Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-07-19
ALLEGED BOOZE RUNNERS ESCAPE WHEN
WINCHESTER COP FALLS FROM HIS WHEEL
AND 100 GALLONS OF LIQUOR DISAPPEAR
HagerStoWn Men Are Caught BY Martinsbug Officers But
Had Switched Booze To Another DriVer-Liqor Was En-
: Route From Staunton To HagerstoWn-Worth $4,000.

Startling rumors Of a gun battle
this morning III Winchester gained
rapid circulation in this city, fol
lowing a telephone message from
the Virginia city that whiskey run
ners had succeeded in evading cap
ture there ard were headed for
Martinsburg in a big Cadillac car.
The message was received about
$50 o'clock and in the hurry OF
transmission and relaying became
somewhat magnifed until the Il
report was that two Winchester
policemen had been shot and kill
ed, the town was in an uproar and
residents affrighted and alarmed
Later in the morning when the
Journal got in touch with It's Win
chester representative the sensation
dwindled down to the story of ex-
citinN chase and capture and sub
sequent getaway of alleged whis-
key runners.
1t = understood that the affair
was an incident in the hazardous
occupation of transporting booze
from Virginia to Maryland for H.
about midnight the Winchester po-
lice received word from an official
Of Staunton, Va, that a Cadillac
car, laden with 100 gallons OF IL
quor was on it's way to Hagerstown
and would pass through Winchester.
about 4.30 o'clock this morning the
booze car hove into sight and was
chased and halted by Traffic Officer
G, c. Carter, who placed the negro
driver under arrest, but unfortunate
ly fell from his wheel. The negro
was quick to take advantage of this
accident and stepped on the gas,
with the result that the alleged booze
car shot away from the officer and
started out the Martinsburg pike.
the officer firing two Intellectual
shots at the fleeing party.
1t was then that Martinsburg was
warned and Sheriff William Dean.
Traffic officer William Barber and
State Policeman c. D. Nesker at
once left for the State line at Ridge
way, where they captured a negro
and white man in Cadillac car
answering the description. The fug
itives and car were taken back to
Winchester, where the driver,
George Robinson, alias "Tobe' Rob
inson, OF Hagerstown, was identi-
fed, but the booze failed to mater
ialize. All that could be done under
the circumstances was to hold the
negro for exceeding the speed limit
and for resisting an officer. He was
4. ~, - f,oO
OF $25 and costs in each case was
imposed. Shortly before noon it
was stated that he was making ar
rangements to pay.
The white man with him, giving
the name OF Morton Willis, also Of
Hagerstown, was released as moth
ing could be produced against him.
The fellows are said to have claim
ed the car belonged to John Mason,
a garageman of Hagerstown.
The Winchester officers allege
that Robinson switched cars with a
waiting machine driven by a man
named Berger, not long after he left
Winchester, but Martinsburg Off
GERS are inclined to think that the
contraband, If the car really carried
100 gallons of whiskey, had been
taken down a dirt road and hidden
and the Virginia license on the
Cadillas replaced with one from
Maryland. The car wheels had more
Or less red clay clinging to them,
presumably from a side road. but
the West Virginia officers had no
authority to search in Virginia for
contraband or exercise any such
prerogative they did not press their
suspicion. However, the relay car
spoken Of in Winchester could have
been in wait down the same dirt
road.
The suspected car smelled very
strong Of whiskey or moonshine and
while open to conviction the T'ast
Virginia officers insist the whiskey
had been removed and are confident
a strict search along the country
lane Or in dubious residences or
barns might reveal the wet cargo,
which is estimated to be worth at
least $4,000.