Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-19
SWO0ps D01Un
On Wink After ROW
Over Rum RMnning

WINK, Texas, Dec. 19.-(F5-At-
tracted by the commotion which a
feud between rum-runners and hi
jackers aroused here this week fed
eral and state officers were in the
turbulent oil town today threatening
ii with one Of the most complete
cleansings it has known in its brief
career.
A score of federal agents, rein
forced by Texas rangers, dropped in
last night. and when their work was
done 80 resorts had been raided and
closed, and scores Of citizens and
t~ransients were held for law viola
tions, or for questioning.
1t was the first visit Of govern
ment agents to the town, but they
came in force. In the staff of 20
government men there were prohibit
ton agents, narcotic agents, customs
inspectors and Dyer Act experts,
determined to look thoroughly into
Wink's alleged sins.
hopping Seems Thorough
While the federal men sought VIC
lators Of national laws z en-
forced the state gaming laws BY
raiding IL alleged gambling resorts
and closing them.
Wink has not been on the map
long. In fact, il is on only the most
recent maps now The town has ex-
listed but a short time, but it already
has considerable Of a past. Discov-
cry Of oil in the rich west Texas
fields brought the town into being
and IL has been from the first a
typical oil boom town. Transients
who drift from one boom TO another
have ~frequented its streets and re-
sorts and violence frequently has
won il a place in the headlines. RAN
gers have cleaned the town up from
time to time and local campaigns
have improved conditions. but to-
days situation is the closest the
place has ever come to a thorough
hopping up.
Federal men indicated that they
were looking for law violators of all
descriptions. The narcotic and pro-
hibition agents made a good harvest
Of suspects from the first. Dyer Act
experts and customs inspectors were
more secretive In their movements,
but il vas understood that the Dyer
Act men had found a number Of mo-
tor vehicles whose ostensible own
ers had difficulty in proving title.
Kidnapped Man Found
The whole affair was precipitated
by Attempts Of rum runners 20 bring
a large shipment Of liquor from Mex
leo to the oil fields for the holidays.
Federal men at Juarez were eluded
successfully, but hi-jackers appro-
priated the cargo outside OF Wink.
County officers say that the rum
unnre took their revenge by kid
mapping p. {. Burcham, known as
Denver Blackie" who is charged
with having led the hi-jackers. Bur
cham was bound and thrown into an
empty water tank at a lonely spot
on the desert. He succeeded in
breaking away and became lost IN
the drifting sand dunes hereabout.
Posses searched two nights and one
day before they found him, almost
ready 10 collapse yesterday morning.
The case attracted wide attention.
Before the federal men arrived
Sheriff "Pecos Bill" Priest Of Wink
Ter county had made a dozen arrests
in the case. Burcham and his an
legged companions we're charged with
robbery in connection with the hi
lacking and members of the alleged
band of run runner were charged
with kidnapping. 1t is probable that
the additional arrests made last
night will make it necessary to call
a special grand jury. The regular
grand jury session falls IN March.