The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-28
CRIMINAL TEAFF|CkEAS
IN BOOZE SAY OFFICER
Prohibition Inspector Killed While
Arresting Outlaw Gang Operating
West Virginia Still

Once again the bootlegger and
moonshiner in West Virginia takes
his toll OF death. Hardened crimi-
nails spurred on by the profits In the
liquor business, defy the law. and re-
sort TO cold blooded murder in order
to carry on their Illicit trade. No
other business In the world produces
the crime. misery and sorrow that
everywhere follows in the wake OF
this nefarious traffic When will the
people awake to this terrible evil so
prevalent in our country? The follow
ing from the Charleston Gazette OF
November 81 gives the particulars OF
the crime as then known:
All the elements of fiction entered
into the murder of J. L. Collins, aged
~. of Mcdowell county, who was
killed last Thursday night by moon
sinners about twenty miles from
WEIGH. near the Virginia border. in
the mountains OF Mcdowell county
and whose body was found late on
Monday night by a searching party
There was a log cabin, run of
mountain dew" the mountain viola
tors, the officer Of the law, the battle,
and the finding of the body of the
officer. his glazed eyes looking toward
the sky just at the entrance of the
cabin.
Collins was under special assign
ment by the state prohibition depart
ment to look after the operation of
moonshine stills in Mcdowell county.
He had been appointed by State Pro
hibition Commissioner Hallaman to
run down 'violators in that section OF
the state, Hearing that there was
to be a run off" and not calling any
one to aid him, he made his way
through the mountains to the spot
This was the last heard of him until
his body was found by searching
party. which became alarmed at his
failure to return.
Collins body was found near the
cabin. and in his body were two bull
let wounds He had been dead for
about four days The cabin showed
ly for distilling purposes. but the par
aphernalia had been removed
Officers of the law arrested six
men and two women In connection
with the crime and they are being
held as witnesses or as being partici-
pants in the crime. Collins body has
been inferred. but sad feature OF
the affair is that his widow is so IL
with influenza and pneumonia thai
the news of her husbands death eouio
not be broken to her.
MuFuCftTS VIII NaS Ssi1Ny'
But the lawless do not always es-
cape---the United States government
reaches forth its mighty arm in de
Tense OF the right and SIX persons
have already been arrested and vii
be vigorously prosecuted for the muir
der Of J. II. Collins, a fearless officer
of the prohibition department, Collins
died at his post of duty and no more
can be said of any man. Not all o'
us would have had the courage tf
approach the place alone. but We al
admire the courage OF the man wnf
did One more life has been taken by
the lawiess liquor element One more
crime has been added to their alread,
long list May justice mete out TO tht
murderers OF Officer Collins sucf
punishment as the circumstances Of
the case may require. According &c
the following from the Wheeling In.
telligencer Of Dec 4th. the murderer
have been apprehended and will be
vigorously dealt with:
United States court for the south
ern district of West Virginia con
vened In Charleston. December 3 fol
the November term. postponed from
November 10 on account OF th'
serious influenza epidemic at tina
time in many of the counties OF th'
district, The time of the court was
occupied in the empanelling and IN
structing of the grand jury and II
the empanelling OF the petit jury
The names of the six persons ar
rested in connection, with the murder
OF Deputy Sheriff John Collins in NC
Bowel il county last 'Tshursday were an
nounced today at the office OF Mar
shall Osborne as follows: John Scar
berry. Mrs. John Scarberry. Johr
Quisenberry and Mrs, John Quisen
berry. Ellie Billups and brother o
John Scarberry.
Billups is lodged in the Mercer
county Jail at Princeton. and the 9th
ers In the Mcdowell county jail a
WEIGH. Confessions are said to haf'
been secured from the prisoners OF
which the charge OF murder will b.
made agains, John Scarberry. h
| is said to have shot Collins from be
hind with a high powered rifle as TIN
| latter was entering his house with ;
I brother OF Scarberry's in custody
, Collins had arrested Scarberry'
! brother in charge of the still which
was being raided, it was said.