The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-18
Another Officer Stood By
With Drawn Pistol.
is 1T GRAFT OR WHAT
Mr.. Deal Wrote An Editorial Thus En-.
titled Calling Attention to Alleged
CoIIusion Between Revenue Of
ficers and BIockaders.
The Trial Saturday.
The Trial Saturday.
Especial to News and observer.)

Especial to News and Observer.)
North Wilkesboro, N. c., April H.
There is blood on the face of the moon
in the state of Wilkes. r. A. Deal,
the fearless editor of the Wilkesboro
Chronicle, is badly disabled, owing to
an assault made upon him by Reve-
nue. officers Samuels and Hasty, two
of Blackburn's henchmen. The story
of the affair which is shaking old
Wilkes from center to circumference
runs this way:
In the last issue of the Chronicle
the following editorial appeared,
headed:
.Is it Graft or What?"
There are some strange reports
coming in from the Lewis Fork sec
ton. Six revenue officers went up
there Monday. Our information is
that word was sent up Saturday and
on Sunday the coppers disappeared,
and the revenuerS found nothing as
usual Our informant says it is COM
monty reported and believed that
there are about fifteen blockade dis
tilleries running pretty regularly, ex-
cept for day or so when the officers
make their periodical visits and that
each distiller puts $50 a month into
the proper information concerning
visits
Until last election Lewis Fork was
a Democratic township, but by in
vOlving many in revenue matters and
promising them immunity from the
law and making confidential arrange
ments' with others, it gave q good
majority for Blackburn at the last
election. Hence this special favor to
that township. The other day up in
that section the champion blockade
about $50 pounds and in order to keep
off suspicion they filled up some fell
lows and ladies of leisure and placed
them along the highways to 'Cuss the
Watts law while the hog Staying
proceeded. Our informant says he
knows what he is talking about. We
do not know. 1t is fact, however,
that most of the block business in
the county is done in that section and
the revenuers are unable ITO find a
copper They appear to look only
for the Democratic brand and they're
not there. It's the Republican 'spe-
cial' that are doing the business
When Officers Samuels and Hasty
returned to Wilkesboro from Lewis
Fork they were red in the face.
Editor Deal, though having been sick
in bed for several days, had gotten
up and gone down to the postoffice to
get his mail. He is SMALL frail
man, but of great courage. Samuels
and Hasty met him and Samuels ac-
costed him with the query.
WHO is the author of that damned
lie?"
Deal replied: "I don't know as L
have to give it unless I want to-
"It is your own damned lie," re-
piled Samuels, swinging his big fist
full into Deals face, knocking him
down.
1t was at once seen that Deal was
senseless but Samuels jumped on him
beating him over the head and face.
Hotel keeper Wellborn rushed to
Deals aid when Hasty drew a Colts
pistol and exclaimed: 81 dare any man
to touch Samuels. He is giving the
damned scoundred what he deserves" !"
But this did not hold back the
crowd Brave Mich Vannoy and G.
u. Davis pulled Samuels off. An out
ragged public at once assembled and
it looked as if the revenuers would be
dealt with on the spot, but wiser
council prevailed. The revenuers
sneaked off to the mayor and begged
TO submit, but the mayor would take
no submission and had them arrested
and placed under bond to appear be-
fore him on the 21st
BY dark the streets of Wilkesboro
were alive with mad men from the
country districts, and it was with diff
Guilty that violence to the revenuers
was prevented.
Next Saturday trouble is feared
when the revenuers are tried for the
assault on Deal. Messrs Finly and
Hendren, w. w. Barber and 7. w
MCNEIL are to prosecute, while il is
said the new convert, H. l.. Greene
will defend. This looks like another
chapter in the Yerkes eighth district
contract with the distillers.
The Watts law and the Federal laws
are defied. 1t is time for President
Roosevelt and Governor Glenn to take
hold.