Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-13
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9 HOW l CAME TO
9 BE "A FARMER.
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rend great deal about the failure OF
officials to find and bring TO justice
Illicit dlstillers In Tennessee, was
seized with Il desire to try my hand nj
the business. Polk county swarmed
with moonshiners, and to Polk county
I went. Reaching the locality that
sought, l began operations by pump
Ing the Inhabitants. Passing farm.
house | saw good looking young wo-
man OH the porch tnklng care of
couple of little children. tlismounted,
went In and asked for II drInt of wa
ter. The woman pointed to n gourd
hanging In we'll house. and | helped
myself. Then. before asking any ques-
lions. l played with the children with
view TO opening way to the moth.
er's confidence
Sorry your husband isn't ut home,"
said. I'm looking out for timber
lands. Perhaps he might know of
some to sell"
Il haven't got husband" she re-
piled: 'I'm n wlddcr'
She went on to tell me that It was
hard for her to get on since her hus-
bands death. The country was ruined
by the Illicit distllllng that was going
on. Instead OF farming, everybody was
making whisky. and that kept respect.
able people away.
would you," asked. "bc willing to
do something to get rid of the moon
shincrs7"
"Wcll, l don't like to git my neigh
bors down on me-"
but supposlng you could mako q
nice thing OF IT.
what d'y' Gull n nice thingY
I named sum wns willing to pay
for the information desired
look n-herc. stranger" she said
"You hain't after lumber; you're
a-huntin' stills. Now. IL You double that
what yo' said. It's n go''
complied with the terms, md she
gave me minute Information as to
where I could find II hnlf dozen secret
whisky manufactures, with the names
OF persons who knew nil about them
and could testify to their existence
and ownership In court
Having kissed the chIldrcn-I want.
ed to kiss the widow. too; she was
very temptlng-I mounted my horse,
confirmed the Information given ME
by pretending to stumble on the stills
while hunting timber lands, then rode
to the county seat and sworc out wnr.
rants for the persons whose names
had been given me ns the owners and
subpocnncd the witnesses
Some time was required to serve the
pnpers, and Il was several weeks be-
fore we We're ready for trial. Mean
while l called frequently on the widow,
becoming quite Mt home in her house.
taking the children out to walk with
me while their mother was busy with
her household duties feared that
my being so much at her home would
lcnd those whom was prosecuting TO
suspect that she had given mo the
necessary information, but they didn't
| seem TO trouble her began to feel
that / would not mind settling In Ten.
nessce with n view to mInlsterng to
the widow and the fatherlcss.
When the case came mp for trial 1t
became apparent That the stills had
seen were small ones, the main stills
where the bulk of the whisky wns
made remaining undiscovered. The
fees paid the witnesses-whose iestl-
mony was worthless-cost the state n
round penny, and the amount paid
tho widow was dead loss to me.
wns riding away from the courthouse
much discounted when ono of my
witnesses overlook me.
Stranger" he snid, "what'd you uns
give for SOME more informatlonT
"Nothing"
well. I'll give II to you anyway
The wldder that put " on to 'cm owned
the hull kit Her husband owned all
the big stills about hynr. and when he
was shot year ago by revenue Off
Ger his widdcr TUX the property and
has been runnln' 1t ever siuce. Hynr's
paper she writ you uns."
lie handed me II mlssive from the
widow inviting me to take supper with
her that evening. thanked the man
for his Information and. turning. rode
to the widows home.
Stranger she said. 81 hain't no
grent lover fer stu hunters. secin' my
husband was shot by revenue but
hain't got over your talln' shine
to Tommy and Maudle. Here's the
money You uns paid me fer putin you
uns on to the stills. I own 'cm. and
the witnesses give v air all In my
employ. Reckon It wouldn't be right
to take pay fer that. The state can
afford to pay the witness fees"
We We're soon seated at table on
which was n delicious supper OF hmm
and eggs. biscuit, corn bread and cot
fee. The widow did everything she
could to make me forget my failure to
break up moonshlning in Polk county,