The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1921-05-04
WOUNDED MAN
DOING WELL

| Earl Asbill Of Leesville, son Of
Rural Policeman George Asbill OF
Leesville, who was wounded while
helping in a raid on a liquor still on
| Congaree Creek last week, is said to
be getting along fine, and is reported
The wound is not thought to be dan
gerous.
The Columbia State Of last Friday
contained the following account of
! the affair:
Earl E. Asbill, son OF Rural Police
man G.. w. Asbill Of Leesville, was
brought to the Columbia hospital at
2 o'clock yesterday morning suf-
fering from a pistol ball in his shoul-
der. Young Asbill was injured in It
whiskey raid on Congaree creek near
Camp Styx in Lexington county late
! Wednesday night, the raiding officers
and two alleged moonshiners being
engaged in a battle which lasted sew
eral minutes. Young Asbill is, so far
as known. the only man injured in
the melee.
Warrants were sworn out before
MAGISTRATE A. B. Bachman in Brook
land yesterday for Will Smith and
| Tillman Mayors, who were identi-
fed by members Of the raiding party
as the two men who did. the shoot
ing. No arrests had been made last
night and it was believed by some Of
the Lexington officers that one or
both of the men may have been
drowned. Young Asbill, however,
says that he thinks that both men
esc2 ped and Sheriff Roof of Lexing-
ton couAty when interviewed over
the telephone last night also secuted
the theory that the men had been
killed saying that one of the two men
suspected was known to have been
seen at home early yesterday morn
ing.
The Lexington officers located the
still on the creek side earlier in the
week and went to the scene Wednes-
day night intending to capture the
operators Of the still when they
should return, according to the story
Of young Asbill who was able to talk
at the hospital yesterday afternoon.
After waiting until about 1880
o'clock without result the raiding
party started to leave the scene,
abandoning the hunt for the night.
Just as they were leaving, the officers
heard the sound Of motorcycle
coming toward the swamp and after
waiting in ambush near the barrels
Of beer and mash, which they had
found. they heard the sound of a boat
in the creek. Two men got out Of the
boat and began an examination of
the ground. discovering the footprints
of the officers. The two supposed
moOnshiners then began q hunt for
the intruders and using a f1ashlight
located the raiding party near large
pine.
One of the alleged moonshiners
then opened fire, Young Asbill said,
! the officers and the other men also
joining in the battle. About 80 shots
were exchanged, the bushes and trees
nearby bearing evidence Of the spir
tied melee The two supposed moon
sinners after exhausting their cart
ridges ran for the creek swimming
across to the other side to make their
escape, apparently unhurt, leaving
! their boat by the creek bank.
Young Asbill was then brought to
| Columbia 20 the hospital where he
was given treatment. An x-ray eX-
| animation Of his shoulder revealed
the fact that the bullet had caused
| only flesh wound, no bones beng
| broken. He was reported resting
| easy at the hospital yesterday and
speedy recovery is predicted.
The officers went back to the scene
yesterday morning, destroying nearly
! 321 gallons of beer and mash. The
still itself. was not found and it is
presumed that it was hidden in the
creek which is nearly eight feet deep
at that point. Members of the party
| were: Rural Policeman Dewes. Earl
Asbill and Fletcher Steele. Young
Asbill and Fletcher Steele were act
ing as special deputies.
at