The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-01-24
A Shiawassee County Boys Book.
SOMERYILL

n ouldWdSSCC SOuhty DOy 6oons
SoMERvILLE, MASS, Jan, 20, '96.
Henry M. Wiltse, of Chattanooga, Tenn,
must still have many old school fellows and
friends in Shiawassee county, ''the land of
his BIRTH" and they will be interested in
knowing about his new book, The Moon
sinners" AS will be remembered, Mr..
Wiltse graduated from the law school at the
Michigan University some years since, and
from thence began the practice of law in
Chattanooga, where he has resided ever
since. His industry and fidelity won him
friends, and while still mere youth, he
was elected as representative of his dis
trict in the State Legislature. Here he
served for two terms very satisfactorily to
his constituency. he has also been city at
torney for Chattanooga, and served term
or two as assistant United States attorney.
1t was during this latter service that be
CLEANED so much of life among the
Moonshiners, for it was a part of his duty
to defend the revenue laws.
From the nature of its subject, the book
is not one of ideals, and being myself an
idealist, L cannot therefore recommend it to
the general reader. Still, it is calculated
to do good where it will most circulate-in
the region of country where the Moonshiner
plies his vocation-fOr it holds mirror be-
fore these people in frank, manly way
which must appeal to their better nature.
1t Is free from sensatonalism, dealing simp-
ly with facts and illustrative incidents and
adventure. L is well written and not de-
void OF humor. Best of all, the author
charitably discerns and recognizes the Dl-
vine spark within the gross natures of these
lawless and often despe, ate characters. He
says they regard the revenue laws as unjust
and that what they do is not wrong in it.
self. To quote paragraph
"They 1.-THE majority are known to their
neighbors as exemplary men, In fully
twenty of the most notorious moonshining
counties of Georgia, not a saloon can be
found, and public sentiment emphatically
endorses their absence. In one church, the
membership of which was largely made of
moonshiners, member was severely dis
ciplined for taking advantage of the home
stead exemption laws for the purpose of
avoiding debt"
Incidents are given of a delightful jour-
ney to the penitentiary," being trip from
Blount county, Tennessee, to Columbus,
Ohio, where such offenders were at one
time sent One of the men had never be-
fore been but short distance from the
place of his birth, and this long journey by
rail was a great event of his life, and tie
pleasure Of it seemed to overshadow all
sense of remorse and shame Rough rs he
was, he was true child of nature and the
panorama of charming scenery along the
railroad went beyond anything he had
eyer dreamed of. AS they were nearing
Cincinnati, he slapped one of his compan-
ions vigorously on the shoulder, and ex-
claimed: Jpn tell we jest what's fact,
Cap'n, Pd be willIn' to take six months in
the Tertiary for what I've seen already"
The crimes of the Moonshiners are in no
wise cOndoned, however. The closing
chapter is a stirring appeal addressed to
these men, in which he advises them to bat
tie with the laws, if they deem them unjust,
at the voting precincts, with honest and
free ballots for ammunition, instead of fir
ing from ambush in cruel, cowardly fash
ion upon innocent men whose duty it is to
enforce the law.
Mr.. Wiltse bears encouraging testimony
that moonshining is rapidly diminishing in
the last few years, ald that new railroads
through these mountain Businesses have
done more than anything else to uproOt the
business ii. l.. M.