The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-25
AGIN' THE YANKEE COURT
"If the Law is Agin' Moon
shinin' so Much Wuss
Fer the Law"
HANGING WOULDN'T STOP MOONSHINING
Uncle Hank, Who Received Merciful Treatment
Said, I'VE Are Coin to Stand Up For
Our Rights, Spite of This
Yankee Court

Yankee Court"
When the United States district court
was in session in Atlanta the other day
a dusty and travel-stained mountaineer
walked up to a lawyer who was stand
ing in front of the court house and en-
gagged him in conversation. The shabby
and weather-beaten stranger had a pitt
Eul story to tell. Hank Jones was his
name, and he was in trouble with the
government.
eyer see'' he explained to the lawyer,
''thar's warrant out agin me fur sellin'
whisky. I'm guilty-no doubt about that,
an l want to plead guilty an begin
servin' my sentence at once. I'd like ter
be sent to jail in time fur the evenin'
meal amt had bite since yistidy."
Several pointed questions brought out
the facts of the case.
Old Hank Jones lived in Pickens coun-
ty among the mountains. He had little
cabin and a small farm, which was too
unproductive to support him and his
wife and two half-grown daughters. So
Uncle Hank, as they called him, made a
little moonshine whisky and sold it on
that this was wrong. He argued that if
it was right for him to raise corn and
sell it there was no harm in distilling the
corn and selling the liquid product 1t
was simply corn in another shape. But
he was very cautious, and had escaped
detection until pint of whisky sold by
him to a neighbor for his sick wife got
him into hot water. The neighbor told
federal deputy marshal, and the officer
got a warrant and went to the cabin to
arrest him.
The mountaineer parleyed with his Wis
itor for awhile, and then asked permits
sion to get something in his bedroom be-
fore starting on his trip to Atlanta His
request was granted and he stepped into
a back room.
| jist nachully disappeared" he said.
Il knowed the ole woman an the gals
would need some meal an meat ifI went
to Atlanty, an l started out to git some
The deputy wuz surprised, but that WIZ
his business, yer see. Well, / knocked
around a couple of weeks, an got some
rations fur my family an then / tuck a
dollar an forty cents an walked down
here, eighty-six miles"
'.Got any money left?' asked the law
yer.
''Yas, thirty cents But / don't want to
spend it. That's why / must git in Jail in
time to git supper
1T is the last day of court" said the
lawyer, and the grand jury may not
have time TO indict you. The case will
have to wait until the next term
Hank Protested vigorously and finally
the attorney called UP two deputy marsh
ais who listened to the moonshiner's con-
fessl0h that he had been persuaded to
sell "a pint of whisky for a neighbor's
wife. The officers Immediately went
be the grand jury; an indictment was
tained and the district attorney, when
he matter was explained to him, asked
the court to take up the case. The prisz
oner was arraigned and stated that he
desired to plead guilty. Something in his
face attracted the judges attention and
he asked a few questions.
where are the witnesses against
YOU he asked.
''Oh, them deputies will do" said
Jones. Il confessed to them so they
could git the indictment. Yer see, jedge,
/ want to git in Jail at once, an begin
servin time, an git squar meal.'
The judge smiled and seemed a little
doubtful. Then Hank insisted upon tell
ing the whole story, and his rugged SIM
plicity and mountain dialect brought
down the house. The prisoner wound up
by saying that he was guilty and wanted
to be sentenced without delay.
His lawyer asked the court to be as le-
nient ais possible in view Of all the cir
cumstanmes, but the judge did not need
such an appeal.
II will give you the lightest sentence
possible" said his honor. Il sentence
you to one months confinement in the
ian of your home county, where your
people live, and as you have walked all
the way here and paid your expenses on
the way. the court will see that you shall
be sent back at the expense of the GOV
eminent Is that satisfactory
''Yas, sub. rhanky, jedge," replied the
culprit with grin.
The old man was then turned over to
the marshal for safe keeping.
'Let me take him with me to get
drink and something to eat" said the
lawyer who had represented the prison
er. you can trust me to bring Glm
back"
Bring me back" snorted the man
from the mountains. "Pll bring him
back"
The marshal laughingly consented, and
oil, walked off with his friend,
prac. - the freedom OF the
city.
The two eturned at the end Of an hour
and the moonshiner had the appearance
of a man who had done full justice to his
liquid refreshments.
''Uncle Hank" said a newspaper man,
"do you think the government can ever
stop moonshining?'
"Neyer in the world" was the en-
phatic answer.
Suppose the 60 raised to $1,000 as
So Hank. '.that would
do nv,J OSLO 'eIBs I0J
Suppose Ssd 6Iq}uoit Imprisonment for
ten yearsW
"No good, tell yer" responded the old
man.
"Well, for life, then?'
WED make whisky all the same" the
mountaineer replied.
"The government might make it a
hanging offense," suggested the newspa-
per man.