Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-28
A TIMELY WARNING.

and raided dozens of wildcat d1stillerleS, and when he left he took with him as a bride tho daughter of an extensive moon- sinner. He first appeared in that vicinity at Guise's tavern, representing himself as Joe Belden, salesman for Pittsburg pa- per bag manufactory. He oleverly worked his way into the good graces of the noun taineers and captured a large number of illicit distilleries.
 After that his superiors deemed it best for his safety to send him to other noun tainous counties. Late one afternoon he started on foot from Herrick's to go over tho mountain to Smithville, where he was temporarily boarding. He pursued his way unsuspectingly until we'll up tho slope, when he noticed that the hooting of a supposed owl behind him sounded near CT and nearer from timo to time.
 The hooting was answered from the other side of the mountains. It plainly told Belden that there also WAS a mur- derous enemy concealed along tho road down which he was travelling. Quickly he concealed himself in chimp of bushes and silently watched for the appearance of his pursuer After five minutes wait tho evil eyed human bird of prey appeared around a bend in the road up which Joe
 
 ungainly, elderly man, whose forbidding faco was covered with a growth of stubby beard In his hand was rifle and ho dodged behind rocks and convenient trees in a manner that denoted his mission was ono of no good.
 As soon us the desperado disappeared down tho roud Joo climbed hemlock tree and found oonccalment ill it's branches, which overhung the narrow road. He left the tree and in the darkness of gathering night went to Smithville. There he rec ognized as visitors to tho barroom tho two men who were but a few hours before plotting to take his life on the mountain. He concluded that they came to learn in which direction he would travel the noxt day ..
 Joe Bell was quick witted fellow and speedily arranged plan of action. He became acquainted with Jack Reed and Bill Townsend, his would be assassins, led tho conversation to coon hunting, and with every appearance of qualification and anticipated pleasure accepted an invita- tion to accompany both the next night in hunt on Sassafras hill. Tho next morn- ing at dnybreak he took stage for "a short ride to tho next village" and at nightfall he was 40 miles away. Three nights later two stills wero raided near Smithyillc, and Jack Reed and Bill Town send were among tho moonshiners cap tured. He was then assigned to tho dis triot that included Parkorsburg, where for a time he made his headquarters. Mas querading as laborer in search of employ ment, he secured ht Sedgley, 12 miles back in the mountains, position as team ster with man suspected of moonshining.
 Tho teamster, before week had passed, learned that his employer was one of regularly organized band of moonshiners, whose members operated seven illicit dis tilleries concealed in the mountains. He promptly ingratiated himself into the con- fldence of old Jerry Tucker the most in- fuential moonshiner of the gang, and ul- timately visited each wildcat still. He anticipated soon making arrests and con- fscations, when something unanticipated happened. One afternoon, when return ing with his mule team from hauling load of logs to the mill, Bell overlook pretty Jennie Tucker, daughter of Jerry, who had apparently been down the slope to the store, for she carried couple of parcels. Bell undesignedly asked her to put the packages on the wagon, and he would con vey them home for her. As she did so, with thanks, tiny note was slipped into his hand, while the girl, in a loud, cheer full voice, exclaimed: "No, thank ye, I don't care to ride. Don't wait for me"
 As soon as he returned he read this star ting yet timely message:
 ''They know now who you are and mean no good. Leave at once, before night. You have been followed for two days"
 Bell quickly got his revolver from its hiding place under some hay, put on his coat and coolly walked back to the porch of the Tucker cabin. Picking up an empty pail, he told Mrs. Tucker that he would bring some good water and walked away toward fine spring in the timber down the slope. When he arrived there, he did not pause; but, throwing the pail into the brush, struck off at lively pace across tho mountain for his life. Just at dark he reached the road leading to White House and walked it all night in the moonlight. An hour after daylight he ar- rived at Braxton Station, whero he subse- quently Jagged and boarded train and in the evening arrived in Wheeling The next day he headed a posse and proceeded back to Sedgley, where, under cover of the darkness, the seven wildcat stills were raided that night, though not single moonshiner could be found. Fourteen ar rests were made the next day, but not one leader of the gang of moonsbiners was taken.
 Joe and his men called at the Tucker cabin and found no one at home save the old mulatto cook The officers, with their prisoners, proceeded, after destroying the confscated distilling machinery, back to, the capital, where in an early trial the ap-. prehendod moonshiners were all convicted and fined or imprisoned.
 A month later Bell was surprised to learn that Jennie Tucker was attending young ladies' seminary in Wheeling. He sought her out, was gladly received and soon became frequent visitor with the young lady. Long afterward he learned that he was first suspected by the Sedgley moonshiners when they found that he was sending cipher telegrams from Par