Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-07-12
SElZES 200 GALLONS OF
GRAIN MASH AND
( HUGE STILL
OWNER ARRESTED
SHERIFF IN QUEST FOR coUN.
TVS SOURCE OF HooTcH SUP.
PLY RUNS UPON MASTER OUT.
FIT IN BASEMENT OF PERU
MANS HOME.

The largest stll ever taken by Tho
sheriff In moonshinc raid since the
eighteenth amendment went into Of
feet. was obtained i'm Peru yesterday
when the home of Martin Orhcchow
ski, 141J Prospect avenue, was
searched for evidence of violation O
shc search and seizure laws. Follow
ing the raid, during which Shcrifi
Ayers seized almost six gallons OF
moonshine and destroyed about 20C
gallons OF grain mash, Orhechowsh
was informed to consider himself un'
der arrest. and to report In Ottawa
Friday morning for hearing in the
county court
The still was in operation in the
basement when Sheriff Ayers reach
ed the Orhechowski home. The sher.
If stated today that he believed the
still would turn out at least gal
lon OF moonshne an hour. The still
was loaded I'm the back Of the sher-
iff's touring car, and brought TO OF,
tawa
When the officer arrived at the
residence Orhechowski avowed he
had neither mOonshinc nor any
whiskey making apparatus, and was
not guilty of violating the search and
seizure laws.
Sheriff Ayers decided to look
around bit for himself As he
started down in the basement where
the still was in operation, the Peru
vian changed his story and admitted
he was making moonshinc. but cX-
planned hat he was distilling it to
rub on his leg, which was badly af
fectcd with the rheumatism.
The officer continued on down in
the basement, where he found a still
of liquor gaily cooking on the stove,
while n steady stream ran through
the cooler. He found the place all
equipped with modern apparatus,
with parent cooler, containing flow
ing water, liquor kegs with patent
faucets which operated with a key
and 200 gallons of grain mash in
four fifty gallon barrels, A brace was
placed from the top of the still to
the ioist in the floor which prevent
ed the lid from raising off the cook
ing mash A small stove furnished
heat for cooking the mixture
The booze and still were loaded in
the auto and brought to ottawa, as
evidence against OrheChOwski, and
some kerosene was poured in the
mash to render it unfit for use.
The defendant is married and has
large family of children, who were
all at home when he raid was made,
The sheriff visited the Orhechow-
ski home after rumors had reached
his office that the search and seiZ.
ure law was being violated there,
Liquor Fed To Fishes.
Five pints Of liquor, which has been
seized from drunks when they were
arrested by the local police was pour
cd In the city sewer this morning,
and was later imbibcd by the fish of
emptying the booze down street
sewer. occurred early today in front
of the police station on Clinton st
Chief of Police Ben Ford and a
couple of fremen attended 70 the
rites of emptying the liquor in the
presence of Justice of the Peace
George Koenig.
Unlike the usual emptying of con-
fscatcd liquor the ceremony occur
red hnhcraded, and was only wit
messed hv few of the neighbors in
the vicinity of the police station, The,
thirsty few who usually assemble for
such ceremonies were not present toI
stand by hungryiy to watch the
Pleads Guiltf
Charles Panno of StreatOr pleaded
guilty to the unlawful possession of
liquor in the county court today and
was fined $1nG and costs. An infor-
nation was filed in the county court
lust before the hearing which charg-
ed that on July s, Panno unlawfully
rossessed Intoxicating liquor. Judge
Reck after hearing the plea assessed
a fine of 800 against the man, which
he paid in open court.