Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1931-09-24
SHOAF, EARNHARDT
AND RASH GROUPS
RUN AF0UL OF LAW
Heavy Fines and Sentence
es Imposed In County
Court; Offenders Take
Appeals To Supreme
Court.

Three of the reputed Liquor rings"
in Rowan county have Jared hard rec
entity, according to the records of the
county court.
Known to the officers as the Shoaf.
Earnhardt and Rash gangs" they
have been repeatedly hailed into court
on various violations of the prohibition
laws.
Heavy fines and sentences have been
imposed by Judge Gooch in the coun-
ty u In many instances, however,
appeals have been taken to the Su-
perior court.
One offender, Brantley Earnhardt,
has faced Judge Gooch and Prosecu-
tor Dunn at least five times in 60
days. Officers operating out of Sher-
iff Miller's office and Chief of Po-
lice Rankin's forces have been persist
entity diligent and have apprehended
these offenders from time to time in
their illegal activities.
Othell Shoaf, alias Shorty Shoaf,
appears from the records of the Coun-
ty Court to have been the most per-
sistent offender, having been before
Judge Gooch and Solicitor Dunn no
less than six times since March II,
1881; two of these cases charged as
sault with deadly weapon, which arose
out OF a shooting scrape with a rival
gang. The other cases were violations
of the prohibition laws. The docket
reveals the following facts regarding
Shoaf:
March II, 1881, convicted of vio-
lation of prohibition laws, sentenced
to 7 months on roads Or pay of fine
of $1,000 and costs. The evidence
was secured and arrest made by Sher-
iff Mckenzie and deputies F. L. eau
bic and A. L. Nash.
June 70, 1881, assault with deadly
weapon with intent to kill. 1.-TWO cas-
esq, preliminary hearing waived by
defendant and latter bound over to
Superior Court. The evidence was Sc
cured in these cases by ]. w. Kesler,
70 J. H. Krider and ]. D. Poole of the
city police force and by deputy sher-
if F. L. Cauble.
July 10, 1881, convicted of viola
ton of prohibition laws and sentenced
to Is months on roads or pay a fine
of $4,000, arrest made by Sheriff
Mckenzie, w. B. Demarcus and F. l..
Cauble.
July Fl, 1881, again convicted af-
ter plea of nolo contendere and ap-
pealed to Superior Court.
Sept. 16, 1881, again arrested on Ii
quor selling charge, but case not yet
tried.
This defendant has appealed in ev-
cry instance to the Superior Court.
Deputy sheriffs David Graham, L.
NJ. Stikeleather, W. B. DeMarcus, A.
]: Shipping and F. L. Cauble have also
had Brantly Earnhardt before the
County Court on five occasions since
July 7, 1881, as follows:
July 7, 1881, reckless driving, 80
days or $4,000.
August IA, 1881, violation prohi-
bition laws, 10 months on roads or fine
of $4,000.
Sept. 1, 1881, violation prohibition
laws, II months on roads Or $4,000.
Sept. 4, 1881, reckless driving, $780,
90 fine.
Sept. IA, 1881, violation prohibi-
ton laws, 9 months on roads or $780,
90 fine.
Three of Earnhardt's automobiles
were seized by the sheriff's office
within the past few weeks.
Earnhardt, like Shoaf, has appealed
his cases to the higher ourts.
Among the other prominent liquor
<violators before the County Court
within the past few months the names
of Odell Griggs, Marvin Griggs, Club
Rash and Mrs. W. D. Rash. All of
these offenders have been tried from
two to four times. Some were appre-
hended by the city police and he 9TH
ers by the Sheriff's deputies. The road
sentences in these cases ran from 90
days to IA months, with alternatives
of fines ranging from $500 and the