Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1931-04-30
Island Depty Sheriff
Locates Large Still

After several weeks of determined
sleuthing by Deputy Sheriff Shattuck,
a monster still, with elaborate para
phenalia for manufacturing moonshine
was unearthed on the old Fred Wal
dron place about Ia miles west Of
the pavement on the Cove road. The
activities Of the two Waldron boys
William and Eppley, had aroused
suspicious In the minds of some of the
neighbors, but it was the high north
wind of last Monday that proved to
Mr.. Shattuck the exact location of the
plant.
Last Saturday afternoon deputy
sheriffs, Shattuck and Barnes entered
the Waldron house, but found that the
operators had left, presumably only a
short time before. They occupied the
place, keeping under cover, but it is
thought that Island confederates had
had their suspicious aroused, and that
the Waldron boys were tipped off. UP
to the present time, at least, they have
not returned.
Monday night the work of destroy
ing the equipment of one of the larg-
est stills uncovered in King County in
the past five years began. There were
three large stills, equipped with the
latest and best type of gas burners;
these were stripped of all copper which
was sent into the county office. Evi-
dence that they had no inkling that
the place had been discovered the
owners of the property left behind 11S
gallons of raw moonshine, which when
diluted meant four times that amount
for 1.-The trade" also two gallon OF
first class grain alcohol. This was
dumped, an easy task compared with
emptying the huge watts filled with
mash, which was merrily working, al
most ready for distilling. There were
two 1900 gallon and one 500 gallon
watts filled, and fourth of $50 gallon
capacity that had apparently been
emptied several days before. The base
ment Of the house, where the watts
were located, was fixed with a drain,
running water, large electric lights,
and all modern conveniences. The
windows were boarded up, and heavy
covering of tarred paper made them
almost soundproof. A clever ventilat-
ing system had been arranged, with
an incense burner to kill the smell of
the distilling vapors.
On Tuesday Mr.. Shattuck superin-
tended the destruction of about two
thousand dollars worth of equipment
consisting of barrels, watts, huge jugs,
crooks, etc., as well as a considerable
amount Of grain.
A quantity of furniture stored in
one of the rooms, together with previ-
GUS evidence that had been secured
told the story of how the disposal OF
the finished product, and the bring
ing of supplies had been accomplished.
Apparently engaged in moving furni-
tlre on and off of the Island the truck
the operators had used had been al
most filled first with moonshine pack
ed in large cartons, then the balance
of the space had been filled with
furniture which furnished an excellent
camoflouge. In like manner the grain
and sugar had been brought from the
mainland.
The bold effrontery of the proceed
ings showed that the Waldron boys
felt more secure than the average
young man would feel. The younger,
William, had only recently reached
his majority and they had just
secured title to the property left to
them at their fathers death several
years ago. Neighbors familiar with
their resources state that they could
not have financed the plant on such
an elaborate scale unaided, and the
supposition is that they we're operating
it for city booze ring. Suspicion
points toward others on the Island as
being involved, and although no ar
rests have yet been made it is antici-
pated that sufficient evidence is forth
coming to bring about several arrests
in the very near future.