The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-06
FOUGHT IN FRONT OF CHURCH
Rev. Mr.. White Describes the Moon
sinners Battle in Stokes County.

Rev. John Z. White, secretary of the
Baptist Home Mission Board, yesterday
brought from Stokes county some addi-
tional facts about the moonshiners battle
at Oak Ridge church. Sunday, at the
annual session of the Pilot Mountain
Baptist Association, Mr.. White had been
preaching and had just closed and the
delegates and members of the congrega-
ton were on the point of leaving for
their respective homes, when George
Freddy, a revenue officer arrested jim
Taylor, a celebrated blockader.
1T was the most desperate struggle
l have ever SEEM" said Mr.. White.
There was a big crowd present, pistols
were drawn. women screamed, men
looked ugly and it was anything else but
pleasant for the most disinterested spec
tator. l have often had my meetings
closed with a shouting but never before
with a shooting"
Freddy is newly appointed deputy
marshal for Stokes county. He succeeded
Jim Smith, who, while marshal, Mr..
White tells me, was ''pardner" of Jim
Taylor, the moonshner. This being the
case, Taylor openly ran moonshine
corn juicery and kept a barroom, with
out license, on the public road.
But on August LIST Smiths term of of
fee expired and he was succeeded by
Freddy. On receiving his commission
Freddy sent Taylor word that he had
four warrants for him and that he was
going to arrest him. Taylor replied by
sending back the message: Get four
more and put them up to the highest
bidder"
Freddy was at the Association Sat
urday, says Mr.. White, looking for
Taylor, but he was not there. But Sun
day Taylor came to the Association with
his wife. Freddy was on the lookut for
him. AS soon as the sermon was con-
cluded Taylor got up and left the church
before the congregation was dismissed.
dis wife followed him. Discovering that
Freddy was present Taylor attempted
to leave the grounds in his buggy before
the congregation dispersed. With his
wife beside him he drove in front of the
church and Freddy Immediately ap-
preached the buggy and commanded him
to surrender. Taylor leaped from the
buggy with his pistol in his hand. AS he
jumped out Freddy shot him, the ball
passing through the hand in which lay
lor held the pistol and grazing the hand
of his wife in the buggy. The woman
screamed and q terrible struggle ensued
for ten minutes. Freddy was assisted by
four men in trying to tie Taylor. Tay-
lor's clothing was torn from his back.
After at least ten minutes the officers
were still unable to tie him.
Then Freddy said, Jim Taylor damn
you, you have done enough to justify me
in killing you and Pm going to do it,
Stand back" And Freddy waved his
pistol around the crowd and took aim
at Taylor's head as he lay on the ground.
A bystander caught Preddy's arm.
Taylor then said ''I'll CO." The of
fcers tied him. But by that time he
had changed his mind and refused to
get into the cart. Freddy took aim at
him again, threatening to shoot him.
Taylor then climbed into the cart and
was taken to Danbury Jail.
"The screams of the female members
of Taylor's family and the tumult of
the crowd present." said Mr.. White.
made scene of great excitement last
ing over an hour"
Taylor's brother-in-law, a young boy
about IL years old, jumped on his mule,
as soon as the officers started to Dam
bury. and rode off to summon aid to helm
take Taylor from the officers. But they
did not attempt it and he was taken
safely to Jail at Danbury.
Il saw four pistols drawn in the crowd.
/ do not know for whom they were
drawn, though the sympathy of the
crowd was decidedly in Taylors favor,
except among the very best people.
Taylor has been desperate for
years. He keeps an open bar on the
road, pays no tax for his bar or on his
and has always defied arrest.
lie usually carried with him Winches-
ter rifle"