The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-08
Story OF A HOMEMADE STILL.
A Lard Can and Elder Stem That Got
Eli warren in Trouble.

Eli Warren in Trouble.
Ell Warren was 'Man'el county cracker,
The pure Georgia type. with jeans trousers
and sombrero hat Accomplishments. He
wasn't exactly raw-boned, but so near it
that the hog and hominy showed through
and the tobacco Quid was primarily in
evidence. There were no spurs on Ellis
boots. nor We're they laced a la cavalier,
hut the old red hills OF Georgia had left
their cIinging mark upon them.
Eli had one passion. and perhaps two.
which stood quite strongly in evidence.
He loved to go to court at the expense of
the government and on the slightest pre-
text he would make himself a witness in
Z, case for plaintiff or defendant, just to
take the trip, and keep up with the dispO-
sftiou the court made of his friends. In
rbis he was not unlike others of his spe-
cies. but never caught mapping
himself he was a living evidence of
old Darwin's survival of the fittest theory
Ellis other passion was of a maizy ma
ture; he loved corn, not on the cob, but in
the Juice, in the state duDhed BY his upper
Georgia counterpart mountain dew" Eli
was Brought up on 1t; he had been initiat-
81 into the occult mysteries OF its making
and he knew it was good.
ri heard the grand jury sworn in a GER
tain month of March IN certain OF dem
ocratic year, and he watched It's every
move with deepest concern, for on its
actions would probably depend the tate
OF several friends. When this august body
came TO be instructed as TO Its duties his
interest grew intense.
The man who simply takes an empty
lard can, and with a few feet of leaden
pipe or an elder-stem, and with this crude
outfit makes from cane-Skimmings few
drops of an alleged alcoholic beverage is
not a Violator of these laws" or words to
that effect, he heard delivered from the
bench Ellis Imagination was all awhirl.
He almost clapped his hands in ecstatic
delight as he saw visions upon visions of
tin pot stills, making the insidious juice
that he loved so well, right under the rev.
eneue officials eagle eyes, and around him
the protecting arm of the court
Court adjourned, and here and there were
squads of ELS busily discussing the sit
uation and the bright prospect opened up
before them.
maize was ripened, the miller took his
share and the rest went back to the far
mer and to Eli, for,-wel for what?
Say" said one of the deputies as he
walked into the marshaPs office to escape
the July sun, Say, IhaVe just heard on
good authority that Manel county is a
hotbed of corn juice makers. The party
tells me there are some 800 or 400 little stnlS
in operation"
that, nothing remarkable; that's corn 5
old home. But, l guess 1t calls for a trip.
You and Jim go down and see to 1t.
Nothing remarkable, you say; why, 1
thought we cleaned them all out not SIX
months ago.
Very true. very true But, mark my
word you'll find 80 per cent. of those
affairs consist of tin cans and teapotS
with a few feet of rubber tube
The trip was made, however. Eli, in
the meantime, had put his lard can in
shape. 1t was big one, too. Peculiarly
cne1gh, 1t had begun TO change color,
and was now a copperish red. Competi-
ton made vaulting ambition o'erleap it.
self, and Eli was doing his full share
of the neighborhoodS business. Dlscre-
ton had taught him that despite the
lard can theory he had heard 50 ably
expounded night and a good matched roof
were safer surroundings Tor the pracuce
of his art.
But it was not to be for long. His little
shop was one of the first disclosed, ana
the lard can didn't have the Simon pure
brand on it, either.
well, you see, iedge, it was this way, -
Eli remarked after he had waited until
November to find out what was going to
become of him, Il thought that lard can
business was all right after what you
said an | wanted a little bit to drink,
and didn't have no money to buy it,"
Yes, sir; but lard cans are not usually
copper colored, and elder stems never
have such regular twists suggested the
well, you see, jedge, all the boys was
after EN-, and the lard cans gave. out,
so jes, to be along with 'em l did the
best L could, but didn't let none on 'em
know about it,"
THE officers of the court seem to have
known about it. That was your fatal
mistake. But in consideration of all the
facts and circumstances as you have sta
ted them, the court sentences you to
spend ninety days in JAIL and to pay
fine of $500. And now, the next case"
Eli Williams, Illicit dlStlllng ana work.
ing may it please your honor. Another
lard can case from 'Man'el"
This court will now adjourn.