Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-29
RAGGED. but LOST AGAIN.
Exciting Adventure of Highi"hu
Deputy sheriff.

MONTERREY, VA, March 2S.-(SpeciaD
Highland county. usually so temperate
and lawabidlug, was on Saturday night
last the scene Of an arrest and encounter
which, in point of adventure, daring, anc
novelty, savors not a little Of like expert
ences reported from the lawless moon
shine districts.
For more than year IT has been gene
rally alleged that one John B0tkin, who
runs a liquor establishment near Palo
Alto, in an out-of-the-way section Of
Highland, was giving but little heed to
the law under which he was allowed to
handle the stuff" The peculiar con-
struction Of his quarters, as well as the
location, at once suggested crook 81
work" and rendered surprise by officers
oil he law a practical impOssibility. Bot
kins house, I'm which he spent his time,
and i'm which the liquor was kept. Was
built on the Virginia side, about 100 yards
from the West Virginia line. and from
the building to the State line he had
constructed a sort Of a shoot some
thing after the style OF Il Colorado snow
shed, with - strong door N Che north
end. just across the West Virginia llIe'
there being no place of entrance either go
the house or the tunnel on the Virginia
side, where he QotkiW is wanted FOR
several offences duly recorded on the
docket of the County Court. IL there was
any trap-do0. or secret opening for the
benefit of the Virginia trade, IL was only
known TO regular customers, there being
no window or other means Of ingress
visible TO the keen eye of the officers,
who had no authority to force an en-
trance across the line where the wooden
tunnel terminated.
Determined not to be outwittod our
plucky little Deputy Sheriff. j. Edward
Arbogast, accompanied by Constable
John Crowley, Of Mcdowell, made raid
on the structure Saturday night. the re-
suit of which. on account of the isolated
quarter, has just reached your CORE
spondont.
Placing Mr.. Crowley at the West Viz
ginia entrance, Mr. Arbogast procured an
axe and mounted to the roof Of the pOr-
ton Of the house i'm this State and began
making an opening through which TO
enter. Botkin vainly tried by oaths and
threats To stop the proceeding, but fall
ing he took the dark passage followed
closely by the deputy. Botkin got the
door open and passed Sentinel Crowley,
but was so holly pursued by Mr. ArDO-
CAST that he took no time 20 select
crossing at the creek. which ran closely
by. He leapod into the water with the
game young deputy on his back. both
disappearing under the water. by tho
time the opposite bank was reached Mr..
Crowley came up. and the prisoner Was
promptly handcuffed. lie continued 10
resist. however, and refused To- go across
the line. and vigorously scrambled TO set
further into West Virginia. While the !
two officers were endeavOring 10 carry !
him across the line, not more than a !
hundred yards distant, they were i3rcnly /
attacked by three men and a woman the !
latter being recognized as BOtHin's wife, |
ana two of the men as his brothers The
third man was unknown 20 the officers. !
The first attack was successfully re- |
sisted by the two officers, the lescdcri ]
being fellcd by the Deputy Sheriff, bat IL !
was renewed with energy, the woman |
rroving quite the equal of am average
man. The contest being SO uneven and !
readily finding il impossible TO h}lI ms /
man without using his pistol, which lie
knew would be- Illegal, inasmurh as De-,
Am his eagerness and excitement had
crossed the line Mr. ArbOgast agreed 90 |
remove the handouts and let the prisoner
free. This he did. allowing the Nv. To-
DEPART they hoaping curses 2ni mni'dlc-
tions ON the heads of the officers.
Mr.. Arbogast is much chasriaed at the
thwartod effort. but is firm in his lur-
pose 10 renew the chase as soon as new
means can be devised.