The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-05-28
MUCH SMOKE,
LITTLE FIRE

~ LAS Aob pCCn ACAoAAy hAOWA SOS
nevertheless true that two revenue
officers have been nosing around Oro-
vile for a number OF days in search
Tor offenders who run i'll liquor from
over the border, in the common Vanac-
ular known as bootleggers. They were
so quiet in their operations, and so Sc
cretve as TO the object OF their pres
ence in town that no suspicion was
created, and when they showed their
hand Tuesday by making arrests and
searching number of premises SEN
sation was created. After the first
move was made the business In which
these men were engaged was no lon
ger mystery. Word speedily went out
that raid was on, and one could al
most feel the suppressed excitement
that prevailed throughout the business
district What evidence these men had
accumulated was unknown, and while
the population watched and waited.
not knowing where lightning might
strike, reports Of all kinds floated
through the atmosphere.
The strangers within our gates bent
uPcA hoDDih6 OiAChuCAS Va tuC PAOAA-
bition law were Officers Ragan and
Bunker, of the revenue department.
They were joined Tuesday by Deputy
Sheriffs Wilson and Burden. Monday
night they were active stopping cars
coming in from British Columbia, for
there were many cars from this side
over in B. c. Monday, and it was but a
natural inference that some would re-
turn with contraband goods. Many
cars were stopped and searched but in
only one instance did they find the
taboo fluid. In a car driven by A.
Phillips three bottles of beer were
found. Phillips room was afterwards
searched and part of flask of whis-
ky was found. Phillips was placed un-
der arrest and was taken to Okanogan.
Two bottles of sealed whisky were
found on Harry Barmon's premises
and a bottle or two of alleged wine.
besides numerous empty TASKS Mr..
Barman was arrested and released
under $500 bonds. Several houses in
town were searched but nothing of an
discriminating nature in the way OF
booze was discovered.
1t is only fair to give MIR. Barmon's
version of the story. Mr.. Barmon
states that a stranger covered with
dust as though he had just come in
from long ride, and carrying suit
case, stepped into his store only few
minutes before the officers called. The
man purchased two cheap handker-
chiefs and saying that he was going
out to eat asked if he could leave the
suit case in the store until his return.
This suit case sat on the floor in plain
sight within a few feet of the door,
and it was in this suit case, wrapped
in towel, that the two bottles of seal
ed whisky was found. Archie Ash, so
Mr.. Barmon states, was present when
the stranger entered the store, and
saw him leave the suit case. AS 10 the
two bottles that is said to contain
wine the decoction is some kind of
medicine containing poison left in the
store by a prospector several months
ago.
Somehow, the impression prevails ON
the outside that much liquor is brought
into the state through Oroville We
doubt if this be true One can hear ru-
mors of such cargoes, but this passaga
is too clearly under the eye of customs
officers for bootleggers to carry on
their trade over this route. Besides,
there are numerous unguarded roads
that these criminals can take without
coming near Oroville. The Officers
must have been very much disappoint-
ed that their "watchful waiting" re-
suited in such an insignificant haul.
However, those who engage in smugg-
ling liquor for the big money in t
should take timely warning If they
persist in the practice they are going
to be caught, and arrest with the goods
is going to be followed with drastic
punishment.