The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-03-01
Capture OF FLElsH-
MAN, MOONSHINER.

Of The secret service branch of the GOV
trhincnt had been at times far from
satisfactory. The district of Kentucky,
Arkansas and Missouri was in charge
nt II general superintendent. who in
turn divided his district into smaller
ones each in charge OF Il supervisor.
These supervisors had individual STATS
of operatives and on their shoulders de
volved the work OF arresting moon
hiners.
Moonshining was a crime against
federal law and as such was punish
hble by United States courts. In the
summer of II the federal court sitting
at st. Louis was especially active In
Investigations: grand juries worked
daily and many indictments We're re-
turned and warrants issued. The serv-
Ing of these warrants was no easy mat
ter because the moonshiners main
tanned a pretty good look out" in st.
Louis that tipped off all The
rulprits generally lived down in the in
terror OF Missouri and Arkansas and
when the secret service men arrived
the bird had flown" and the warrant
would be returned nor est i%nventus-
not found.
jim Fleishman, a native of North
Carolina, but an active Arkansas moon
sinner, was one of the most fragrant Of
lenders. Numerous warrants had been
issued for his arrest, but not an officer
had been able to bring him in. Judge
Treat. presiding judge of the federal
district court sitting in st, Louis, was
Il great stickler for action in his court;
when a warrant was issued he wanted
It served, 1T was a United States war
rant and if one officer could not serve
.t-"get two. get three; If necessary, get
TROOPS" We're his commands. Partic-
nlarly wroth was the judge over the
failure to secure Jim Freshman. II
was rumored Fle1shman had been in
st. Louis and had made sighting re-
marks about the United States author
tiles in general and Judge Treats court
In particular. Again Mr.. Freshman
would appear down in southern Mis-
souri, or northern Arkansas. 1t was
told he even played poker with an of
ncer on a Mississippi river boat while
that d%ignitary was on his way TO ar
rest him (~Fleishman).
General John w. Noble, afterwards
In Harrison's cabinet. and at that time
United States district attorney for MIS-
souri,, also was greatly eXasperated
over the secret services inability to
land Fleishman. Judge Treat and
General Noble had n consultation one
day and sent for Captain Jacob Nor
gan, acting United States marshal. to
come into court. and when he arrived
the judge raked him over the Goals IN
good shape. In substance MS honor
SAID:
This court does not propose TO be
trined with any longer. Warrants have
been issued time and again for the ar
rest of Jim Freshman, but never
served. Now l want one served"
The court was Informed that dlligent
efforts had been made to land Fleish-
man; money had been spent freely ana
men killed in the attempt. The judge
admitted that all this might be true.
but the fact remained Freshman was
still at large defying the government
and bringing the courts into ~disrepute.
Get more men; spend more money,
cali in the army If necessary, get
~Fleishman.' said the judge. Il don't
care how you do it; just get him
Captain Morgan was a gallant old
soldier. not afraid of man. beast or
devil; the judges words stung him and
he resolved to get Fleishman or quit his
place. He assembled his staff sent
for Captain Val Pruitt, deputy United
states marshal at Poplar Bluff, near
the Arkansas line.
Val Pruitt had been a "~forty-niner,
a b~ull-whacker. scout. shotgun messel-
ger for W~ells-Fargo, and was abso-
lutely without fear. When the civil
war broke out Pruitt came east. en-
listed in the First Missouri cavalry,
served four years honorably and had
a most distinguished record for gal
lantry. He was now as 1.-THE silent
man. on account of his extreme re
ticence.
When Pruitt reached st. Louis a
pow WOW was held in Captain Morgah's
office and plans devised to capture
can you get him. Pruitt?" asked
Morgan.
ally replied Pruitt.
We'll, go ahead and get him. Here's
your warrant. Use your own methods
49, 500 ~,1 ,,,n lnnff la 111~-
Eardly. only get him." snapped Nor
gan. remembering Judge Treats harsh
~adlnonition-
"Won't take many men or much
money" said Pruitt. CHANGING around
the room. His eye on Jack Cheney.
IN take Cheney, there; thatl be
enough
Don't he a damned fool. Pruitt," re-
piled Morgan. "ltll take more than
two men
'Didn't you tell me to use my own
methods as to men and means? Well,
I'll take Cheney and get F%1eishman,
unless Cheney doesn't want the job"
This last with a drawl while his eyes
looked two sparks of fire through mar
cow cracks.
Cheney had his smile and said: Tn
with you, Pruitt-till hell freezes and
then if necessary I'll cross over on the
ice"
That's all want" said Pruitt. TN
meet you at two this afternoon at Lei
boldt's place and tell you what to do.
Sc long. Morgan. So long, everybody
and Pruitt was gone.
Morgan knew Pruitt we'll enough to
know he meant lust what he said.
Still he was somewhat dubious about
his getting Fleishman With only one
man. even If that mar was Cheney.
AT 2 o'clock Cheney and Pruitt met
at Leiboldt's place on the levee. Pruitts
one weakness was dress. and in the
Interim between the meeting in Nor
gan's office and 2 o'clock he had rugged
himself out like a fashion plate. He
would hardly be taken for a deputy
United States marshal out after a
moonshiners. His plans We're matured
and his instructions very brief.
Cheney, l want you to meet me at
Point Pleasant one week from today.
You will leave on the steamboat Belle
of st. Louis and go to Memphis. Stay
there a day and keep dark, and then
take the boat next morning back TO
Point Pleasant. You ought to reach
there about dusk the same evening. l
will be on or near the dock. Dont you
recognize me at all. lust keep Your
eyes open and follow me after the boat
has left. Understand"
Sure thing. Pruitt. l understand
and I'll be there all right"
Il don't have to tell O to come we'll
armed. Jim F%leishman is a crack
shot ~ Ivos1y1 po+ = "a troy him, lilo n