The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-05

worm stand" In which was a copper
worm, something, unusual, as they are
! generally made of Lead mash tubs and
| barrels fun of beer ready for distilation.
/ The apparatus was under a brush arbor
made by driving four posts in the ground,
with forks al the top and the whole in
closed by mailing poles to the posts. This
| is done 10 prevent stock from trespassing
upon the premises. The floor was dirt. !
was struck with the neatness of the place.
The floor had been swept with bundle Of
switches that was sitting against a beer
barrel. We could destroy the still at any
time, and considered it of higher import
ance 20 capture those who operated it. We
! therefore concealed ourselves. determined
to await the arrival of the operator. IL
was now about 3 clock a. m. We could
hear the chickens Growing in the hill above
US, and, after daylight, voices, indicating
that there was a settlement near US.
About o'clock we heard persons talking
and evidently approaching from above.
Presently a woman about 80 years of age,
with an ordinary garden hoe in her hand,
followed by a boy of IA with AN ak in his
hand and small single-barrel shotgun, was
seen approaching from the direction we
judged the settlement was. We permitted
them TO pass unmolested. They climbed
the low fence. The woman laid her bon
net on an empty box after she had set her
hoe down, while the boy threw his AK
over before him and set his gun down
within ore Enclosure.
AT this moment the local deputy and
marshal appeared and followed from the
opposite direction. The woman never utter
ed q word, but regarded US for a moment
with as much contempt as 1 felt at being
placed in such a position. Finally she
spied our guide standing off about twenty
PAGES She scanned him closely from head
to foot and said: You are the poor mis-
cradle skunk that piloted these men here"
Turning to me- her eyes by this time flash
ing with Indignation, she said: Il do not
blame you-ns. You are only doing your
duty, but that miserable whelp yonder Che
had gomez ought 20 be shot. He got my
whisky as long as 1 would let him have IT,
and when 1 refused him he runs off and
brings you'ns here" do you know him?"
Know him! l would recognize him If his
miserable old head was OFF, let alone
BACKED and trimmed with the skin of
some sheep that he stole!' ] asked her
name. you know my name. That white
livered scoundrel gave it to you" | assur-
ed her that he had not, but, on the con-
trary, told us that he was ignorant of it,
THE sneaking liar! He has been here a.
dozen times, and owes we now $l2 for
whisky" She then gave me her name.
told her il was my duty to place her and
her son under arrest and destroy the prop
erty. At this she broke down and COM
menced crying. Her son walked up TO
where she was and tried to comfort her by
assuring her that they could make liv-
ing some other way; that he would go and
hire out. told her that l would take her
personal recogniZance to appear before the
commissioner at some future time when lt
would suit my convenience and hers, ana
that l would pay her If she would return
to the house and prepare us breakfast and
let her son feed our stock. My unexpected
Kindness GurnriSa5 her and she commence
ed crying again, and started to the house
on the hill. / sent one of the party with
the lad to get the horses, and when they
were all gone cut up the copper and worm
and emptied out the beer, leaving the bar
rels FOR her use about the house when we
were gone. While waiting for our break
fast / noticed a small account book on the
mantel board and curiosity prompted me
to examine its contents. l found the en-
tries made in a masculine hand and ac-
counted for the sale of whisky, receipts of
meal, etc.
When breakfast was finished and we re-
paired TO the room where / had found the
book, the only room they had except a shed
affair that served the double purpose of
a kitchen and dining room. took the book
from the mantel board and asked her to
explain its contents. Her statement was
as follows: My husband bought the still
that you'ns have destroyed from a neigh
about half on 1t, when he died, leaving me
with six children that you see here around
me. / had helped him a bout the business
before we moved here, and as understood
it, the gentleman as owned it and sold It
to my husband lowed that l could continue
the business and that the officers would
not be likely to disturb me- l told him /
had no education. He said he would help
me, and he fotch that book and sets down
for me what whisky he sits and what 9TH
ers git. and who is entitled to whisky when
a run is made, on account of furnishing
meal. / fatten my hogs and get enough
meal to make my bread out'n it, but If it
was not for the rascals and deadbeats that
git it on a credit and never pay l could
do pretty well" l asked how much the
guide owed her, and she said she thought
il was $12; that il was 'sot" down in the
book. She was especially incensed at him
because he got the whisky, not TO drink
but to sell. l paid her for our breakfast
and feed and left. From the account book
got all the facts necessary to discipline
the neighborhood. l had the former own
er, the guide, everybody who carried meal
there to me made into whisky on shares,
arrested at my leisure l used her and
her son as witnesses against them. They
We're allowed mileage and attendance
before the commissioners, eighteen miles
away, in each case; mileage" and at
tendance" before the United States court
at Nashville, amounting to over $100. As
to the case against her, she was indicted
for manufacturing or working al a still.
house. The proof disclosed the fact that
she was arrested before she had commis-
ted an overt act, and Judge Key ordered
the jury to find mot guilty as to her and
her SON."
She is now living in Lonoke, Ark. hav-
ing married well-to-do citizen, and is
doubtless making a dutiful wife.
SVRSTITUrTEc ron OVs,CruS