The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-01-01
BOW HAS
DRY RECORD
POURED $15O,OOO WORTH OF
WHISKY INTO CUTTERS;
MADE $50 ARRESTS

Years Review of Fight Against tn
Moonshiners and ~Bootleggers IL
Montana's Most Populous County
80 Stills Seized and Destroyed
Less Crime.
In the first year of prohibition his
tory in Silver Bow county, more thai
S15O,OOO worth of liquor has beer
poured into the cutters, $50 persons
have been arrested on charges o.
"bootlegging," or operating Illicit
stills, eight "moonshiners" have
been sent to prison and 40 whisky
stills have been confiscated.
Although city and county stats
tics indicate that crime has decreas-
ed, the habitual drunkard OCCASION
ally is arraigned before the police
court and at least two murders, and
one suicide, it is declared, were caus-
ed by attempted theft of liquor or
from effects of ''moonshine." In adj
dition, two men were killed by poi
son contained in homemade whisky.
Seized 80 Stills
In his campaign against the boot
logger and moonshiner, Jack Melia,
head of the county attorneys dry
squad, has seized 80 stills, conduct
ed 200 raids, torn fixtures out of 20
saloons and destroyed liquor valued
at 100000.
The stills varied from eight to 80
gallons in capacity and some were of
ingenious design. The majority,
however, were crudely constructed
and the product of these affairs, it
is said, was of an inferior quality
and in many instances contained
deadly poison.
Some moonshine whisky seized by
Mr.. Melia contained, according to
state chemists, sufficient poison to
cause permanent blindness.
Stills Sold for junk
About 10000 gallons of moonshine
were seized during the past year.
All of this was poured into the sew
ers while the stills have been dis
mantled and sold for junk. The
state realized $50 from the proceeds
of it's last sale of this character.
The liquor seized in these raids
consisted principally of whisky, al
though wine of all kinds, beer, cham
payne, cognac, absinthe, benedictine
and all other forms of intoxicants
have been confiscated.
Of the 209 raids conducted by Mr..
Melia, the liquor involved has been
destroyed, except in the Lucille How
ard and Valli cases, which have been
appealed to the supreme court. Dis
position of liquor valued at SIS, 900
is involved in the Lucille Howard
case. In the Mularkey case, which
has also been appealed to the SUI
Dreme court, disposition of the fix
seized is to be determined.
In raids conducted by the sheriff
md police, liquor valued at about
$1,000 has been seized, and scores
If men, charged with bootlegging or
operating stills, have been arrested
~ these authorities.
In the American house case-the
'esult of a raid by Jack Melia
liquor valued at $4,000 was de-
troyed. This same official seized
500 gallons of moonshine in one
.ay.
Transition Nearly Complete.
The transition from saloon to
.estaurant, lunch counter, pool hall,
&c cream and confectionery store or
igar stand has almost been COM
leted, although some former bars
ave remained just as they were
lee. 81, 1918.
The larger and most popular
however, still cater to their
Id customers-ice cream instead of {
eer, ham and eggs instead of free
with plenty of real food or
oft drinks to take the place of {
Risky. t
While the records of the city and f
)unty officials indicate an enormous f
screase in crime and petty offenses,
lie best results of prohibition are OBJ i
from the Chamber of Com /
cree and Credit Mems association. e
complied by those %associa-
ons for the benefit of local business :
show that cores of men former
listed as poor pay" now r
~Iaracterized as prompt" or 'cash."
who formerly spent their wages
the saloons have emerged from
bit and have been able to clothe
id feed their families more proper
The increased demand for confec-
,nery, soft drinks and tobacco has
tremendous. According to the
lamber of Commerce, the demand
r confectionery, ice cream and soft
inks has been doubled.
One Butte cigar maker reports he
unable to supply the demand and
s not been able to make consign-
to cities outside of Butte for
months.
Men, who before prohibition
uld not afford cigars, buy them
the box now" he said.
EZL.~IDoulau