Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-11-17
MOONsHINER COMES TO GRIEF

OHCcTS NdikcT, ENeStcF ana Aney,
of the State constabularly forces at
Martinsburg, and special officer Willis
Crowl, of Shepherdstown, made an i'm
portant arrest in Harper's Ferry Mon
day night, when they took into Gus
tody Joseph Nally, who was charged
with manufacturing liquor illegally.
Magistrate R. Q. Miller, of Shepherds
town, issued a warrant, and the officers
visited Nally's place in Harper's Ferr,
on Monday. He was not at home, but
they found complete moonshiner's
outfit. 1t consisted of distilling out
fiji composed of a washboiler in which
the mash was boiled, copper tubing
that circled through a wooden tub,
and about forty gallons of mash in
two barrels. The mash had been
made of grain, raisins, peaches and
prunes. A gallon and a-half of the
finished moonshine liquor was on hand,
but it is supposed that the main sup
ply had been disposed Of Saturday
and Sunday. The officers destroyed tho
Still and the mash, except such parts
as were kept for evidence, and Mon
day night made return visit, when
they found Nally at home. They ar
rested him and brought him to Shep-
herdstown and lodged him in Jail.
Monday morning Nally had a hear
ing before Magistrate Miller. He
plead guilty to the charge of making
the liquor, but said he was making
that il was not whiskey but wine, and
that he understood that he had a
right to make wine for his own use.
When he was reminded that il was
not necessary to distil wine he said
that this kind was usually distilled
He declared that he never sold any
Of the stuff, but admitted that he had
to drink good deal in order 70 con-
sume the product Of his rather ex-
tensive distillery. He said that he
had been making liquor for three or
four months, having started it after
he had been furloughed as a fireman
on the B. & o. Railroad. Magistrate
Miller held him in $500 bail to await
the action Of the grand jury and $500
additional to refrain from again max
ing liquor. Nally said that Mr.. Cum
mings, of Harper's Ferry, would 70
his bail, and the officers took him to
Charles Town to have his bond ar
ranged ----....
In destroying Nally's outfit the of
ficers believe tht they have broken UP
source OF much Of the moonshine
liquor that has been distributed in
that section OF the county and also
along the B. & o. Railroad II is said
that the still has been in operation for
year or more and that the sa'es have
been extensive. Residents of Har,
per's Ferry who have seen its evil
effects have been complaining for some
time past, and thew are gratified To
know that the wretched business has
been broken up.
II is singular that men will con-
tinue these moonshining operations.
They cannot but know that it is against
the State and federal law, and sooner
or later they come to grief. AS their
violation of the law is deliberate and
wilful, they have no right to expect
clemency.
The State officers are to be COM
mended for their activity in break
ing up moonshining and bootlegginp
operations. This is especially true
in face of the fact that the federal
officers in West Virginia are practical
w worthless so far as regulating this
business is concerned-and have been
for years past.