The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-05-30
BILL PRITTSCApTURE
Hero Of Many Sensational Newspaper sts-
ries Arrested by Revenue oEcsrs.
ENTERED BAIL FOR HIS APPEARANCE
AT COURT.

riss Arrested by Revenue 0f;csrs.
ENTERED BAIL FOR HIS APPEARANCE
/ AT COURT.
"Billn Pritts, the notorious moon
sinner, and alleged murderer OF ..Yoney''
Hostetler. and for years a figure always
referred TO when the daring deeds Of the
Illicit distiller Of the mountain were men,
toned. was captured at the home OF a
neighbor in the Laurel Hill mountain
Friday afternoon, and is now in the
hands Of the law, which he evaded sue
cessfully for 20 years. The raid which
/ resulted iu the arrest Of the veteran
moonshiner was organized by County
Detective Alexander McBeth, who is
making record in Fayette county in the
breaking up of speakeasies aud moon
shine establishments. With McBeth was
Revenue Officer w. J. Dickson, of Pitts
burg.
The party having Pritts in custody ar
rived in Conne,lsville at $50 o'clock Fri
day afternoon. A great crowd gathered
st the lookup and the little place was
1 Il
dressed in pair Of tweed trousers and
wore large yellow canvas coat and
skull cap He looked like a patriarch
with his long beard OF suo~y whiteness
and his eyes Of most intense brilliancy.
He has been very large in his day, but is
slightly stopped now. When he was
placed in the cell here the handouts were
not at first removed. Later his supper
was brought In. Il was not Of the lock-
up fans, but a fine spread furnished by
ole Of the hotels for his especial benefit.
The old moonshiner, like Diogenes,
turned TO the people crowding about the
| bers and said: "YOu don't worry me,
but would like more light TO see what
am eating"
1t had been learned that Pritts was in
the moonshine business more extensively
than ever. notwithstanding that he knew
the officers have always been aftcr him.
He was perpetual outlaw, always want
ed but never taken. His still. it was
known. was located a mile from his
house, in the very wilds Of the moun-
tains, and there the grain was hauled aud
the brew made, principally at night
The mountaineers always admired
Pritts, for some reason, and aided
him many times TO escape by giving him
notification OF the presence of the officers,
who could not put in an appearance any
where in the mountain district without
word being carried to the ears OF the old
moonshiner.
But Friday the officers operated with
out detection, and AFTER they had arrived
at Pritts' home they found that he was
not there. Without any chance for the
intelligence OF their mysterious visit to
get across the hills, they started at once
to the house Of John Tinkey. where it
had been Learned Pritts had habit Of
hiding when the revenue people were hot
on his trail, he sometimes having been
known to remain at this place for weeks
at a time.
As the officers neared the Tinkey house
they came to a little open field. To their
surprise, they saw "old Bill" sitting on
a stump ct the edge ofthe field. He was as
keen sighted as the officers and OWNED
their purpose without a second glance at
them. Without pausing moment he
broSs away at hot pace, the officers
chasing amer him.
Pritts was too old to maintain the gait
long, and after he had run about hum
dred yards, which made the officers quite
weary, Notwithstanding that they are
men in the prime OF life, Pritts stopped
and stood at bay. Although unarmed,
he refused 10 put up his hands as the
officers approached. The handouts were
placed on him, and then the officers
started as fast a. possible to get the pris-
oner out OF the mountain district, lest the
mOuntaineers might gather and rescue
the old moonshiner, as was done before.
With much officially the old man was
brought 20 the house OF II. L. Sparks.
From there McBeth telephoned to Con-
nellsvilIe .or rig.
Pritts is now charged with making il
lieit whisky. The warrant for his arrest
was placed in the hand, OF County Detec-
tive McBeth some time ago. It is impos-
sible TO enumerate the number OF times
special posses have been organized to
arrest Pritts. He either could not be
found or escaped after fight. The last
raid was made last fall. Detective Frank
Campbell and Pittsburg officers went
after Pritts, but after catching him un-
awares he escaped. The two sons Of
Pritts, who are now in the Allegheny
Jail for making Illicit whisky, were ar
rested at that time. Two large stills, Of
90 gallons capacity each. were destroyed
aud the worms kept as evidence again st
the prisoners.
Pritts' career has extended over peri
cd Of about 20 years. When "Yoney'
: Hostetler was murdered about ten years
} ago, for giving away secrets to the reye-
7 nue. officers, and divulging secrets held
sacred among the moonshiners, il was
i openly stated that Hostetler's death was
. due to Pritts' vengeance. Pritts Was
; wanted for this crime for long time, but
: was never caught.
3 Pritts is now 63 years old. He says tLat
, had hi. sons been with him in the noun
: tain he would never have been caught,
8 because they were always sharply on the
( lookout, and besides, were always pre-
pared to resist to the last.
McBeth and Dickson worked n clever
scheme to mislead the mountsineers.
/ They knew that they could no. throw
them into the belief that they were any
thing but detectives, so they plainly
@ stated that they were seeking thief who
had stolen q horse at Fairchance. When
the officers arrived at Pritts' home they
, diG not make their presence known 10
. any person, but remained about ths
house in hiding for several hours and
: learned through conversation, which
= they overheard. that Pritts was at tbs
home OF bis brother in-lsw, John Tinkey
There sre two active charges against
Pritts at present. One of these is dated
I. May 81, and is on information sworn ou
by Messmore Cramer, who alleges tha
:, Pritts shot at him and threatened TO xii
him at the first opportunity for giving
away moonshine secrets. The other war
rant was issued October 26, 1899, by
United States Commissioners Lamble, or
information sworn out by Revenue on
Ger w. J. Dickson, of Pittsburg. Il
charges Illicit distilling. "Yoney" Hos
teller, referred to above, was killed il