The frsi Oifense' The
still. which was large one. was cut Up. and
the balance Of the apparatus destroyed and /
finally burned up.
The moonshiners leave no opportupitv
risss 70 sr,r,riS heir ss,,., ..-... q. 4