The New York herald., 1922-04-09
Women, Not Trusted Altogether -
by Their Men, Kept in
Ignorance That They Will Not
Be Able to Testify Against Them

whether in the towns or in the mountains,
he is courtly and considerate.
He would attract attention anywhere.
He is six feet and two inches tall, and lean
He wears a broad brimmed hat and flow
ing coat. He had been a raider before
prohibition, hunting the Illicit distillers
in the mountains from a sheer love of ad-
venture When prohibition came he was
selected by the Government for the biggest
raiding assignment in the country-Chief
of the Flying Squadron, head of twelve
tested and fearless men.
Recently the organization was disbanded.
Palmers raiding nowadays is done on
free lance footing. Whenever he wants
bit Of adventure he has himself deputized
by the sheriff OF Scott county or whatever
county he wants to work in.
1--WE were always sent to the wettest and
most dangerous places in the mountains"
Mr.. Palmer said. I'VE went in force, thir-
teen men in all, and were. able to handle
almost any situation that arose believe
that one Of the most efficient arms Of the
Government enforcement service was sacri-
feed when the Flying Squadron was dis
banded"
He has been in scores of gun fights He
has never received scratch
II have seen men drop all around me"
he says II have had men shoot at me-
strike at me and attempt to stab me, but
have never been wounded. My comrades
have been killed by my side and we have
fought pitched battles with moonshiners
I have been fortunate. have always held
human life sacred and have never shot a
man unless I had good reason to believe
he was trying to kill me, or saw him trying
TO escape. In my raiding work ! have
usually carried .30x.30 Remington rifle
a Smith and Wesson .3S special revolver
and German Luger automatic pistol Gen.
orally we have had to face Remington or
Winchester long bore rifles"
The last days OF the Flying Squadron
were marked with a series Of thrilling
raids in five States In the "moonshine
belt" Battles were fought and men were
killed and scores of stills were seized and
destroyed. Members of the squadron say
their work was more exciting than their
war experiences. In this series 1t is esti-
mated that the source of $4,000 gallons
month was destroyed But new stills were
nut in and the moonshiners kept on at
their work.
Beautiful Girl Caught
In Act of Making Whisky
But story of another sort will be told
tc round out this article. 1t is a story Of
a beautiful girl caught making whisky by
Chief Palmer. The purpose OF its telling
is to show how the women do help In the
actual work in some cases. Bertha Thomas
was opposed to 1t, and her sweetheart
promised her he would quit stilling when
ever he should manage to get ahead. This
is a story OF different sort-of a noun
tain family that was not native OF the
mountains; of girl who was fairly well
educated and whose instincts were newt
ably finer than Bertha's. And she was
caught actually at work at the stills.
More than year ago Palmer, then chief
OF the Flying Squadron, heard of a couple
OF stills said to be in spur OF the Clinch
Mountains near Coeburn, In Wise county
Va Palmer was in Gate City. He called
a deputy and guide and set out for Coe-
DuTu lu HIS dulOHOUilc. luby lelL tllc Cdi
near the foot OF the mountains and started
on foot to complete the Job.
AT noon the three men sat on log to
rest from their difficult climbing when one
OF them. looking above the trees sighted
the column Of smoke which generally has
a single and obvious meaning. The wisp
was curling from ravine short distance
down IN front Of them. The three raiders
stood and peered, but could see nothing
because OF the thickness OF the trees in the
little gulch. They considered on what
would be the best approach to the still.
At last Palmer decided to locate the mouth
OF the gully, advance from 1t and take
chance on hemming the operators OF the