Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-08-10
STILL TAKEN IN WEsTMORE
Mountains at WiIloughby Cover
Illicit Rum Makers.

mOuut8mS AT WlllQu8nOy cover
Illicit Rum Makers.
On the rocky cliffs of Westmore by
the shore of Willoughby lake Friday
was the scene of q sensational cap.
ture Of three men in the act Of operat-
ing complete distill and the seizure
of the moonsnine outfit. The location
Of the distillery was in the west side
Of Mount Hor, not far from the big
slide of few years ago. States At
torney Campbell of Caledonia county
upon receiving information that led
him to believe a still was in operation
in the vicinity of Willoughby lake got
in touch with Albert Farman, states
attorney Of Orleans county, and fol-
lowing conference a plan was
mapped out to locate the plant.
On Wednesday night officers Camp.
U. Ladd Of Holland spent the night
in cottage on the shore Of the lake,
and early the following morning they
secured boat and rowed across the
lake wherefthey discovered footpath
leading up on to the mountain, and fol.
lowing the path soon came upon the
still, which was located in a cave
under some large boulders. The still
with the capacity of 20 gallons daily,
was the size of an ordinary kitchen
and had a hot water boiler with
small pipe which carried the liquor
to the container, a large tank,
which was cooled by water from q
spring above the boulders, Nearby
We're located three hogsheads Of sour
mash, having the appearance of sour
ing for several days, the material be-
ing corn, sugar and plenty of yeast.
Farther away were beds made Of
spruce boughs. The still was in
secluded spot and no part of it was
visible from the lake. The officers
decided to make the raid Friday fore
noon, and on Thursday evening Depu-
ty Sheriff Wallace of st. Johnsbury,
Deputy Sheriff John Stafford of Lyn.
donville and Deputy Sheriff c. U.
Ladd of Holland, Deputy Sheriff s.
E. Gray of Derby and Mr.. Ladd's son
were taken to Willoughby where they
rowed across the lake and took their
positions for the night at points near
the entrance to the still.
1t was understood by the officers
that at signal of three shots which
would be given at II o'clock the fol.
loving morning they were to close in.
The moonshiners arrived at the edge
OF the lake at 5 o'clock in the morning.
coming up from st. Johnsbury in q
Cadillac car owned by one of the trio.
After rowing across the lake and
concealng their boat in the bushes
they climb the steep cliff and entered
Inc cave, and started the still.
About o'clock. one of the trio came
ou! and walked around and in doing
TaSd fn,S came I near stepping on young
da1a uu VINO covered him with his gun.
u,a,,a u.oing ng that ne not speak or
move ohcer Gray at another point
MS gun, but the moonsbinar ha;n usm
under orders from young Ladd beIo1g, bg
nm, not to move, Mr.. Gray had tn
make several demands before +b.
prisoner Pas decided to hold up his hands
CH1cer Gray fired one shot to ass;st
IN his demands. He soon SsS n;HS
enrough the bushes the form on ,So
ground thinking it was another If the
Trio, ne called on him to come mn b,,t
reserved surprise when he found
~ was one of his fellow officers II
was PLAINLY seen then that thev must
tlose IN In order to capture the other
Two men, which they did. The three
I,eI p gave their names as William r
nlcnardson of st. Johnsbury. whose
patehts nave been known for half a
century having conducted the R;cbarJ
son hotel at Willoughby uni until iraf- ,ts e;
struction by fire. The other two a.1 NIL, ~,
were Al Martin, aviator. of RrooLi
neld, Mass, and his "paI'' known a,
frank Taylor. Richardson ana as as
Hucn Oh the still as could be carried
Gown TO the boats, were taken bv tha
Orleans county officers to Newnort
wnere RICHARDSON was lodged in ?e;o ?e;i
later being bailed ont bv ErJi,
Burns on $500 bail. Martin and TN TN
i0f were taken to st. Johnshnry ~,
Ine caledonia county officers. heinz
wanted on another charge MaTt;n
was given a hearing at st. Johnsburv
SpaC9Tday, charged with selling Iiouor
He pIead not guilty and was placed
under bonds of $1,000 which was FUR
.Sneo. tnS. he then was charged with
,,1a ~ I1ansPortlng liquor to which he also
Plead @ not guilty;and he was placed mn
der $500 bonds, this being alec fn III
nlshed, he then was brought 40 M
port where he will be charged Ill
i1 liquor. His trial fo,
1ne two first charges is set at ST
= 1onnsDury Wednesday. Ricbardson
was Was brought into court before .IuJoa
wright Monday, represented bv AZ
gorney Longmore of the law firm, 90
&c rrorter, Whittiers and Longmore of
st. Johnsbury. oh
hlchadson plead guilty to tho
cnargee OF operating the still and the e
mar of liquor and threw hin
seI on to the mercy of the CONT
"A AAttorney Longmore pleaded his cau.e
seaSing that Richardson had a wifa
ana an children to support, that durin1
ehe past summer work at FairhanIr,s
was , light and his pay had been % ~raat
y reduced, also he had recentlv mn
chased home on the 10 Der Cent
partial payment and installment
pan. The court was also inforn,aJ
Innr1ugh the states attorney that
RICHARDSON was onlypart owner of the
sllll' and had disclosed on the othne hne
man connected, that the still had ener hnor
"a "a operating only once before anI
aaasovn, mat was to to manufacture liquor 1ar for
1eersonai use. Richardson also cIa;raod @
nat a trade had been made ba1,nneu
me IA, owners for the sale of the ."sim st;I1
,na tnat ne had received s120 as na-t Ssr
payment on the deal; that b;s as paae @
no. = .ae Sill on that Friday morn;npp
ias ';a doI the purpose of showing Mars
an and Taylor how to onera,a "s .h-
noonshine business. "'e inc