Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-16
FEDERAL REVENUE
INSPECTOR Smith
IS |NCOURT TODAY
Slew Two MoOnshiners
During Desperate Fight
in Blue Ridge.
DAUGHTER KILLED HORSE
IN GALLOplHG TO HIS AID
Hearing of Celebrated Case to
Be Before Federal Tribunal
at Roanoke.
HELD OFF MOE FIVE HOURS
Story OF Struggle and Rescue One
of Most Thrilling From
Mountains.
DAUGHTER KILLED HORSE
IN GALL0plHG TO HIS AID
HELD OFF MOE FIVE HOURS
Story of Struggle and Rescue One
of Most Thrilling From
Mountains.

Oflicials of the Internal revenue en-
forcemcnt department here have been
notified to have witnesses in the
case OF Luther y. Smith. revenue in
spector. in Roanoke today when he
Will be tried on charges % murder.
The case is probably one OF the
most sensational and romantic which
has ever come 10 the attention of the
department; ana reads like Il chapter
from n highly coiored novel Smith.
cornercd against Il blum by some
sixty mountaineers in the heart of
the Blue Ridge Mountains. alone
stood off the lot for more than five
hours and was rescued by his dnugh-
ter, who rode ten miles across the
mountains, killing Il horse on the
trip. and rescued him. smith was in
dicted for murder by the United
states grand jury. after lodging
charges against II large percentage
OF the mob which had so nearly
ended his life
t;rcHtcst Maonshinc District.
Smith is the leader of a group Of
revenue officers in his district, about
fourteen miles from Roanoke, where
Shooting Creek flows into Smith
River from its source in the noun
tains. THIS country. revenue officers
claim. is infested with probably more
moonshincrs than any other section
of the entire United States. Some
time ago. in commenting on the case
s. II. Brame, supervising internal
revenue agent for the Southern Dis
trict, said that there had probably
been more blood spilled in this neigh
horhood than anywhere else in his
district.
Smiths home was made head
quarters for the inspectors work. ing
under him, and one night, as was their
custom. the officers left their guns
and other regulation equipment at
their leaders home and disbandcd for
the weeks end.
The next morning Smith arose
bright and early and. having little to
do. went up the side Of the mountain
TO investigate some information
which had been received by the de-
partmcnt. About ten miles from his
home he came upon still, according
to the story told by internal revenue
agents, and as there was no one in
evidence ana no signs that his pres
ence had been discovered. he hid in
the bushes and waited for the own
crs OF the outfit to make their ap-
pcarancc.
Not long after taking his place in
the bushes a man appeared and went
to work around the outfit. and was
soon followed by another. the story
goes. smith lay in hiding until four
had appeared and then stepped into
the clearing which surrounded the
outfit aud ordered the four men to
surrender.
Known MS Dead Shot.
Smith is noted throughout the In
ternal Revenue Service as one Of it's
most deadly shots and his exhibit
tions of skill are spoken of every
where by officers. When he step
ped into the open it is believed by
inspectors that he had no doubt the
alleged moonshincrs would surrender.
They did not. however, but started
shooting. ana when the smoke cleared
away two OF them lay writhing in
their own blood in the dust and the
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