Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-07-30
"what had thess negroes 10 do wtls

"what had thess usgfoss 10 do wtls
this case ?'' said /.
'oh, they always have one or two
black lieutenants to help around and
buy corn, or steal it, and to sell the
whisky by the jugful to other negroes.
They are the best sort of TRUSTEES and
will keep a secret better than a white
man. Those negroes will swear that
they Just happened dar' and had moth
ing to do with the still"
"Will either of these men be able to
give bond and keep out Of Jail until
court ?" said l.
II wouldn't be surprised" said he.
''They have some substantial friends In
their neighhorhood. The bonds are
$500 each and they will be sent back
tomorrow to get security. 1t is aston.
ishing how many people in a communi-
ty sympathize with the moonshiner and
are down on the informer when they
find him out. That's a secret that we
officers have to keep inviolate or We
would nevo- catch another still"
A few years ago. when l was gettir
the right of way for the East Tennes
see railroad, l was belatod one moon.
light night in Paulding county. and
had to ride several miles to to the house
of an acquaintance who was with me.
Down in TN ugly ravine our road cross
ed little branch, and near it was q
covered wagon and yoke of steers and
two rough-lookin men sitting by a
campfire. "Moonshiners," said my
friend. There is still up the branch
about mile. and these fellows have
started to market with some whisky.
I know them. and they know that
know them and their business. We
must stop a minute and be friendly, or
they may suspect that you are a reve'
nue. officer" We stopped and chatted
awhile, and my friend told who was
and what l was doing. They were
easily satisfied, but / didn't like the
looks of the two guns that were lean
ing against a tree. Not long after
wards I was driving to my country
home near Gainesville and overlook O
tired man who had little black valiss
in his hand. l asked him if he wouldn't
like to ride, and he thanked me and got
in. How far are you going this way?
| asked.
ITO Fannin county" he said.
"Did yon come on the train this even
ing? ~ l asked.
mo, SIR" said he; 81 have walked
from Atlanta. Reen staying there fol
three months"
"Moonshiner ?" said I.
THAT'S it," said he.
"They took YOU down on the cars and
sent you back on foot ?" said I.
That's it," said he.
"Well, my friend, ] reckon this will
make you quit the business. wont it p
"NVell. don't know about that. We
rather like it up in the mountains and
it's about the only way we can sell our
corn. One bushel will make three gal
Ions of whisky that we can sell for So,
but we can't haul the corn sixty miller
to market"
"But it is against the law" said /.
"Yes, know it is but there is no sin
in dodging law that was made for
rich men to get richer and keeps poor
man down. There is no justice in these
revenue laws"
And so it goes on and will continue
to go OH. 1t is very much like the SNUG
glers on the coast. The very hazard OF
it. is fascinatin to those who pursue It
There ara smugglers now on the Flof
ida coast whose fathers and grandfa-
theirs struggled before them, and thu
business will continue down 70, gener
ations to come.
R<ar Ann