The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-03
STORY OF POLK COUNTY
Interesting Chapter in the History of
Rural Town.


interesting Chapter in the History of
Rural Town.
Baltimore. Feb. 2.-Sweetheart Of a
"1noonshiner' and slayer of his betray-
er, a prisoner and a public ward, Louisa
Paris is perhaps one OF the happiest wo-
men in Baltimore She is certainly one
of the most beautiful.
Within no long time that she VIII mar
~ at least the man for whose sake she
has sinned and suffered.
Tyron City, Polk county, n. c., is in
the heart of the mountains, and it is there
that the moonshiners carry on their Sc
cret work Most of the mountain folk
have been connected in one way or an
other with the tragedies of unlawful
whisky making, but Louisa Paris had
never thought that she was to be in
volved in one.
The Paris family own a farm about
four miles from Tyron City and here
Louisa, a typical mountain beauty. lived
until she was sixteen. In spite Of her
lack of education she was the belle of
the town
Joining the Paris farm is the home Of
the Redmond family near relatives of the
well known mOonshiner and outlaw. Red
mond, and these two. seeing each other
at school and about the farm work. fell
in love. When the Paris family moved
to Tryon City Ralph and Louisa were
engaged to be married
The girl was ignorant of the fact that
her lover was mqonshiner and he was
careful to prevent her finding it out.
In Tyron City Louisa became a greater
belle than ever and soon William John
son, one Of the young men Of the town.
fell desperately in love with the girl
Louisa accepted attention from ell her
admirers without encouraging any one Of
them, for at heart she was faithful to
Redmond.
Very soon the men who were least in
earnest gave way to Johnson. whose ser
iousness could not be mistaken. and who
had made every effort to prove his inten-
tons.
Encouraged by the evident hopelessness
Of the other admirers. he proposed to Miss
Paris and was rejected
This was the .begiRning Of his Jealousy.
But as one after another of the young
men was rejected also his suspicious were
fixed upon Redmond. who came regular
" to see the girl.
Johnson had heard 1t reported that Red
mond was a moonshiner and it was easy
to find proofs of his connection with the
distillery which he had been running for
several years SO far. however. ne had
escaped discovery. as his plant was so
well hidden in the mountains that the
revenue officers had never been able to
find him.
With Johnson's efforts. and the help Of
a special officer Redmond was caught at
work at the still which was running at
fun power.
They were all put in Columbus Jail. but
with the assistance Of friends on the out
side they soon escaped to the mountains
Redmond's absence gave johnson a clear
field and he renewed his suit
The friends Of Redmond had not been
idle They had satisfied themselves that
Johnson had furnished the information
on which Redmond had been arrested
and the distIery. seized and broken up.
Miss Paris was informed Of this When
Johnson made his next visit he was
! charged with treachery and was advised
never to return.
Johnson became desperate He tried -
malisn the character of Miss Paris hv
slandering her To the other young men
Of the town. His declarations were made
known 10 Miss Paris and she sent hjm
a note asking him that he cali to see her
He came promptly. They met on tho
front porch. After accusing him Of tell
ing lies about her she plunged a penknife
into his heart and he died ~ her feet.
Miss Paris showed no emotion when
she saw johnson breathe his last she
expressed no regret. she was comustte7
70 jail without bail and was sent ~ Hen
Jacksonville y c.. - prevent har rescus
by Redmond ana his friends
At The next term ~ the su7~rlo- ce1~-
Miss PARIS was Indicted f1r murder So
vas represented by the REST iawvers. ana
. hy their advice pleaded guilty. ~ murder
in the second degree and WIS sentenced
u the penitantiary for fifteen yaa
She was taken 20 The tate 0trter-
tiary ~ Raleigh and there confined W-h
short hair and striped clothes as as
SISTED .n washing men5ing ard making
garments for The ether canvrts size pre-
sented cutie diTe-eo- a1-e rance e--
what she Ola as th= ha.le - Tror Cr
she was cheerful. ana said sa= CID nt
regret what she Rad Gone that Ser
taticn as virtuouz mau v= mge co.
her chan Efc ara thst un~ shs Same
clrcsr1s- rces sas would arn take tha
life ~ suv mar who atsfm7ta4 n
deg he- good name
n ae nti-se Re5u-r
en- th- rfr- of Trvau uaae
relatives ana friends
- Else murder ~ Tn ana