The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-20
DESTROYED JUG
To FOIL OFFICER
WHEN THAT WAS DESTROYED
THOUGHT THAT ALL EVIDENCE
AGAINST HIM GONE.

Deputy Marshall White Found jug
Hidden in Bushes and Removed 1t
to Point Near the DistiIIery Door.
While Completing His Investiga-
tiOn, Drake Seized an AK and
Shattered the Jug-Was Register
ed as Fruit-Brandy DistIIIer-om-
GERS Tipped on by brakes own
Reports.
In the United States court yesterday
morning Newton J. Drake, a patri-
archal appearing man, was convicted
of violating the laws regulating dis
tilling. Judge Emory Speer suspend
ed sentence until this week.
The case was different from the md
jority of illegal distilling cases, in
that the defendant had license to dis
till certain classes of liquor. In the
course of the trial there were many
amusing bits of evidence brought out.
Drake is an innocent appearing per-
sonage and presents an unusually VEN
cradle appearance. His shoulders are
bent with age and his beard is long and
flowing, reaching nearly TO the waist
and of snowy whiteness. The hair is
perfectly white. The defendant is also
slightly hard of hearing and during
the course of the trial he several times
was compelled to place his hand to his
ear to aid him in catching all that was
going on.
The circumstances of the case, as
brought out in the trial, are about as
follows: Drake was licensed some time
ago to distill brandy from fruits, and
was registered as a fruit-brandy dis
tiller. The old man at 'once went to
work and continued his business, np-
parently in strict adherence to both
the letter and the spirit of the law
visits were made to him at different
| times by revenue officers and inspec-
tors, and each time everything was
reported to the government as Deing
carried out legally.
Had Peculiar working Days.
The first fact which led the United
States officials to suspect that there
| was something not entirely correct
about the distillery was the peculiar
days which the distiller chose on which
to carry on his business.
Reports are made at certain inter-
walls by the distillers as to the days
they worked the amount manufac-
tured, and other details of the busi-
ness. In looking over the reports it
| developed that Drake was in the habit
! of plying his business only on those
days on which he was visited by reve-
nue. officers. AS far back as his rec
ord ran, these were the only days on
| which he worked at his still, if his re-
ports were to be relied upon.
A more thorough investigation was
at once ordered, and it was discovered
that Drake was distilling brandy fruits
and, before putting it on the market,
was mixing it with certain varieties of
tion of the laws governing distilling,
and it was on this charge that Drake
was first to be arrested.
Did Not Want jug in Evidence.
Deputy Marshal George White was
sent up to the distillery to make the
arrest. In looking about the place
Marshal White discovered, hidden
away in the bushes, large jug which
| contained an admiXture of brandy and
| rum.
The Jug was removed from the
bushes and placed over near the door
of the distillery, that it might be in
easy reach of the officer when he was
ready to make his departure. Drake
saw that the jug had been discovered
| and though he knew what it contain
ed, still protested his innocence to the
| officer.
Mr.. White decided to push his in
vestigation further in the hope of OBJ
| tanning even more evidence against
Drake, and with this object in view,
| started to the back part of the fac
! tory. Drake remained standing by the
door, watching the marshal narrowly,
though he made no effort to accom-
| pany him through the distillery.
Smashed jug with AK.
When the officer had moved a con-
| siderable distance away from the old
man, Drake suddenly sprang behind
| the door, seized an ak, and with one
or two blows completely demolished
the jug, spilling it's contents in all di-
rections. When he had completed this
work, he put the ak back where he
! got it and with a smile of satisfaction,
decided that all evidences of his guilt
had been destroyed. His only excuse
for the act was that he did not wish
to have the jug entered as evidence
against him.
The evidence produced in court was
| such as to leave little doubt in the
minds of the jury of brakes guilt, and
such a verdict was promptly returned.
Judge Emory Speer stated that he
would suspend sentence until this
week, or later in the term.
VII lam RR0WN GIIIITY