The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-05
AROUSED BY THE
BANGING OF GUNS
Ex- Treasurer HOIloWay's
House Attacked.
FIRED ON BY MOONERS
Terrible Condition of Lawlessness in
That Section OF Durham And
Wake Due to Interest
Of Many People in
BIOCkadinq.
Especial to News and Observer


Durham, N. c., July 4.--News has
reached here of bold and desperate
attempt made by blockaders to coerce
and stifle those who would stop the
Illicit manufacture of whiskey in the
country districts. On last Sunday
night several men fired a number of
shots into the home of Mr.. Thomas
J. Holloway, ex-treasurer of Durham
county, who lives near Holloway sta
ton, not far from the Durham and
Wake county lines. No one was hurt
in the fusilade of shots fired, but
window glass in the home of Mr.. Hol
loway were broken and shot peppered
into the rooms. From the number
of tracks left it seems that there
were some three or four men in the
party. They left eight empty shells,
such as are used in a shot gun, on
the ground near the house.
From open threats that have been
made it is clear that the shooting was
done by those who either engage in
or countenance the illegal manufacture
of whiskey and that Mr.. Holloway was
singled out because he is one of two
or three men in that immediate sec
ton who are against the blOckading
of whiskey, and for the further rea-
son that the revenue officers were in
that section on Friday night of last
week making raids and that Mr.. Hollo-
way was suspected of having given
| the information.
| The Story Of the Shooting.
The shooting occurred about ten
| o clock at night. Mrs. Holloway heard
the report of a gun, the rattle OF shot
against the house, the breaking of
glass She screamed and this awoke
nd IN
shooting continued but stopped befole
he could get out of the house an
learn who the parties were. They the
went away. The next morning the
were q number of tracks shown
where the men stood and also shell
showing that at least eight shots we
fired.
From all reports there is a terrible
condition of affairs in that section
Durham and Wake counties. 1t is Sa
that most of the people in that imm
date neighborhood know of and
vor the blockading of whiskey TIL
almost openly defy the law. Tia
blockaders are generally known, b
there is not sufficient evidence to co
Vict the parties. 1t is said that
short while ago there was one bloch
still over in the edge of Wake, or very
near the line, which was visited by
at least one hundred and fifty people
that many people are afraid to leave
their families at home on Sunday, for
fear there will be q disturbance and
some deVilment done.
Occasionally an illicit plant is re-
ported. 1t is stated that these reports
are often sent in by people who are
Interested this being for the double
purpose of getting the bride money
and throwing suspicious off them
selves. Then the blockaders are noti-
fed in time to get their stills away,
and all the officers find when they
arrive are empty forementers. This
was the case last Friday night. The
officers went out from here, and when
they reached the scene of the stills
the copper had been removed and all
that was found were a few fermenters
and a cooling worm On that day Mr..
r. j. Holloway was in Durham. 1T
was told at once that he had reported 4
the stills, which, however, he denies.
On Saturday there were threats ru-
mored in the neighborhood and on
Sunday the home was attacked.
The Blockade Business.
People who are informed say that
there are a large number OF blockade
stills in this county, probably as many
as thirty or forty. These have, in a
large part sprung up within two
wears The revenue officers have cut
up large number in this section but
the business goes merrily on, as a
ready sale for the white lightning is
found through the blind tiger dens
here.
The attack on Mr.. Holloway's home
is not the only case of violence report
ed in this county. Sometime ago one
mans house in the northern part of
the county was rocked, then shot into,
later was fired and still later a coffin
was left at his door. Another man
had his crop of tobacco destroyed, it
being cut down in one night. The
revenue officers have been shot at
and have returned the shots on more
than one occasion. The sheriff is pow
erless, as are the revenue officers.
for the reason that people in the sec
tons are either in league with the law
violators or are afraid to give Informal
ton to the authorities.
The situation continues to grow
from bad to worse in many sections.
Good citizens report that not only
are whiskey stills flourishing but that
there are many blind tigers and dens
of the kind in country districts, away
from police protection. In the city
the police keep matters well in hand
but in the country there is a differ
ence.