Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-10-20
M0ONSH|NERS |N'GOVERNOR GLENN WILSON PERMITS
ARKANSAS PLEADSPEAKS TONIGHT ARMS To CD To
GUILTY To ACTS At THE CHURCH CARRANA ONLY

FORT SMITH, Ark, Oct. 20.-Tha
seven men being tried for conspiracy
to defraud the government by the man
fracture of moonshine whiskey, plead
6uilty. They will be sentenced Thurs
day. The eighth defendant, Fred
Bowles, of Fort Smith, was dismissed
The defendants brought to trial in
connection with the so-called moon
shine" conspiracy number over score
seven of them officials or former
officials or the United States internal
revenue service. They were indicted
by the federal grand jury last June.
The government authorities predict
that out of the cases may grow gi-
gantic prosecution of many other men
who it is alleged have swindled the
government of the United States out
Of between $1O,OO0,O0O and $15,OOo,O
during the last ten years.
The alleged head of the conspiracy
is John L. Casper, an officer of the
Rush Distilling Co., of Kansas City,
WHO with Guy L. Hartman, of Kansas
City, James c. Brewbaker, of Kan
sas City, and others, are charged with
maintaining an illicit distillery at
Fort Smith and with shipping thous-
a1ds of gallons of spurious whiskey,
n anufactured at the plant, to the dis
tilling company.
The six revenue officers are named
with other defendants in a blanket in
dictment for conspiracy, and one of
them, Knox Booth, is accused of ac-
cepting bribes from Casper and Hart
man. Booth was formerly superinten-
dent of the Tennessee Revenue diyi-
sion and was removed from office after
the issue of the warrant for his ar
rest. Government officers say he con-
fessed and gave valuable information
as to the working of the alleged con-
spiracy.
The other revenue men indicted
were:
James Surber, Atlanta, Ga, former
superintendent of the Georgia revenue
division; resigned shortly before his
Indictment.
Thomas c. Mccoy, Ashevville, N. c.,
former revenue agent; resigned from
service five years ago.
S. L. Williams, Winston Salem, N. c.,
former revenue agent; resigned sew
eral years ago and became associated
with Casper in the distilling business.
J. Henry Brown, Harrison, Ark, for
NOR government guager; still in gov
service when arrested.
Newton c. Spradling, Aurora, Mo-.
former guager; resigned when ar
rested.
J. w. Grider, of Sonora, Ark.
Others indicted were:
John Farrabee, George Hartman
and Charles Brewbaker, of Kansas
City; John Coffee, Fred Bowles and J.
T. Thomas, of Fort Smith; James L.
Smith, Atlanta, Ca; Henry Cummings,
w. Va; William Smith, Fort
Smith, Ark; Leo. F. Brock and Moses
Brock, of Salisbury, N. c; c. NJ. Haw-
wins, of Marion, ~ c., AMI Ed P. Jar
rett, and Ernest Sumner, addresses
unknown.
Government officers did not have to
ride into wooded hills inhabited by
rough men of the "moonshine" type to
uncover the STILL" where it is alleged
the Illicit liquor was made They found
it standing boldly on one of Fort
Smiths streets-a dilapidated old
building, as innocent looking as some
deserted Arkansas farm house. But
inside, machinery modern to the min
ute, the government alleges, manu.
factured six Year Old Kentucky
Bourbon" Fine Old Private Stock,
and Seven Year Old Rye from pure