The age-herald., 1901-02-17

given away at the still itself and at the dwelling of the operator. Another meth cd is as follows: A hollow tree or cave adjacent to the nearest village is desig- mated by common consent of the moon- sinner and some of his friends, one or more of whom acts as agent between the seller and buyer. When a resident of the village wishes some whiskey he hands the necessary money, together with a jug or bottle, to the agent who deposits both in the secret place and goes his way. After a lapse of several hours, usually twelve or more, the agent returns and finds the money gone and the receptacle full of the desired liquor. which he de- flyers to the customer. The latter sel doms knows who actually made and sold him the stuff
 To locate an illicit still one must be well acquainted with the country and the customs of the moonshiners themselves. Occasionally a total stranger to both will accidentally stumble on to one. much to his surprise and alarm, while hunting or prospecting in the mountains. But the revenue officer seldom succeeds in locat- ing one unaided; a guide, who is some times the informer as we'll is absolutely necessary to success.
 The refuse matter from a still called pot tail' by the moonshiners furnishes a lulTiLlOuS lObu lOI uiON6S OI nDSS, which are kept about the premises The various trails made by these animals ra- diating in all directions from a common center quite often lead to the discovery of an illicit establishment by an observ- ing resident.
 There are generally two persons con- nected with the location of an illicit still before the arrival of the revenue officers and it's actual seizure. One of these is ho inf Ttr1,D 1i,-aC in, fI,,n neghborhood, and who is often regarded as friend of the moonshiner. Accord ing to the latter's code, an informer con- mits an unpardonable sin, the penalty for which Is death The person is therefore extremely careful not to take into his confidence any one who would disclose his identity. Formerly the revenue offi- cers ran great risks when they invaded the locality of stills, and many lost their lives, but of late years the moonshiner revenges himself almost entirely on the informer, whom he regards as the origi- nal cause of his troubles with the gov ernment. If discovered. he generally pays with his life, being shot from am bush, after the usual custom of the moonshiner. Sometimes, however, he is unmercifully f1ogged his property is dis troyed, and he Is given a certain time twenty four to forty-eight hours-in which to leave the country warning to leave is occasionally sent to merely suspected person. as the following for instance, which Is a verbatim ct literatim copy of a genuine notice of this kind now in possession of the present writer:
 Notice.
 "Mr. John Jonsin Dear sir take heed to this for we. are just giving you 24 hours to Get out of this start and if you don't U,,+ tol Warning and heed to this while we are asking you as Gentlemen do as you Like But the Easiest way is the Best. for Ra- bun Georgia you Must Leav in the in- side of 24 hours if not We will Put you out Dead ore q Live for the Reports you Give in to Corbin Is surelie Kong and you must Leave at once ore Die Just as you Like no more to say a Bout It Leev ore stay Die or Live"
 This letter was written in a disguised hand by some person of education, per haps the district schoolmaster.
 Tightening the Moose.
 The second person concerned in the To- cation of a still-in case there is more than one person-may be called an inter- mediary He is also a resident of the country, although not always of the inn mediate neighborhood. He Is almost in- variably a Northern man, and is well known throughout the section for his high moral character and fearlessness, as well IS for his determined opposition to the illicit traffic. He is also well known to the revenue officers.
 On learning from an informer of the whereabouts of an illicit still he inVesti- gates far enough to satisfy himself of the truth of the matter. Then he either captures the still himself, when circum- stances favor, or, more commonly mo- tifes the revenue officers, who finally ar- rive on the scene.
 The motives for reporting illicit stills are many, the most common being for the $10 reward offered by the government. for revenge, and for the good of the com munity. Regarding the reporting of il- licit stills, Mr E. L. Bersstrom one of the most vigilant and efficient deputy col lectors of revenue in the South, told the writer:
 q have had persons who gave away their best friends; had sisters give away brothers; had wives, daughters and sons inform against husbands and fathers; but never, for any reason, a mother be- tray a son.
 These family affairs are usually for the good of the member betrayed, who is being crazed by his own liquor and who