Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-07-27
AFTER THE MOONSHINERS
$3.50 Has Gone to School Fund in
Fines Here Past Week.

County Attorney j. A. Nelson is
continually going after the moon
sinners. While the stuff is usually
hard to get he has a mania for get
ting the transgressors one way or
another.
Last Wednesday morning he swore
out warrant for the arrest of one
Rudolph Stepanek, who lives at Con-
over and at the same time a search
warrant was sworn out for the search
of his premises. The place has been
suspected for some time, as certain
residents noticed that the place was
frequented day and night. At times
an odor would be noticed that pointed
to the manufacture of moonshine,
evidently coming from the still when
in operation. Sheriff o. o. Ellingson
Immediately searched the place and
found a large copper wash boiler
with the cover soldered on. This
was full of mash and was on the
stove. 1t had the coil attached and
had every indication of still
/ The sheriff not only found this but
also two kegs of mash and a con-
siderable quantity of alcohol. The
offender was arrested for manufac-
ture of intoxicating liquors, and the
matter was taken up before Judge
Taylor of Waukon on Thursday
morning, on County Attorneys in
formation. He pleaded guilty and
was fined $3.50 and costs. Stepanek
has wife and a family Of six chill
dren and they had no property. The
owner of the premises fearing that
action might be taken which would
involve the real estate, he came to
the rescue and the fine and costs
were paid a day or so after. Stepa-
mex has been suspected of making
moonShine in one or two other coun-
ties in the state before coming to
Conover. He has been there about a
month.
On Wednesday evening the County
Attorney happened to be on the
street, and noticed a fellow, who he
has suspicioned for some time, act
little shy. He then noticed that
the same fellow stuck up his hands
and whistled at some parties driving
by in a car. The car stopped near
the intersection of Washington and
Water street. County Attorney Mel
SON walked over and noticed they had
no tail light. He informed the oc-
cupants of the fact and noticed a
jar containing liquid in the bottom
of the car. He appropriated the
liquid, knowing that it was moon
shine, under serious objection. The
car was placed in garage for the
night, the parties were locked up,
and the moonshine awaited the COM
ing of Judge Taylor the next morn
ing, to have the value fixed. The
parties were Oscar and Clarence
Peterson, from northeast of town.
They were taken before Justice
Barthell first and fined $40 and costs
for operating without a tail light,
and Oscar Peterson was fined $50
and costs by Judge Taylor, on plead
ing guilty to bootlegging.
Claud Maupin, a well known port
err, was also fined $50 and costs, for
bootlegging last April. Maupin has
been sick and received treatment at
government hospital until return
| ing a few days ago. Knowing that
the County Attorney had the goods
on him, he asked that he might have
it cleared up, and voluntarily appear
ed before Judge Taylor and pleaded
guilty. He was fined $50 and costs
and promised "never again."
James Olson, otherwise known as
Ed, Olson, who was fined $500 fol
bootlegging some time ago, anc
served couple of months in Jail
! assigned his interest in an estate