The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-06
DODGING THE LAW
By FREDERIC J. H4SKlN
MISUNDERSTANDING

is largely due TO the increased de-
mand for "moonshine liquor brought
about by prohibition in the southern
states. During the past fiscal year
l,9ll distilleries were seized and &c
stroyed, as compared with LAB for
the preceding fiscal year. There were
4I0 moonshiners arrested and 63,S2l
gallons of spirits reported for seizure.
The value or the moonshiners' prop
erty reported for seizure aggregated
quarter of a million dollars and the
taxes and penalties reported for as
scssment amounted to approximately
one and a half million dollars.
The enforcement of the Internal
Revenue laws often brings about
queer circumstances. Years ago,
when the late Judge John Paul of the
western district court of Virginia,
was a practicing attorney, he acted
as counsel for a moonshiner named
Morris. When Morris was engaging
him, Paul inquired what evidence he
would be able to submit tending 10
disprove the charges against him
Morris replied that he could bring
witnesses to prove anything his coun-
sci thought advisable Years inter
vened, during which time Judge Paul
went 10 congress and from there To
the federal bench. In the last year OF
his service, there came before him
decrepit old man who had been in.
dlcted by the federal grand jury for
moonshining. II proved TO be his
erstwhile client The old man pro
missed II the Judge would be lenient
- oft tt.aN cal ha
straight and narrow way. He was Civ
en- Jail sentence for one year, and
it is understood that the old man has
since lived true to his vow TO respect
the federal statutes.
The revenue agent who is seeking
an Illicit still must look for it under
all guises and forms. Some years
ago there was evidence of moonshine
whiskey in a certain community and
the best endeavors of the revenue
agents failed 10 locate the place OF
manufacture. At last a certain agent
notice SCOT on the leaves of the trees
in a certain tract of woodland. and
observed that II was heavier on the
north side of the tree than on the
south side. With this slight clue he
began a thorough search and finally
came upon a hollow tree, from knot
hole of which he observed traces OF
smoke. Further investigation show
ed him that there was a cave nearby,
and that the moonshiners had con
cealed their distillery in IL, using the
hollow tree as a smokestack. His
led to the seizure OF ar
entire gang and their conviction in
the courts.
In another case a revenue agent
was travelling through the woods and
came across a lone gander. Remem-
bering that the cackling of geese had
saved Rome, a strange intuition told
him that the travels OF this gander
might save Uncle Sam some revenue.
He spent hours patiently travelling
along I'm the wake of Mr.. Gander,
feeling sure he would 90 home with
the setting OF the sun. His surmise
was true and the fowl finally brought
him TO the place where the plant was
located
Some years ago there was evi-
dence in two North Carolina coun-
ties that large amounts of moonshine
whiskey were being sold The rev.
enue agents hunted high and low for
INC btUCkader who was making IT.
They noticed. after many months OF
search. that when they were almost
on the point OF locating their man
in one county, activities broke out In
an adjoining county. In this way the
moohshiner was abte TO elude\ his
pnrsuers for a long time. Finally.
however. he was brought to bay. IL
wos found that each of his stills had
been enlarged to a capacity OF 200
gallons a day lie was given a term
in prison, but as soon as he was re-
leased he went back to his old traits.
Again he was captured and sent to