The Washington times., 1923-02-02
THREAT STARTS
MONTANADRY.
SHAKE-UP
tx. K. K" Note Sent Legisla-
tor Who Favored Probe of
Law Enforcement.
ny international News Service.


HELENA, Mont, Feb. IA spec
facular battle in the legislature
and a complete shake-up in the
State prohibition enforcement de-
partment may be expected to grow
out OF the Finish fight" between
wet" and ''dry" forces, precipi-
tated by the receipt of threaten
ing letter, signed ''K. K. K" by
Representative Lobel.
The letter, threatening to ''tar,
feather and ride him out Of town."
was received by Representative
Lobel following HIS introduction in
the lower. house OF a motion to
Investigate the State dry officers
and their methods OF enforcing the
law.
Lobel charged irregularities and
declared that some Of the enforce
ment officers had been convicted
themselves Of violating the liquor
laws.
Romantic Business.
"Rum running" and "whiskey
manufacture" In Montana have
long been a source of romantic
tales, and John H. Metcalf, acting
Federal prohibition director Of the
State, has declared that the work
manship and materials used in
most Of the "stills" captured indi
cate that ''whiskey factories are
made by skilled hands. Crudely
constructed distilleries are in the
minority, he said, most Of the stills
being made Of copper, with evidence
that the makers were coppersmiths.
Hunting stills in the mountains
OF western Montana is an extensive
business" in itself. An officer
scouts for q stream which appears
favorable for moonshine operations.
The officer follows the stream in
search of footprints and trails, often
finding a clue that leads to a large
still artfully concealed. But the odor
OF mash is hard to neutralize.
Already one prominent official.
o. III. p. Shelley, former Federal
prohibition director of the State, and
Republican national committeeman
from Montana, is under indictment
charged with bribery in connection
with his duties as dry" officer.
Filled with adventure and excite
ment is the story of the seizure of
an automobile belonging to William
Countryman, former saloonkeeper,
Of Miles City, Mont, and now en-
ployed by the State as a prohibition
enforcement officer under Attorney
General w. D. Rankin.
FOiIs Officers.
Countryman twice. foiled officers
on the same day in Missoula coun-
ty. He was not then a dry" Of
1icer.
Federal and State officers were
tipped" that Countryman was COM
ing through with cargo Of Canad-
ian whiskey. He was intercepted on
the Flathead Indian reservation, but
through ruse managed to escape
the officers, speeding on into Mis-
6oula toward Butte. His trail was
again picked up by Deputy Sheriff
Livingston on a bridge near Bon
ner. Mont. To make certain there
would be no avenue of escape, Liv-
ingston engaged a farmer. to draw
his wagon across a bridge over
which Countryman would have to
pass. When the rum runner" ar
rived he was placed under arrest.
The deputy then proceeded to
search Countryman's automobile,
and the farmer, believing the pris-
oner was securely in custody,
drove his wagon off the bridge and
started home. Immediately Coun-
fryman stepped" on the accelera-
tor, the officer sustaining severe
cuts and bruises as he was tossed
from the automobile.
Caufured AGAIN
Later in the day Sheriff Cole and
q posse of deputies once more cap
tured Countryman far up in a can
yon Of the Blackfoot Hills, busily |
engaged, they said, in cacheing
his cargo Of liquor.
Countrynan's machine was con-
fscated and taken to Missolua. and
the prisoner pleaded guilty to a !
charge of illegal transportation Of
liquor, paying a fine Of $50.
The following day, according to
officers, a man called at the garage |
I'm which the sheriff had left Coun- |
tryman's automobile, flashed a |
badge and told the garage man |
that the sheriff was about to make |
a liquor raid and had sent him for |
the seized car. The garage man re- |
linquished the machine.
Later the phantom automobile |
was found in Billings, Mont, and |
4