The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-02-02
FEDERAL men GET STILL
AT MT. LAKE ON TUESDAY
Sheriff Casteel, Who Assisted in
Raid, Says Outfit Was a Most
Complete and Costly One

One of the most completely equip
ped and costly stills ever to be cap
tured in Garrett county, according to
Sheriff William D. Casteel, with %
barrels of mash and 100 gallons of
moonshine liquor, was that uncovered
and destroyed by a Federal Prohibi-
ton officer, assisted by Sheriff Casteel,
at Mountain Lake Park on Tuesday
afternoon.
The still was located one block be-
low the new auditorium on H street
in house owned by Mrs. Isabel Hill,
of Washington, D. c., and which has
been occupied for the past three
months or more by Peter Davis, a
Grecian, aged SO years.
The still was located in front bed
room on the upper floor while the mash
and manufactured product was scat
tered about through various other
portions of the building. The still was
operated by gas.
Upon the appearance Of the officers,
house shooting at target, immedi-
ately abandoned the sport and beat
it for the building. He entered step
ahead of the officers, shut and locked
the door and took refuge in the attic.
The officers, after they had gained ac-
cess, spent some time in locating their
quarry, but they were eventually sue
cessful and after a parley Davis ap-
peared and surrendered.
Immediately following his arrest on
the dual charge of manufacturing and
having intoxicating liquor in his pos
session for the purpose of sale, he was
brought to Oakland and given a pre-
liminary hearing before Justice W.
A. Gender, who fixed his bond at $700
for his appearance at the June Term
of the Circuit Court. In default of
bail, Davis was remanded to Jail.
The officers, before bringing their
Aprisoner to Oakland, destroyed the
still, mash and the manufactured
product.
The house was rented from Mrs.
Hill by man giving his name az
George Stevens, of Fairmont, West
Va, and according to residents of the
Park, the lessee said he wanted it as
a home for his wife, who was said to
have suffered nervous breakdown
and required the mountain air to re-
store her health.
There was nothing, according to the
Park people, that would indicate that
a still was in operation on the prem
Uses at any time prior to the arrival
and raid made by the officers on Tues
day.
Fellow Moonshiners Flee After Visit.
From information obtained by the
officers from Davis following his ar
rest, visitor was expected by him on
Tuesday night from Fairmont, w. Va,
and while the authorities were keep
ing watch on railroad trains two
young men, supposed to belong to the
moonshine group responsible for the
still destroyed during the day, drove
up to the Hill house, arriving there at
nine o'clock Before investigating at
the dwelling they unloaded 700 pounds
of sugar from their car and stored it
in the garage on the property and
then entered the house. They were
undoubtedly surprised, for appear
ances indicated that the vicinity was
an unhealthy one for anyone not en-
gagged in legitimate trade and they
left, not standing upon the manner
of their departure. They vanished
in the night, leaving no clue as to
their identity or their destination.
officers were informed that the two
strangers were there, but when they
arrived upon the scene they had left.
The sugar which they had deposited in
the garage was confscated and was
also destroyed.
The still was one of fifty-gallon ca
pacity and indications, according to
the officers, was that it had been in
use about three months.
julius JOrden Also Arrested
Julius Jorden, of near Rosedale, liv-
ing along the Cherry Creek road, was
placed under arrest Tuesday night on
a charge of manufacturing liquor. A
1antity of mash, estimated at fifteen
1'1ns, was found, along with half
ion of moonshine liquor on his
misses. He was brought to the
zland Jail by the Federal agents
Sheriff w. D. Casteel, who had
lie the raid. No date for his hear
has yet been set.
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