The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-26
MooNsmN1NG ON THE INCREASE
County Officers Neglect Their Duty
Success OF the Summer School,
North Cardinals Greatest Man.
Other Raleigh News Notes.
Messenger Bureau.

to believe that mex year IT will pass
the 1000 mark. II would have passed
It this year, but for the ruling of the
state superintendent of public instruc-
ton that counties could not make
preparation for Sending teachers. unless
such Summer schools are held in such
counties or in the county adjacent to
it. The ruling was good law, no doubt,
but was yet unfortunate, and of course
largely reduced the attendance.
A colored mail carrier here, one OF
the country routes, old another col
ored man that he got $500 annually for
his work, but that he had to pay a
fifth OF this. 800, to some white man,
whom he did not name, for standing
his security. This is a steep price to
pay, and no doubt the matter will be
looked into in order to ascertain wheth-
er the statement is or is not accurate.
Today United States Marshal Dock
cry sold publicly at the Federal build
ing 500 gallons Of corn whiskey, which
had been stored there ever since il was
captured in Randolph county three
years g The marshal allowed that
1t was mighty good liquor.
President Kilgo, OF Trinity college,
was here today on his way to attend
two district Methodist conferences, one
at JonesborO. the other at Gibson.
State H~orticulturist Hume left this
afternoon for Southern Pines, to see
what is best to be done about the ex-
pertinent farm there.
1t is desired by the owner that the
agricultural department shall take the
~-l . A -
place the profits upon it in the way or
Improvement. Mrs Hume. and her
baby, who has been very sick, for a
number of weeks, left today for Ocean
Grove, y. ].
One OF the questions of the day is, are
the county officers in North Carolina
doing their duty? The Watts Law,
drafted by Senator Simmons and w
ernor Aycock. and enacted by the Leg
islature, imposes a clear duty upon
county officers, the duty of making up
illicit distilling Of whiskey etc. Reve-
nue. Agent Chapman, of Greensboro, is
here and your correspondent had a spe-
ciaI interview with him which throws
much light upon the neglect of duty
along this particular line by county
officers. Colonel Chapman is a Con-
federate veteran, who was a lieutenant
colonel in Mosby's famous command.
He has served n the revenue service in
Tennessee for years When asked what
was being done in thiss state in the way
of capturing me 5nshiners he replied:
Last month we captured 40 illicit dis
tilleries, an increase of eight over the
proceeding months / am not prepared
to say whether moonshining is increas-
ing in North Carolina or not, but fear
that is is. Beside the stills we captured,
We got 400 gallons of whiskey which
was buried and Shich would have es-
1910 = - ~ - " ol-n - IN yrIr16 Conn
horses and four wagons and buggies.
l have been in Tennessee, where they
have 3. law somewhat similar to your
Watts law in this state, but there the
county officers are. strict in carrying
the law into effect, and they have driy-
en- out the moonshiners except along
the boundary OF the state. From them
nj from Tennessee revenue officers
l now receive information of the pres
ence of Illicit distilleries which are be-
ing operated across the line in North
Carolina. Sucn a notice reached me
yesterday. In Tennessee, the county
officers cooperate thoroughly with us
in putting down Illicit distilleries, and
not only so, but they give Information
as to the location of stills and also CO.
operate with us in Selling them. There
is not a particle of cooperation in
North Carolina. and not a solitary
officer has offered the least assistance.
We have appeals from citizens in a
number of sections that their business
is being interfered with by Illicit dis
tiliers and retailers, these appeals being
coupled with the statement that the
Ounty officers are not paying the
slightest attention to these matters.
The letters call upon the Governor to
capture the law breakers" Colonel
Chapman when saying this was in the
office Of Revenue Collector Duncan,
1-5 -.;l - - Iatknr- won ha VA rQ-
ceived many such complaints. 1 am
sure" Yes" replied Collector Dun
can, plenty of them
No doubt this interview will attract
attention and will arouse the anti-sa-
loon league to a sense of the situation.
No doubt some county officers think it
popular to be on the side of the moon
sinners and the whiskey selling, but as
one of the most popular men in the
state remarked a few days ago, they
will find out later what a sad mistake
they have a This gentleman went
on to say that he expected within .the
n~extdiTroad-arS to see the sale OF liquor
fpIonrDILed or regulated in every county
in North Carolina; this is, that within
that period there. will be either prohibit
ton or the dispensary system in all
parts of the state. Perhaps the inter
view will arouse some of the county
officials to a sense OF their duty.
State-Veterinarian TAFT Butler writes
to the agricultural department, ex-
pressing his satisfaction at the atten-
dance at the Farmers Institutes, which
he and other department officials are
now holding in central North Carolina
He says thai at Pittsboro 124 farmers
were present. at Carthage 179 and a
Troy 1S4, and that this is very good
considering the hot weather and the
pussy season.
s. a. Schloss. of Wilmington, who is
the lessee of the theatre here. is look
ing after its remodeling, which is be-
ing done by order of the Raleigh Audi
torium Company. The eason will be
opened september End by Fields Min.
strels. The scenery, So pieces, will be
PAINTED by Eugene Cox, of Chicago
Manager SchlosS has ordered the
frames made by a firm at Wilmington
Russell Eaton, cOlored, was brough
La-A- 4adnH Fam IEaEa EAraSt M