Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-11
DRY AGENTS WIN IN
PISTOL BATTLE ON
PHILADELPHIA PIKE
Capture Three M'sn Alleged to
Have Been Smuggling Liquor
to Wilmington.
PRISONERS KEEPING QUIET

Three men, who have refused to-
reveal their names, are under arrest
following a pistol battle between
them and prohibition enforcement
agents last night as they were driv-
ing n liauor-laden motor truck along
the Philadelphia pike between Ches-
ter and Wilmington.
| For some time prohibition enforce
ment officials have been receiving in
formation that Chester has been the
distributing center for moorshine lio-
uor TO nearby towns, and word that
a truckload OF liquor was on It's way
to Wilmington came to dry head
quarters in Philadelphia just as the
men finished days work, which in
cluded raids on eight saloops In that
city.
Six agents overlook the truck, the
occupants OF which, exchanging shots.
rave themselves up.
The agents declared the truck a
cargo consisted OF two barrels OF
whisky and one OF alcohol.
Fruitful Raid at Mlddletown.
Middletown was VI OF excitement
between 5 o'clock d midnight last
night. Federal prohibition agents.
working from the Office OF Director
Robert B. Elliott, in this city, swoop-
ed down on the town, causing the ar
rest OF four suspected violators OF the
eighteenth amendment and seizing
three stills, 80 gallons OF well fer
mented mash, and nearly as many
gallons of poorly manufactured 'whis-
ky.
Those arrested were James Pierce.
colored. said TO be a clergyman. who
was held under $1,000 bail for the
manufacture and possession OF spiri-
tuous liquors. Agnes Pierce. coored.
held under $500 bail. IN connection
with the alleged manufacturing of
liquor by her husband; Jerry Waters.
lcolored, held under $500 bail on a
charge of possession only. and fToney
Pointer. colored, held under $500 ON a
charge Of possession Pierce and his
wife and Waters pleaded guilty, TO
the charges preferred. the officers say
, They were arraigped before Justice OF
the Peace Daniel Stevens at Middle
town.
/ The raid was made at tho instiga-
tion OF Director Elliott. who for the
, past month has re eived numerous
, complaints. A group OF Federal agents
, In charge OF Ira NJ. Howard. left Will
! mingtou AT s.5s o'clock last night. for
! Middletown.s They Immediately pro-
, lcecded to the Pierce house, located
only a short distance from tho town
I square. Once inside the home, the or
, ficers say, they smelled liquor. Al
Investigation revealed two large still.
a In fun operation. One was found II
the bedroom occupied by the woman
and the other, OF greater capacity
4 was found running at full HAST in an
|, other bedroom. Both stills. al we'll a.
q the spirituous liquor. were immediate
! ly confiscated by the officers.
. At the home OF Waters, on the out
: skirts Of the town, another still wa
found. Although not in operation,
= contained three gallons OF newly man
ufactured mash. When arraigned be
fore Justice Of the Peace Stevens
Waters pleaded guilty 10 possession
;, only. AT the home OF Pointer. abou
: FIVE gallons OF whisky was found
:. When arraigned for trial he lilSewis
= pleaded guilty TO possession and no
= manufacture.
Il
:, excitement reigned high in the bust
4 ness section OF the small town. L
/, an effort 10 clean the other places.
was necessary 10 secure the aid c
- Chief of Police j. III. Fisher and Nigh
"a Policeman Nicholas Barlow.
According to. Director Elliott, tn
Illegal manufacture OF spirituous Il
'e quors containing alcohol OF per
ie centage above that prescribed by tn
law has been in progress for som
time. The main source OF supply
IL said TO have resulted from the tw
le stills operated by Pierce. This il nc
70 his first arrest, the officers say. Some
ol time ago he was arrested, when prob
ol b.tion agents practically cleaned OF
his house.
Ie