Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1919-04-04
FISHERS HILL TRAGEDY.

ri Auo Reports ABOUT the moo
Woodstock, when the prohibition of
cers we're arrested have been great
= exaggerated. When the officers ha
= been brought to Woodstock, in charg
of the Deputy Sheriff, they NOV q
. about the streets for some hours, un
b I'll complaint was made and they wer
committed to jail. From the tim
: they reached Woodstock in the early
morning until they left ct night the.
were within the reach Of an aveneine
mob. had there been such 10 the town
I'll There was considera BILE loud tall
t upon the streets, before complatn
was made and the officers imprisoned
, about the enforcement of the law
Afterwards few individuals at
tempted to stir up the crowd which
was composed mostly of men who
were anxious to learn the particulars
OF the tragedy. From the statements
OF the officers, it is said Hall was shot
at three times before he fred once,
that he was struck on the head with a
whiskey bottle by Hudson. Halls
coat was burned by the explosion of
the gun, and pistol with three empty
shells was found in the pocket of
Shackelford. The officers have been
shot at time and again by bootleggers
and two of the best officers have been
killed by them. In turning their car,
the bootIeggers knocked down two of
the detectives and then Hall jumped
on the running board Of the whiskey
car. Three shots were fred point
blank at him, one of them going
through his coat near the heart and
burning the cloth because Of the near
ness OF the weapon when fired.
On the other hand, it is sai6 that
Hudson, in his dying statement, said
that no shots had been fired by the
whiskey men.
Hudson died on Friday morning.
An autopsy was held by Drs. Boyd
aud Ford. The prohibition officers
| left Winchester and went to Fredericks-
burg. Before reaching that point
they encountered another car of boot
leggers, and captured a quantity Of
whiskey and the bootleggers who
We're placed in custody at Freder-
icksburg.
The investigation is now very prop
erly in the hands of the court, and a
thorough examination will be made
The fact that number of cars are
engaged in this business, in viola
ton Of the law of Virginia, and their
occupants are heavily armed in or.
der to resist the officers of the law
would Indicate that the state must |
make vigorous efforts to enforce the !
law, or abandon the enforcement of q
law which the people of Virginia have
voted for. If the state permits a !
gang of lawless men, armed TO the |
teeth, to resist her laws, there is no |
safety for persons or property in
Virginia.
II the law is wrong repeal it; if it |
is right, enforce it, and every good |
cit zen will favor its rigid enforce
ment.
Woodstock is astir and all excited
over soldiers only. Last Mon
day night Company D, Richmond
Light Infantry Blues, composed of
80 men under the command of Major
Clarence Wyatt, Captain L. f. A6-
|kins and Lieutenant Frank Epps,
arrived here in a special car escort
lag the four prohibition officers-In-
spector W. T. Hall, and Deputies H.
F. Sweet, II. Il. Sullivan and J. H.
Dunleavy. The detachment of sold
ers and the prohibition officers were
greeted at the station by less than a
hundred people, who turned out pure
y from the standpoint of curiosity.
Upon detrainment the company of
soldiers marched to the jail with the
prohibition officers in the center of
the formation, and upon reaching the
prison Major Wyatt addressed the
crowd, suggesting that they go home
and go to bed. In less than three
minutes, no one could be seen.
The Blues had supper at Hotel
Hoffman and q guard of twenty one
men in three shifts, guarded the Jail.
The Blues expected to find another
Hillsville and were pleasantly sur
prised to find quiet valley town,
where the people tried to extend them
every hospitality.
Among promi nent people brought
| to " oodstock in connection with this
affair, is Attorney Louis Winden-
burg, noted criminal lawyer, OF
Richmond, who will assist Attorney
E. B. Dunford in defending the pro
hi bition inspectors. Newspaper men
in the city are Mr.. Ford, represent
ing the Richmond Times Dispatch,
Norman Draper, of the Associated
Press, and MIR. Smith OF fine Rich
mond NewsLeader, and Mr.. VOORHEES,
of the Independent.
The examining court consisting OF
Justices Irwin and A lien opened
about eleven A. M. The court and
prisoners we're we'll protected by the
military. Guards were placed around
the building and inside at the door.
Ion the streets could be heard the cry
that is familiar only In military
camps, Corporal OF the guard, post
mo. -"
The prosecution was represented by
Commonwealth Attorney c. E. Will
liams, asst sted by Messrs. Bauser-