The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-28
MOONSHINERS.
Government Arrests Wealthy
Shawnee County Farmers.
Charged With Running Illicit
Distilleries at Their Homes.
f A X III s SEARCHED.
Quest Not Entirely Salts
factory.
Woman Said Still Had Been
Sent to Ohio.
Claim That Whisky Has Been
Made Near Topeka.

anu papers 1O1 Inc attest u Z II 11dhS-
ford and Joseph Purney for running
Illicit distilleries. made a trip into the
country Thursday afternoon and ar
rested Purney and searched the places
of both men.
Several days ago information was
given Deputy Revenue Collector C. w
keifer of Leavenworth that farmers in
Shawnee county were manufacturing
"1moonshfne whisky" Special Revenue
Officers Wheelock and Painter of Oma-
ha were sent for and arrived in Topeka
the first of the week
They went to work hunting for the
| unlawful stills and on Wednesday re-
| ported the two places that were
searched the following day. Search
warrants were given the officers and
Deputy Marshal Prescott was given
warrants for the arrest of the two men
The four officers, in two double car
riages, left Topeka to execute their
papers. The first place visited was the
home of HansfOrd, on the river, eight
miles west of North Topeka The farm
is a large one, and clustered around the
house the officers found no less than
seven substantial buildings and a large
sorghum mill The officers inquired for
Hansford and found that he had gone
to town that afternoon. Then COM
AA1C4AGG0 the SGdEGn O1 premises
First the sorghum mill was inspected.
There the officers found all the ap-
planes used in the manufacture of
sorghum-Iarge kettles, watts and boil
ers. The officers searched every nook
and corner and in two large watts they
found copper coils resembling the coils
used in distilling, but the coils looked
as if they had not been used for some
time, and they might have been used
for other purposes than making whisky.
The officers searched the other build
ings, even to the hen house. without
finding any more proof than some other
watts that might have been used in dis
tiIling.
All the time the search was being
made the only persons about the place
were the women of the house and two
farm hands. They paid no attention to
the officers and continued about their
business, asking no questions and tax
ing matters as coOIIy as II searching
parties were an everyday occurrence.
Officer WheeIock stepped up to a sink
on the back porch to wash his hands.
The woman brought him soap and
water He informed her that he would
have TO search the house. She made no
objection, and the officer went into the
kitchen He returned in few moments
and went into the cellar
He emerged from the cellar in few
moments wiping the perspiration from
his forehead. The other officers follow
ed him on his second trip into the Gel
lar.
Soon one of them emerged from the
cellar way He was hot too
Have you a button hOok?" he asked
of the driver
No was the answer
Have to have a piece Of the farmers
friend he muttered and twisted off a
piece of barbed wire. He bent it into
q hook
Presently another officer came out of
the cellar, went straight for the tool
shed and dived back into the cellar
a hammer and harFhRr
Neither the wire nor the tools seemed
to do the work for a third trip was
made for d crOwbar.
Must want to get in" said the dri-
yer as he saw the heavy iron crowbar
being carried to the cellar
Yes. There's one room locked tight
and the woman says the man carried
the key to town with him.
What's in that roon?' asked one of
the officers Of the woman
That's where we keep our preserves
and fruit" was the reply.
The officers wanted to see for them
selves and they worked to pick the
heavy lock but it withstood all their
efforts.
Two long rows of milk pans full of
milk were standing dangerously near
the officers and still the woman made
no objection to their working. In fact
she continued about her business and
paid no more heed to the searching
party than If they were not there at
all
trance to the room without breaking
something and after an hours work
they clamored up the steep cellar stairs,
hot, dirty and slightly ruff1ed- They
gave il I'D and Just in time to prepare
for a storm that was about to break
The wind was sweeping across the
level bottom land and the clouds of
dust nearly hid the carriages from their
view Keller made and run for the
carriages and with the driver started to
drive the two carriages into the large
stone barn
The driver and the officer each led the
teams in front of the door and while
one held the horses the other opened
the door of the barn. One side of the
the other half would not bulge. The
men both put their shoulders to the
door and ''heaved.' They kept an eye
on the horses while they 'heaved.' The
door was solid. The wind was roaring
around the corners Of the barn and it
seemed as if the carriages would surely
be upset The carriage cushions, lap
robes and coats were carried away by
the wind and lodged in a pile of wood
seat and several loose boards and
crashed them against fence Down
came the rain and that door was tan
talizingly halfway open
The two men could not open it Just
then a sturdy farm boy came running
I'D and put his shoulder to the door and
1t swung back
safe at last" said Keller with a
sigh of relief.
The driver started to lead the first
team in and was met by a low and
warning growI 4 big black and white
dog had to be Quieted before the men got
| in and then the storm was half over