The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-05-28
FINE WORK BY OUR POLICEMEN.
Between Fifteen and Twenty BOOtIeggers
Captured by Chief Geo. y. Campbell
and His Assistants.

Do'Wooh FiVoch anu twenty DOOlleSSefS
Captured by Chief Geo, y. Campbell
and His Assistants.
Seveal weeks ago Mayor Smith and
other officials of the town laid plans for
a raid upon the whiskey sellers in john
son City. A detective, who was recon-
NEEDED by Deputy U. s. Marshall Boil
ton, was employed by the town to work
up cases against suspected bootleggers,
all expenses of the campaign being
borne by the city.
Suspicious persons have been for
some time under the surveillance of the
police, and warrants in some instances
had been taken out, but our policemen
and those in Johnson City who are in
favor of upholding the law, are so we'll
known to the bootleggers that it was
thought best to bring in an unknown
man for the purpose of working up evil
dence to convict those who were violst-
ing the law.
For two or three weeks the officials
contented themselves with pointing
out suspected persons to the detective
and rendering him such assistance as
was in their power; all arrests being
refrained from until such time as q
good haul could be made.
AT last, on Monday, May 18th, it was
determined that the net which had
been spread should be drawn in, aud
the management and control of the
manner of so doing was placed entirely
in the hands OF Chief Campbell and
first assistant, who decided that opera
lions should not begin until the sus-
poets should be in their homes and
beds. This was because it was feared
that an earlier catch would spread the
alarm too rapidly and some OF the par
victims might escape. However, in
spite of every precaution, some of the
culprits scented danger and left for
parts unknown before they could be
spprehended.
At the hour appointed our three po-
licemen, Campbell, Wilson and Hawk,
assisted by Deputy Sheriffs Swadley
and Hart, Special Policeman David
Bowers, and others; also by Marshall
Bolton and an assistant, all under Or
ders of Chief Campbell, began the
making of arrests and kept up the work
all night. BY morning thirteen arrests
had been made, and most Of the accus-
ed had been lodged in the city Jail
This number included all the males &C
cused which it was thought would rur
away except one, who was not found
The other arrests we're made later
The police worked in conjunction
with U. s. Deputy Marshall Bolton il
similar way inst previous to the las
term of federal court at Greeneville
which resulted in many conviGtions
and it has been understood between
the police and deputy marshall since
that this work would be done previous
to the approaching term OF the court.
The police had asked the deput,
marshall to come at an earlier date
but it was impossible for him to do 81
on account of work at Newport anC
other places.
1t will be remembered that this coun
ty has no work-house system and t.
prosecute large numbers of this elias
of offenders in magistrates court anC
have them placed in Jail a long Will
previous to circuit court and after con
viction creates an expense on the coun
, ty which the taxpayers Justly COM
plain Of.
In consideration of the foregoin,
facts, it was thought best to turn owe
to Marshall Bolton those who were &C
cused, believing that in this way tn
law would be upheld and the guilt
parties made to suffer just punishment
and the Taxpayers of johnson City an
: Washington county be saved froI
heavy burdens.
Actuated by sinister motives, certai
t persons have sought, by distortin
! facts, to prejudice the minds Of tn
public against the police officers c
!, johnson City, and because of this fac
: we deem it right to state, as we hav
: done in the foregoing article, some {
the most prominent facts connecte
i with the last raid on bootleggers.
u G. l.. SMITH, Mayor.
I. N. BORING,
Chairman Fire and Police Commute,
G. 7. LEE, City Attorney