The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-03-30

One of the inevitable results of the adj
vance in the internal revenue tax on whis-
ky to s11O has been the great increase in
Illicit distillIng, or demonstrating" as it is
known In the vernacular of the mountains.
When the cost of distilling Is only about
15c a gallon, and when the tax is seven
times as great, there is wonderful temp
tation to evade the payment to the gov
eminent. Special attention was called to
this matter in the last annual report of the
acting commissioner Of internal revenue,
issued IN December In 1894 only LOIS il
licit stills were seized. but in the fiscal
year ending last July no less than 2273
had been discovered and destroyed by the
authorities. How many were operated
without detection cannot be determined,
and the commissioner makes estimate.
but the number cannot have been under
5000 The commissioner says that collectors
report that the means at their hands are
entirely inadequate for the suppression Of
"moonshining." He recommends an in
creased appropriation for the purpose. The
report 0pes on to say:
In many sections Of the country where
these small distilleries are located 1t has
been found impracticable to sell forfeited
spirits (seized for non-payment Of tax at
a price equal to the amount of the tax
due on them In the same sections it is
found that distillers and dealers have
agreed to furnish consumers with distilled
spirits at much less than the tax thereon,
provided that the purchasers return the
stamps intact or the barrel heads bearing
the stamps. Other evidence Is in possess
sion Of this office that in the sections
where the small distilleries are operated
spirits have been offered for sale at from
40 cents to 50 cents a gallon. Within the
last 30 days IA barrels of illicit spirits,
amounting to more than 300 gallons, have
been discovered in Nebraska and followed
by the agent into Montana and there
In .or RI hoe bod
that seven illicit distilleries were operated
in the state of Kansas last year, and that
four are operating there now, showing that
illicit distillation is extending into sections
OF the country where it has never before
existed"
The commissioner also gives statistics
showing that one officer was killed and
three wounded in the raids on distillerles
in 1897. These raids We're made chiefly in
the mountainous regions of the Southern
States, though, already stated, some Of
them have been in sections where there
is ordinarily production of liquor.
There are many 'moonshiners' in the
mountains of East Kentucky, Tennessee
and West Vinrginia, and during the last
year the revenue forces have been kept
busy in the pursuit and capture of men
who think, if they stop to think at all,
that man has a right to make whisky
without consulting the government. Some
of these are desperate characters, and the
officers take their lives in their hands
when they go after them. The moon
sinner generally pitches his still in the
most secluded and inaccessible place
possible, and he could rarely be appre-
hended were it not for the governments
standing offer of $40 for information that
may lead to the discovery of his business.
This has given rise to what may also
be termed the profession of "informer Of
moonshlners. There are spies who some
times act with the revenue officers for
years, conducting them secretly to the
stills for the $40 reward which the gov
eminent always gives and any allow
ance for expenses that they can get.
There is reason to believe that they fire.
quently betray both sides by sending
warning to the outlaws. who manage to
escape before the officers come, and fire.
quently with the most valuable of their
rude distilling apparatus.
The trying of moOnshiners occupies a
large part of the sessions of the United
States courts. At each term of the Dis
trict court in this city the handsome
Federal building is filled with horde Of
mountaineers, most of whom are wit
nesses brought to testify in moonshine
cases. Some Of them have made the trip
of times. They know the court
officers, and take a great interest in all
the trials, as we'll the ones in which
they have been called upon to testify
These are professional witnesses who
make a good part of their scant living by
ostenslbly swearing away the liberty and
property Of their friends and neighbours
In perhaps the majority Of petty cases
that come before the commissioners who
are appointed to look into them the
charges are the result of conspiracy and
perjury. Perhaps the prisoner is really
guilty of defying Uncle Sans revenue
laws, and has been 'peached on by some
supposed friend or neighbor. but quite
often it is a put-up job between him
and the witness. The average noun
taineer of the "moonshine'' class think it
no hardship to serve a few months in
Jail, and very willingly enters into an
agreement with the witness by which, for
a division of the fees and mileage he
permits himself to be arrested and car
ried to Louisville Covington for trial.
AS many witnesses possible are sum-
moned-a deputy marshal Of the court.
perhaps, being in the scheme-and then all
get trip to the big city, with fees and
mileage, which pay their expenses and a
good deal over. The practice Is perfectly
we'll known. but it is exceedingly hard to
break UP. Once in while the parties to
the contract betray themselves, and then
the punishment is severe.
A conspiracy of this sort came to light
at the session of Judge Bars court in
greensboro. which closed last week There
were eight convictions at this term. but
only one was tor making ''moonshine"
liquor. The prisoner, James Clark was
ment in the penitentiary at Columbus, o.
ClarkS case was very unusual One as
he made plea of guilty. because, as he
said, he felt he had been doing wrong
Upon being sentenced, he made the state
ment that he had been led into the business
of moonshning by Joe Meredith, who will
perhaps be indicted by the federal grand
jury. Meredith. he said, had approached
him some years ago and advised him to set
up still and manufacture moonshine
Clark demurred, saying that he was liable
to get into trouble with the government
Meredith told him he would insure him
against consequences and, in fact, has done
so to a great extent. Merediths business
said Clark that of a professional wit
ness in moonshining cases, and he was a
trusty of revenue officers, whom he would
guide to alleged stills at per diem of 81,
and then not find the stills, or warn the
operators in .ime to escape.
On account of this rema rkable statement
Clark was questioned closely by Judge Barr
and he very communicative. Clark
said that he was once indicted by the feder-
al grand jury and brought to Louisville for
trial. Meredith not only paid his expenses,
but employed attorney for him, Mr..
George Du Relic, justice of the court
of appeals. Upon trial he was cleared.
Merediths remuneration for all of this
kindness was half the product of the moon
shine still. The federal authorities have
made Clark's statement the basis of a big
investigation, which may result in the in
dctment Of a number Of professional
"moonshine witnesses" There is no doubt
that some officers have long secretly en-
cOuraged the making of charges, in order
that they may the resulting fees Tho