The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-05-09
Shocking TRAGEDY
Three Revenue Officers Walk
Into Death Trap.
shot from Ambush While Making Raid
On Moonshine Still In Mountains
ofEastsIn Kentucky.

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Not In years has Eastern Ken
lucky witnessed 80 cold-blooded,
heartless and shocking a tragedy as
that which was enacted In the Blue
head Notch Of the Cumberland
mountains within a stones throw OF
the state Line between Kentucky
and virginia last Sunday morning at
10 O'Clock. when u. 8. Deputy Mar
shals Marion Ramey. Of Elkhorn
City. John slone and J. Mart Pot
ter. OF this city. were shot from am
bush while making raid upon the
moonshine still OF David and Sol
Hall and Tom Riddle. the latter
negro.
Last week Mas Adelia Hall. sis
ter Of the two out laws. came TO
Pikoyille and complained that her
brothers had mistreated her. had
compelled her 70 leave her home un-
de threats OF death. and had de-
.Icd silence upon her part under
ke penalty. She went before U.
( Commissioner !. Il. Gray and pro-
- 4sd warrants for their arrest, to-
her with that of the negro Rid
n She also gave the officers all
4 z information she possessed. and
oI lred TO guide them TO the still,
HdIch was located high upon the
hillside. and hidden behind a ledge
OF rock. The officers accepted her
offer. and left Pikeville on horse
back late Saturday afternoon. send
ing her to Eikhorn City by the 1890
train. On Sunday morning they set
out for the Breaks. and reached the
location OF the still about 10 o'clock
Z. m. Sol Hall had gone over the
hill 10 his fathers house. about one
mile down the slope on the Virginia
side. and only his brother David and
negro were left at the still.They
SLATED the officers approaching, led
By the girl. about one-half mile
away, they withdrew to n clump OF
bushes few yards above the still.
When they arrived at the still the
place presented deserted appear
ance. and they began TO think they
would have an easy Job destroying
the mO0nshine factory. Ramey SHOW
Cd his pistol back into the holster.
advanced and lifted the still onto
his shoulder. placing a bandana
handkerchief between his head and
the smoked surface Of the kettle.
He started TO discend the mountain
with his burden. and had advanced
ony q few steps VIXEN. crack, A pis-
tol shot rang out from the bushes
only few yards above. and In rap
ID auccession dozen more shots
followed. The first shot struck him
In the back OF the head, and he
dropped the still and fe.1 to the
ground. He died instantly, and his
death struggles we're not violent
enough to move the handkerchief
which fell over his face. Instantly
Potter and Slone had drawn their
guns and were returning the dead
~ fire, which this time was direct
I'd toward Slone. One shot pierre
cd his head. and several more per-
forated HIS body. Potter's gun was
shot ont OF his right hand. and as
he reached with his left to snatch
the one In Stones dead hand an
other ball bursted the handles from
n revolver In his hip pocket. See
ing that there was no chance for
him unless he withdrew, he set
about retreating. dodging behind
trees, rocks. etc.. and while max
ing his escape he was shot three
times. But he was not disabled,
and travelled a mile, mainly on his
hands and knees, toward Elkhorn
City.
The bandits rushed forward. seiz-
ed the stupefied girl and dragged
her across the line into Virginia to
her fathers house, meaning to keep
her as n shield against the attacks
OF officers in pursuit. But she escap-
cd and found her way back through
the Notch to the Kentucky side. She
overlook Potter's loose horse one
and one-half miles down the noun
tain side. and mountaing It gallop-
cd into Ellkhorn City with the news
OF the tragedy. A small party Of
men went In search of Potter and !
the other two men, believing all
three to be dead. But Potter was
found two miles out trying to reach
the settlement. He was Immediate
~ removed 10 the hospital at Elk
horn, where he underwent an opera
ton. and 23 buckshot wore remov-
cd,
The other two bodies were found