Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-07-23
AN OBJECTION.


Charleston Gazette, gets things
mixed UP very considerably. in
report published concerning the
violation of the prohibition law in
Greenbricr county.
AT the request of the Prosccut-
ing Attorney of our county agents
from the Department of Justice,
Federal prohibition officers came TO
our county last week for the pur-
pose of making certain arrests and
investigating certain reported still
Ing operation. Nearly year ago
a number Of liquor and shilling in
dictments were made. AT the adj
journment of the August special
term, 1919, capias on the indict-
ments were issued by Clerk Skaggs
and placed in the hands of the
Sheriff, but the Sheriff had been I'M
able to locate and arrest the ac-
cused. The prohibition forces, as
sisted by Deputy Sheriff Mcdowell,
arrested seven of these men. Other
investigations were made, and
Deputy U. S. Marshall Henry
Lemon made the statement that
conditions with regard to liquor
were better in Greenbrier than in
any other county he had been in.
But what we object to most seri-
ously is the statement in the Ga
zette that because the jury did not
find Constable Rose guilty, as
Charged by State Prohibition Off
Ger Ratliff, the jury indicated that
moonshing was in keeping with
public sentiment. That is redicu-
lous charge, and charge that is
utterly without foundation. The
trouble was that Ratliff was drunk
at Renlck. He was arrested for be-
ing drunk and disorderly. With
the evident intent of making him
self secure in his position he un-
der took 10 prosecute NJ. w. Wal
ton, Mayor Sweetwood and Con-
stable Rose. all of whom are good
men and true, Two at least, if not
all, being Republican in party af-
hllations, good citizens and prohi-
bitionists-for interfering with
him in the discharge of his Official
duties, ca" asaulting him. beating
him and robbing him of money.
The jury heard the evidence and
very promptly acquittde them, with
the approval of the Judge, and all
persons who heard the trial, and
including the representative of the
State Prohibition Department as
slstlng in the prosecution. The
grand jury indicted Ratliff for per-
jury, and that case is pending.
Just why the Gazette should
want to lend itself to the ATTEMPT
to try Ratliff out of court we do
not know. We object to the article
In question further because it
makes the broad statement that To-
ca.Nofiicers here had but little in
terest in the matter of arresting
those who were indicted. The
record clearly shows that the
Prosecuting Attorney ordered the
Clerk Of the Circuit Court to issue
capias for the accused, and that
Clerk Skaggs placed the writs in
the hands Of the Sheriff .immedi-
ately after these men were indicted.
That is as far as the officers can
go. They did their duty. Ratlif had
done preliminary work in locating
moonShine and moonshincrs. He
took too much Of his samples. He
was disordcrly in the town of Rem
lex. Local officers, always under
the impression that prohibition Of
ficers were sober. decent men, ar
rested him the same as they do
any other offender. He then let it
be known that he had been round
Ing things mp across the river from
Renick for the prohibition depart
ment, and as soon as ii could be
confirmed that he was an officer
and authorized to carry pistol,
etc. he was released. He was not
beaten up, nor robbed, nor even
struck. But his drunkenness brot
out publicity that he was prohi-
bition officer, and that was notice
TO the fellows he had spotted to
gel in the clear. They did and
have stayed in the clear until now.
The Gazette owes Grecnbricr an
apology.
AS TO Marshall Lemon and his
officers we want to say that we
never saw better SET of gentle
men come TO our county. The con-
traSt between the Ratlif crowd and
Mr.. Lemons men was so great that
our citizens could but help notic-
ing it so strong that they called Mr..
Lemons attention fo fbof foot