The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-11-10
SALEM
EXCITED
OVER The PRESENCE OF JASON M.
KESTER IN THAT TOWN AND
SOME TOOK 10 THE WOODS.
Thought History Was About to Repeat
Itself, and That the Day of Raids
Had Come Again. Some Prayed,
Others Cursed, While Kester
Wondered.

The speakeasies have not all been brok-
en- up in Salem, if the reports which
come from that town are true. In this
connection quite an amusing incident
happened there Monday, which shows
that the speakeasy men do not casily
forget. 1t was a case of history repeat
ing itself in a way, or, at least, that IS
what they thought about it.
When Salem was at its height as an
open town, Jason NJ. Kester was EN-.
ploycd as a special officer to raid tho
speakeasies and he and other officers
made frequent trips to Salem and
brought in the boys. Some way or other
Mr.. Kester got the name, Grab Em-All,
likely because he got everything and ev.
erybody he went after. He appears, to
have been no respector of persons but
took them all alike, if they were not
obeying and observing the law. 1t will
be remembered this was kept up for a
long time, and finally the spcakeasy fell
lows grew so desperate that they nabbed
Kester one evening and rushed him of
to the town prison, whore he was sub.
jected to very mean and contemplate
treatment during the night he spent in
the Jail.
Kesters appearance on the streets Of
Salem Monday afternoon. although he
was there to attend the funeral of his
nlother.in-law, alarmed the speakeasy
men to such an extent that they no more
than got sight of him until they cried,
'Here comes Grab Em-A ALP and with
that they closed their front doors with
bang, broke for the rear door and es.
capped, trembling in their boots, fearing
that he would find them in their hiding
places and drag them Oft to the county
seat to answer at the bar of justice for
their misdeeds. They had not forgotten
his former visits and theirs to Clarks-
burg. They had no desire to repeat
them, and so it was not strange that
they would flee from the representative
of the law, which they mistook Kcster
to be. There was alarm everywhere.
The presence of one man in that town
has not caused so much excitement in q
long time. A visit by President Roosc-
welt with his Rough Riders would likely
not cause 50 much stir, and certainly not
the CONSERVATION Kester's presence did.
Others besides those actually engaged
in the speakeasy business thought that
Kester had come for business. and some
fell to their knees and gave thanks TO
the Lord that their prayers had Of last
been answered. Still Others who do not
pray believed there was something doing
and every one was on the alert.
Mr.. Kester himself was 5he least es-
cited, the least disturbed. His pulse
WAS normaI and his heart beat no faster
than ever. He Thought it strange there
was 50 much ado over his presence in
the town, and he wondered what all the
commotion was about. but he heard
that familiar admontion, "Grab .Em- ALP
and then he knew what was the matter.
Not being dcsirous of creating alarm
and causing any discomfort for any one,
he soon lot Il be known that the dead
past could bury its dead, 50 far as he was
concerned, and then there was rejoicing
among those who had fled at first sight
Of him, and wailing and gnashins OF
teeth among those who had fallen upon
their knees and breathcd prayer that
he might have strength and courage.
Having squared himself with those
that feared him, they believed him and
grew confidential with him. Some con-
fessed to him that they had done him
dirt at the Jail that memorable night
and that they had lived in fear ever
since, believing that he would come an
other day and vengeance get. They
opened up their hearts to him and told
all. He assured them that all was for
given and forgotten and that he was not
engaged as an officer now and was not
there to do them harm or to disturb them
in their ways, and then all went well.