The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-29
Fine OLD HOMESPUN YARNS.
By Rev. r. n. Whitaker.

ming blind tigers. Our grandfathers
never heard of such things; and, as
long as they have been dead, it would
make them ashamed of their grand
children if they could be told of their
moon-shine and blind tiger ways.
Some OF my readers, living in good
communities, may never have heard of
a moon-shiner, and, therefore, do not
know what he is. To enlighten all
such, l need only say, that, a moon
sinner is one who sets up a WhiSkey
still in violation of law, out in the
woods, and makes and sells liquor, re-
gardless of the damage he may do to
mis- own family, and to the community
as we'll in which he lives. 1t is said
of moonsh:ners that they will swear
falsely, and influence those who pat
roniZe them - do the same thing. Not
only that, but il has been said Of them,
thar, they go out to their distilleries
heavily armed, prepared to Kill the
officers of the law, who may try to
arrest them. Moon-shiners may very
properly, then, be termed murderers.
/ heard of Il case not long since of
an old moon-shiners swearing himself
out of an ugly scrape. The revenue
officers run in upon still that he
owned. and arrested him and some of
the boys; but, the old fellow swore
that the boys had been running the
business unknown to him. There was
plenty of evidence, so | was informed,
to have convicted the old moon
sinner but the revenue officers either
could not or did not care to, get ii.
[ suppose the old fellow is going on,
as usual, with his sitting and his sell
ing.
No. I'm afraid the revenue officers
do not always do their duty. In TACT
/ have heard of some things that did
not favorably impress me. One cir
cumstance, related to me, by gentle
man of Granville county, which hap
pened a few years ago. served to make
me doubt the faithfulness of, at least.
one man, who was Il revenue oHlcef.
He had a strong case against moon
sinner, but he failed TO subpoena, as
a witness Il gentleman whose teSti-
mony would have convicted the man.
The court being in session, here IN
Rale 9Th the Judge was notified by
telegram, sent by a Granville county
man. that the case. referred to, should
not be tried without certain witness,
by whose testimony the moonshlner S
guilt could be established.
The judge at once ordered the
revenue officer, who had arrested the
moon Shiner, to have said witness
summoned, instanter. Next morning
court. but, to the judges astonishment,
nothing could be proved by him--he
knew nothing of the case. And no
wonder, for. instead of going out into
Granville and getting the witness ne
was ordered to summons, he got
Raleigh negro, by the same name, TO
represent the Granville county witness.
who should have been summoned. OF
course the judge thought the negro,
m II "a SnO0aStpd
him as Il material witness was the
person referred to. The truth about
them after as / was led to believe.
the revenue officer did not WlSh 10
have his moonshiner convicted; hence,
instead of summoning the real witness,
he deceived the court by bringing in
negro of the same name.
Moonshining is a mighty crooked
business, so they say: and, if revenue
officer is not very straight very solid.
withal, there is danger of his getting
little crooked. too. having to dear
with such q crooked set.
They used to tell a story on rev.
enue officer, who looked after the
moon-shiners, during Mr.. Cleveland's
first administration, to this effect Ihe
moonshiners having voted for Mr..
Cleveland. thought, so the story ran,
they ought to be allowed to carry on
did not set up business in the swamps,
but out near the road.
The revenue officer sent out word to
the boys to come i'm to see him. They
came, and the party ran thus:
Boys, I'm sorry to disturb your
business, but you'll have to move your
stills" said the revenue officer.
Remove our stills? Amt we all
Democrats. and didn't we hurrah and
vote for Cleveland?' the moonshiners
asked, by way of reply.
"Oh, yes; but you stills are too near
the road. Mr.. Cleveland says they
must be moved farther back, so that
people, going to church. can't see the
smoke. Move them back, boys, or
the revenues will be bound to raid
on Them And they were moved, so
the story ran.
Another joke of a similar character
was told on the same officer. When
reports were brought in to him that
there were stills in full blast, in GER
tain localities. he was bound, of course,
to send out his raiders; but. before do
ing so, he sent out messages to his
effect, to the moonshiner:
t"Take in your fodder. boys; the in
dications are that it will rain before
tomorrow night
OF course the fodder was taken in
OR rather the stills were moved. and
secreted; so. that, when the raiders
went out they found nothing but the
places whence the spirits had depart
ed.
If the following story is not true it
can easily be corrected: Down in
Johnston county. n fellow put up a
still. so far away from the road that
its smoke could not be seen by tray