The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-10-27


to her farm, finding Mosser proving
about the house, pulling over chairs
and bureaus, apparently looking fol
something.
Tells of Hiding Liquor.
She was then questioned by Mr.
Robb about the visit that Lawtor
Friend, Lester Shank, Russell Lee
Joseph Friend and Lester Weimer said
they made to her farm on April 26 OF
this year. Miss Swami Monday was
not certain Of the date, but recalled
the visit. The only one of the crowd
whom she knew, she said, was Law.
ton Friend. They came up to her and
Shank asked her if she had any
'hootch."
81 don't know what that MEANS
she replied.
"Well, have you any moonshine p
she said Shank then asked her.
"That depends" Miss Swami told
the court and jury.
The young men then told her she
had better get rid of the liquor, she
testified, for, they said, the Federal
officers were coming. Although she
didn't believe it, she was finally per-
suaded by the young men to hide the
liquor. They agreed to hide it fo1
her, and a half barrel of mash was
concealed in the woods nearby. The
boys suggested that she give them a
gallon for their services, which she
did. 1t was nearly dark then, ac-
cording to Miss Swann's story, and
she returned to the hiding place OF
the liquor. 1t was gone, she declared
Admits Making Liquor.
Miss Swami freely admitted making
liquor, but she sold it, she said, only
to one person. For the liquor she re-
ceived credit on a bill of sale on her
stock. Mr.. Robb then asked her if she
had made any threats against Mosser
In her conversation with the young
men. Receiving a negative reply, he
asked her if she had even made any
threats against the dead man. She
denied this also.
Refutes State Witness.
The testimony of Peter Bickford, Of
fered on Monday, was then called to
her attention. Bickford alleged that
she had told him that someone had
raided her place, destroying her liquor.
Bickford claimed that Miss Swami
asked him if he thought it could have
been Federal officers who had made
the raid. When he said that it was
more than probable, she told him that
she had heard that Mosser informed
the officers. eff 1 find out, I'll kill
him!" Bickford told the court and
jury she said to him.
Miss Swami, however, denied this in
court Monday. She said that when
she asked Bickford about the raid, he
told her that he thought it was the
"hill-billies' of Swanton who had de-
stroyed her liquor and not the reve-
nue. officers. Bickford advised her, she
said Monday, to get out, as "that
bunch in Swanton isn't going to let
you remain here" Mosser's name was
not mentioned at any time in the con-
versation, she said.
Described Shooting.
On the day of the shooting, Miss
Swami declared, she arose about 600
O'Clock. Without eating any break
fast she went out on the farm to
catch heifer, which had escaped. She
was washing up the breakfast dishes,
she said, when she heard the dogs
barking outside. She paid no atten-
ton to them, however, and went on
with her work. The door suddenly
opened with a crash, she stated, and
Mosser stood there. AS the door was
locked, he was forced to break it in.
He asked for the rent, and she replied
that she had none for him.
"1ll have the rent or something"
Mosser growled as he left the room,
Miss Swami said. Alarmed at his
threatening appearance, she hurried to
the kitchen to get the rifle. Return
ing to the living room, Mosser sud
denly appeared in the doorway, and
shouted, "Ill have something" and
threw brick at her and lunged in her
direction. She held the rifle in one
hand, and raising it, fired. Mosser
paused, clutched his shoulder, wheeled
around and staggered out. He went
around the corner of the house, she
said. Thoroughly excited and fright
ened, Miss Swami, with the gun still
in her hand, went to the door of the