The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-03-17
SHERIFF and AGENT RAID
IN BITTINCER SECTION
One Is Held For Unlawful Pos
session, Operators Escape
Other Bittinger News


prohibition amendment, which made
the illicit manufacture and sale of in
toxicating liquors temptingly profit
able adventure, some of the jewellers
in the hill country, near this village,
have been carrying on that sort of
business.
Always the winter months have
been the season of their greatest
activities. Many squalid mountain
homes are said to have been converted
into small distilleries and all through
the winter liquor has been fermented
and distilled around and upon the
kitchen stoves.
This nefarious product, conceived in
the brain of the ignorant and vicious,
concocted in the very cess pools of
filth, and handled by hands that are
never clean, finds its way by the
Bootleg channel, to the outside world,
to debauch, and degrade, and kill.
At scattered intervals, prohibition
enforcement officers have visited
these isolated sections, raiding with
sometimes one and sometimes another
measure of success. A few violaters
have been apprehended, but many
have escaped and those who were
brought before the courts paid
small and inconsequential penalty and
returned at once to the old practice,
always on larger scale.
We have a report that on last Fri
day afternoon, Sheriff Casteel,
Deputy Griffith, Constable Joe Calls
and party of federal officers, visited
the Bear Hill settlement and within
half hour of their arrival in that
territory, there was not man to be
found within miles. The guilty were
filled with fear, a fear which lent
speed to their feet and they scurried
away, running, leaping, bounding,
tumbling, rolling and scrambling in
very direction, anywhere to find
cover. The officers are said to have
ordered a halt and fired several shots,
but the impetuous was too great and
none were captured A very large
distilling apparatus was discovered on
the Nelson Wilt premises, and was
forthwith destroyed. Later in the
afternoon an investigation of the
premises of Mr.. Billmeyer, in Jen-
nings, was made and 1876 gallons of
moon-shine whiskey was discovered
hidden in his coal house, and the ar
rest of the proprietor followed.
Another raid conducted near Jen-
nings Melted the Agents 100 gallon
still, but the operators escaped on
horseback. However, it is believed
arrests will follow in the near future.
Personals
The fine, warm weather prevailing
during the past week has occasioned
a halt in actives in the local sugar
camps, as conditions are not right for
the production of sugar yielding sap,
but the average citizen, wearied by
the long gloomy winter months, is
delighted to feel the warmth of the
sun and hear the merry songs of the
birds.
Mrs. Ed. Railey returned to her
home near here last Saturday after
noon, after spending few days with
her son, Thomas, at his home near
New Germany.
Miss Ruth Brenneman, of Meadow
Mountain, visited her sisters here,
recently.
Miss Ida Brenneman and a class
mate from the Frostburg State Nor
NAL school,. visited relatives in this
village last Saturday and Sunday.
Herbert Buckle returned early last
week to Gettysburg, where he will
continue his studies.
Mr.. Workman, of Frostburg, was in
this section last week buying some
young cattle.
Mrs. David Miller is spending this
week with her daughters, Mesdames
Agnes and Sarah Brenneman, at their
homes here.
Messrs. w. E. Buckle, Earl Stark
and Arthur DERRICK motored over to
Jenners, Pa, last week and are now
employed in a coal mine at that place.
Miss Blanche Speicher, of Accident,
1as a guest Of her sister, Mrs. George
Stark, of this village, recently.
George Kurtz, of Addison, Pa, was
a business visitor to this section last
Saturday.
Miss Leonora Wiley motored to
Grantsville last Saturday morning on
business.
Prof. C. M. Friend and family spent
the weekend with relatives near
Friendsville.
The public roads in this section
have dries IF nicely and supervisors
should gey busy with Their strapers
and drags.