Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1921-11-23
PROHI AGENT
SHOT in RAID
ON SINNERS
J. r. johnson Riddled by
Buckshot; In Critical Con-
dition; Gunman G. e t s
Away.

Little Rock, Nov. 21.-Jessiel r.
Johnson, aged As, federal prohibition
enforcement agent, was seriously
wounded yesterday morning when
lie and C. e. Thompson attempted
to arrest gang of moonshiners
near Bland, Saline county. He was
shot with buck shot and his intes-
tines punctured in 15 places. john
son was brought to st. Vincent's
Infirmary, where attending physi
clans say he has but little chance
OF recovery.
johnson, whose home is at Berry
Vile, left here last night with Fed,
eral Prohibition Enforcement Agents
H. Sutterfield, Clyde Rogers, G. e.
Thompson and w. e. Smith for
Saline county, where they had in
formation that two stills were be-
ing operated
Arriving at point Ia miles from
Benton, the officers swooped down
on patch of woods and found
still of 100 gallons capacity, 40 gal
Ions of distilled moonshine, and
nine pounds of mash. Bud" Tow
ers, who, the officers allege, was
proprietor of the still. was arrested
on charges of violating the national
prohibition law.
Met by Moonshiners.
Taking Towers in custody, and
destroying the still, whiskey and
mash, the officers set out for a
creek few miles away where they
believed second still was in
operation. When the creek was
reached, Sutterfield and Rogers were
left to guard Towers and the others
set out for point on the bank of
the creek where they met two men,
who informed the officers, all Of
whom were in plain clothes with
badges concealed, that they had
quantity of whiskey for sale. The
moonshiners refused, however, to
carry the three officers to their
booze cache but said they would
go with two Of them. Accordingly,
Smith sent Johnson and Thompson
and started back to where he had
left the remaining officers and the
captured moonshiner.
The still was located on the other
side of the creek and the two moon
sinners, not suspecting they were
accompanied by officers, drove their
| team across the creek. When the
creek was forded and the vicinity of
the still was reached Thompson
says that four or five men walked
out and met them and guided them
to a thick clump of woods, in the
center of which was large still
and about 40 gallons Of moonshine
whiskey. Thompson said he at
tracted Johnsons attention and mo-
toned for him to draw his gun,
drawing his own at the same time.
Officers Outnumbered.
Just as they covered the men a
shot rang out and Johnson fell, shot
| through the abdomen. Keeping the
men covered, Thompson said, he call
ed for help. The federal agents on
the other side OF the creek could
not hear him because the wind was
/ blowing in the opposite direction.
Thompson said he saw the serious
condition. of his wounded companion
and believed him to be nearly dead.
! Thinking he should first render
| him what assistance he could, and
take chances of letting the moon
sinners escape, in the hope Of re-
capturing them later he dropped his
gun and went to the aid of Johnson.
The moonshiners fled into the woods.
Smith, Rogers and Sutterfield
heard the shot They bound Towers
and hurriedly crossed the creek, too
late however, to catch the fleeing
moonshiners.
| Johnson was carried to the home
of a farmer, Jim Barron, near
Bland, and DR.. Kelly Of Bland rem
dered first aid treatment. He was
/ Their carried in the wagon on the
Nineteenth street pike and an am
bulance was sent for and brought
him to St. Vincent's.
The identity of the wounded
mans assailant is not known, but
federal and county officials are
working on the case.