New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-03-26
MOONSHIN,ER
Being CLOS
Revenue Officers Shut DON
Stills Weekly

Louisville, Ky, Mafch %
States revenue officers In Ken1
are destroying moonshine
about 10 week, according to
uty Marshal James C. Drewry,
returned recently to Louisvilies
lowing a raid in Larue county
The officers have been unusu8N
busy for several months owing to-
increase in the making of illicit WIZ
key. it is said. The face that n1oo5
sinners appear to be more active na5
than for many years, while due T.
part to the extension of dry terri
tory, also is attributed in a meast1E
TO the recent epidemic of influenza
the mountain countries.
Deputy Marshall Drewry told OF 1zea
raid in which he participated recentlys
In Larue county, which resulted In the
capture of two moonshine stills ane
two brothers, Lige and Jim Warsrexss
who had been operating the stills.
Rumors reached the revenue Off
GERS i'll Louisville that moonshinerM
were active in the Hibernia section of
Larue county, and DreWry was sent. to-
join United States Deputy Marshal
Workman and another revenue officer
at Greensburg on a hunt for the
tanned at Greensburg, and the officers
started on a 3O-mile trip in search of
the stills
Officers Lose Way.
The trip> was uneventful. Arriving
in the neighborhood where the stills
were known TO be in operation, the
officers concealed the automobile in
a thcket and started out on foot to
no
Darkness fell and the officers lost
their way. although one of the party
was we'll acquainted with the sur
rounding country. The night was cold
and they could not lie down and wait
for morning, as it would have been
disastrous for their mission to have
started a fire to keep themselves
warm.
After several hours the officers
found q log cabin, which they entered.
Calling aside one Of the men of the
family, Drewry drew his revolver and
told the man: Il am a revenue officer.
You are running a moonshine still,
and you have got to show us where it
is"
The ruse worked The man WAS
badly frightened. told where, the still
was located. and offered to lead the
officers to it in the morning. The off,
GERS sat by the fire in the little cabin
throughout the night, and at dawn
they set out With their guide for q
valley where the still was said to be
located. The still was deserted and
without signs Of having been operated
for some time.
A path leading from the still was
followed, and this took the officers to
q deserted cabin whore another still
smoldering embers told Of recent &C
tivity. There was another cabin
short distance away, and while the
other officers remained at the still
Drewry approached the house. Noun |
tain hospitality is proverbaI, but
Drewry carried his automatic in his
hand as he walked into the house and !
greeted Lige Warren, who was sitting /
at the fire.
That's a mighty fine still you've |
got down the way" Drewrv remark /
ed in a joking way, Lige admitted !
he was correct.
well, that being the case, you had /
better come along with me. I'm a |
revenue officer"
The old moonshiner saw he had !
been trapped and submitted quietly
It was at the still that the noun
taineer told his story, placing all the !
blame for his operations upon the In /
f1uenZa epidemic. He had not worked !
at his still for years he said, until the
influenza epidemic came along and |
claimed his youngest son. Then he !
began making 17oonslline to provide
q remedy for members Of his family.
It was not long, however, until. his.
neighbors began to demand some Of !
his product for themselves and the
business grew until rumors Of his
operations reached the revenue Off
GERS.
The officers took their two prison.
ers TO Lebanon and later brought
them TO Louisville, where they were
given hearing before Judge Evans
and sentenced to pay q, fine of 800 /
each and serve 80 days in Jail