Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-05-12
is
GOOD EXAMPLE
OF POLICE need
EPOCH OF LAWLESSNESS QUICK
LY ENDED WHEN STATE CON-
STABULARY .CLEANS UP"
THE CITY.
Bad Men, Moonshiners and Bootleg.
gers Find Their Presence Ex-
tremeIy Unwelcome.

The citizens of Centralia, Braxton
county are unstinted in their praise
of the work of the West Virginia State
Police whose quick and efficient
clean up of lawlessness in that vic
unity, has made Centralia one of the
most peaceful and law abiding COM
munities in the state.
The story of how the undesirable
denizens were jailed or driven out
and how the law was returned to pow
er in this little mill town is one of
the most interesting in the state po-
lice records and is an excellent ex-
ample of the good work this organiza-
ton is doing.
Centralia is near the edge of B7ax-
ton county, close to the Webster coun-
ty line. Neither county paid much at
tention to the proper enforcement of
state and county statutes in that sec
I ton, not because the sheriffs shirked
their duty but because the counties
did not provide sufficient deputies to
properly police the district.
| A bad man, committing a breach
of the peace in Centralia could go
short distance and be over the Web
ster county line and out of the juris-
diction of the Braxton county officials.
Thus the village was well qualified
| from TIE standpoint of location, to be-
come the headquarters of decidedly
lawless element In spite of the efforts
of the good people Of the place, liquor
was being sold in unlimited quantities
and half dozen stills were known to
be manufacturing moonshine within
two or three miles of the town.
LawIessness Was Rampant.
Figuratively speaking, Centralia was
becoming an oasis IN prohibition
desert and it was no uncommon sight
to see the thirsty ones with jars and
jugs go in groups to some neighboring
moonshining establishment and return
staggering with stomachs as well as
jugs filled to capacity. Conditions be-
came serious Shooting ARRAYS and
drunken fights occurred on the main
street
Drunken ruffians insulted women,
dignant citizens who attempted to pro-
tect the helpless ones. An organized
gang of highwaymen were said to be
operating on the turnpike between
Centralia and Summersville They
were dividing their time between rob-,
tyou nd mi
was said.
Centralia citizens found it unsafe to
go about after dark. An automobile
party returning from church was shot
at by drunken ruffians who made
target of the lights of the car. The
all hours of the night.
Many letters describing conditions
in Centralia and appealing for help
in Kidding the place of it's undesirables
were received by Governor j. J. Corn
we'll. Other letters were addressed
to Col Jackson Arnold, giving the
names of several moonshiners and
other outlaws. One letter addressed
to Governor Cornwell was signed by
16 Centralia business men and leading
citizens.
Cleanup Was Thorough.
The superintendent of the state po-
lice ordered general cleanup. He
sent Lieutenant Harvey Rexroad and
detail of state police to Centralia
with orders to stay until the COM
| munity was rid of its lawless ones.
The police were in Centralia and on
the job before the outlaws were aware
Of their presence They struck quick
and hard.
Benny McCourt and Holey Luckey,
two active moonshiners were caught
at their still one mile from town. On
orators of four other stills in that
vicinity, hearing of the arrests, fed,
| leaving equipment behind to be de.
| stroyed by the troopers. Drunken
loafers on the streets were sent to
Jail. Two gun toters were arrested.
| A soft drink" bar and a gambling
| house near the town we're put out Of
| business.
| The West Virginia State police
| cleanup was not only thorough but
| lasting. From time to time a state
policeman drops into the little town
to see if his presence is needed. The
boys enjoy these visits for the CRATE
full people of the village are unable to
do enough to show their appreciation.