New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-05
THE GEORGIA MOONSHINER.
A STUDY OF ONE OF THE MOST INTER
ESTING SOUTHERN CHARACTERS.
A FEDERAL GRAND JUROR TALKS ON HOW WIT
NEssES ACTED IN COURT 49, INFORMERS
AND THEIR MOTIVES -DODGES OF
THE ILLICIT DISTILL.EIS
From The Atlanta Constitution.

An interview is recalled that was had few
months since with Gentleman VINO han ri SCTvG1
considered the moonshinc whiskey cases as i tnr
mot important. or at least the most Interesting
to him. that came up and h grew laxative Win
out much questioning. $780, .
United States Court in a district where the Off
GERS had experienced much difficulty in Keeping
down the whiskcy business. In the time served.
from the number Of brought up. sometimes
as many as fifty in one day the district must nave
bristcd with distilcrcs. They came from almost
every county. and my former idea that II was con
fined to the mountainous section covered by me
plodcd.
1T would be hard to relate all that found out
of the curosties of human nature in that month
work ] was amaz cd to know that man as busy
as l considered myself could become so interested
In matters that never concerned MN IN the Iri'
and that would never come into his NE aSal;
Perhaps the only future notice l would take o o,
the cases would be casual glance over thc our our,
reports in the daily press and to ma that soinc
one Of the many unfortunatcs had come clear on
the final trial. where others had suffered the pen
atty o OF the law: -. ,,o only r,ruos 70 tho
cases that We saw. Tho defendants were either in
Jail out on bond. awaiting the summons to 'riai
in the centre OF the jury room and was amused To
watch the witnesses as they were sworn. vi ine
and rather diapidatcd copy Of the Biblc-I failed
to note any face that gave due recogniiion OF tne
sworn on an almanac with IN" same solcmniiy Tor
all that could see they reverb 1t, Tho ioTgna
and by him sat the bearded and slim assistant al,
, torncy. AS the witness came in. embarrassed py
the presence OF 50 many to hear his woruS inc
foreman would call out:
"'rake the book Mr. Witness.
at would be picked mp clums.ly and held IN a.,
sorts Of odd positions and curious angles rs INC
oath was administered.
"Thc book would sw:rg toward The mouth Of the
witness awkwardiy as II TO kiss H. hut inc COS
would seem too much and somctimcs juror wouid
motto, he had not torch'd it with his Fps am.
would would call oui promptly. Kiss me nl. a.,
and kiss it be mus Someiimes shrrpi' "a 'ohh nm
witness would ks 1t win smack thni an c"uld
hear and litter would go aronnd INC rDo ~,
mrd.ng Of my old school speech. ! NJ 7nnhCh
II school" The drputy-marshais and c'li"cioI5
seemed most used 70 this part Of n. g TqTk ana in
touchine their lips T. the sacred book ! ne l,ri,
wa suggested i'm the lish,. mincirs WY THAT
sorc had ,s they wefc 8" ori. ,,.
The Old man seemed SO sairulons ln i''h!nt ~
I'M uroniscuous k ssiug that b." would have con
tina,a iHesi'i, .,i. ~ ~: Tor 'he question:
II, r,citcd tho usu, form Of questioning he
witrcss conducted ~ thG attorney ,ac,,,,, TAIN,
Mr. Wiin'ss. 10 go" ""o" TIC '''''''"' ''''''
D".y,s sir
IBID you ever soc him a, Illicit dis'lcry''
"vcn. then. just tell the jury in your o~n Wy
what ne was doing down there IN tn fisn,Y.
wen. he wasn't dom n9'hn, In nerii. ,,S5
Ndnt You see hin Wia' ~ns NJ 1o'" 6n the
branch ! lowed they would go up 10 me SUI 10
GIT some Stops and had better 10 up 'h'' '"d s''
nid you. get any beer
"'Wno gave it to YOU
~ 2as SIR SIR '0I knew new they wouldnt k,.r'
Ana that is all you know about the case
WelI. you may Dc. excused ,.o,.. ,ov,,,rr
Corn would be sworn and after IN" preliminary
questions. he would start out with his story
Nc and Bob Horn VA, down on ,H u, ,h s,i
and G h. was s',S mayn nrc in the lurnn,e w.
walked up ND co.er agd waichga hm s,''k"
up a mash. and Tx 10 run on some SihbNhHS
'''W hat else did you See ., - H.. an,
they had the still all sot up TO make 4 do.o, h
and John mad . niger with h'm a-hrih ana 'h'y
was a,S,''n H.. 5"ilt i, te ,e.a the whisky
Tcckin was about an hour IN All around the stu
John and the niger "'s an s'ospy Win s'lii sop
al" 'rniS ,'"ininc TO NIKE out a clear care The VT,
mes, would be excused. ana IN" moH'ht 'i'c "''
Air. foreman. / move 4 true bill be found in
bill would b. sirncd AZ
And 50 it would 20 from on" day end - m
other The deputies would describe very occur ~
~ tho situation at each place seeming 10 i,aii tm
Identical scenes be fore them ana s'slnF ana ,irt
for Some seemed most anxious 10 get 'ii' copper
and cut up to prevent any i"fih'r t'il,"nS -, o.
ia, Law. Others app.ar,d 10 b. keen 10 rhrh th'
men. and would lie in wait in the iaurel 'heksls
until daybrcak. and ~ IN" men APP. .irIn ~ ~,
Juror would dry in q%siGn o lev IN i'm ~.
oi ,,, I@ ihsi WI wcr n,' s,a il r'
u II" djI yon happ to look there for still'
well. had & way bll
a way bill? what is that
oh. VI have to have them We hAFc mon 10
90 to Guide us in they give ~ way bill Ihcy
Draw the roads and paths and show The location
OF the distill,ry.
We'll who q these mon
They are different parties
DO YOU pay them anything
No I don't But they ret their pay
'Aud We. learned that when an lnipin'f 'hibi'h
an nfIic.r ia capturc u blockade disti"ry ana get ,
the copper nc Is paid so for his work II - uSu-
ally ..ui bv mail to tho infOrn'r either 10 MS own
ollie. o III country Office" "lrr'. NJ doc
NOT usually get his mail. He uses TINS Hitic d''rp-
lion To keep his ncighbOrs from knowing mat he /
Gesconds to such practices. .
'SoinctiIncs it Is not necessary 10 pay Inc VIII /
80. ,rbc mil. ucighbOrhOOd sptcS ana uuarr"lS F