The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-17
Murderers of Deputy Collector RatIiff
Sentenced at Abingdon.
JUDGE PAUL WAS INDIGNANT.
Regretted that the Law Provides No
f. Greater Punishment for the kil'-
ing OF Government Official IN
the Discharge of His Duty.

Paurs Court their fate in the extreme
penalty of the law. William Srouth,
Thomas strouth, Charles Brown. Dick
Dye and Charles Newberry, were by judge
Paul sentenced to ten years each at hard
labor in the penitentiary at Moundsville,
w Va.
The scene was a most impressive one,
with the father Of one Of the convicts en-
bracing his son in tears FOR the long part
ing between them. and the wife of the
murdered Ratlin in tears over the child
in her arms. who was never 70 behold its
father.
Swords Creek drains portion OF the
southside Of Sandy Ridge into the Clinch
river. the principal stream OF Russell
county. Sandy Ridge divides the nothern
bound waters Of Sandy river from the
western bound waters of the Clinch and
Hoston. and divides Russell and Tazewell
from Dickinson and Buchanan counties.
The length of Swords Greek from its
mouth at Clinch river to the top of Sandy
Ridge is about eight miles 1t and its
small tributaries have long been the home
of the mOonshner, and Illicit distilling ap-
pears 10 have been one of its leading in
dustries
I'm June last Mr.. Wayne Ferguson.
deputy collector Of internal revenue was
ordered by the Internal Revenue Depart
ment 10 y K and destroy certain Of these
stills and / arrest the owners and opera
tors theret. lie sought and obtained the
services of George w. Ratin. a citizen Of
Richlands. In the county of Tazewen
STORY OF THE KILLING.
Ratlin had been brought up on the north
side of Sandy Ridge and knew the paths
and methods of the typical mConshner.
ON the fltefu morning alluded 10 he,
with d guide. led Collector Ferguson 10
the distillery of Henry Strouth. whom
they promptly arrested. but during the
destruction of the still by them. he es-
capped into the Laurel thickets and then
began "a race between him and Ferguson
and Ratlin. II Henry could first reach the
I other stills I'm combination with his. he
would arouse and summon the whole
moonshiner fraternity and all hope of sue
cess for the movement would be ended.
in the race the hcet-footed Henry was the
winner. and when Ferguson and Ratlin
arrived az William StrOuth's distillery. in
"A deeo dchle Of Swords Creek ne was
suddenly confronted by "a situation that
cost him his life, Ratlin being some dis
! lance ahead From one Of the ucighb0ring
SUBMITS he was fired on by "a number OF
the brotherhood and. while his attention
was thus diverted. William Strouth. one
Of the owners and operator of the stil
shot him with "a double barrelled shot
gun. at close range The gun was loaded
/ with balls specially nodded for the ordi-
nary squirrel rifle. one load took effect
in his breast and tho other in his face. I'm
AN twelve balls. and Ratlin. of course
was instantly killed
The Treasury Department and the De-
partment of Justice at once put into act-
i've movement their most efficient agen-
cies for the arrest of the gang. and soon
had its hands on William StrOuth Henry
Strouth Thomas Strouth John Brown.
/ William Brown Charles Brown. Dick
| Dye and Charles Newberry. who were put
| on trial here at this term of the Court.
/ They were most ably prosecuted by the
L.. $. District Attorney. Hon r. VI. AL
/ derson. who arose from a sick bed to do
/ so. and who was efficiently assisted by
| Hon Daniel Trigg and Mr.. l.. i. Sum-
mers. The defendants were fOrcibly and
\ ingeniously represented by Mr.. j. f..
! Griffith. Of Russell, and Mr.. Beverly Da-
/ Wis of Franklin county.
/ Henry Strouth and William Brown. the
| latter being a mere youth, were acquitt-
| ed by the jury, and John Brown being
TOO sick for trial, the case as 10 him was
continued til the next term of the Court.
This morning the five convicted de-
PENDANTS aforesaid, to-wit: William
Strouth. Thomas Strouth. Charles Brown.
Richard Dye and Charles Newberry. were
sentenced by Judge Paul 20 the maximum
penalty provided by the United States.
to-wit: ten years each in the penitentiary.
In pronouncing sentence Judge Paul an
imadverted on the insufciency Of the
81, In. f1rfr
failure TO provide a punishment common
surate with the crime OF murder. On
this point he said:
JUDGE PAUIfS REMARKS.
"The sentence the Court is about to pro-
nounce upon you would, If the laws OF
the United States covered the crime OF
murder I'm killing one Of its officers be
the death penalty. deliberate and
cold-blocded assassination as that of which
you are guilty rarely blackens the rec
ords OF any Court An upright and brave
man, acting under the authority OF the
United States Government, was while
in the fearless and faithful discharge OF
his duty. by YOU foully murdered, de-
priving helpless family of husband and
father. That for such a crime no higher
punishment can be inflicted under the
Federal statutes than Imprisonment for
a limited period. al hard labor, is a re-
proach to the Federal Government.
1T Is the only civilized government in
the world that sends forth its officers
To execute its laws practically without
I protection. and when they are murdered
in obeying its mandates. provides no ade-
quate punishment for the crime. The
| marshal OF this district In attempting
| TO execute warrant OF arrest. for
| violation Of the postal laws, may be shot
, dead and the only penalty provided by
the statutes of the United States for
the punishment of the perpetrator Of the
! crime. is an Insignificant fine and
| paitry term Of Imprisonment under the
statute for obstuctng process. or as
! saulting an officer The judge of this
court while pronouncing this sentence.
, might by some one IN this audience be
assassnated and the only charge that