The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-08-03
LARGE LIQUOR PLANT In
COUNTY Is CONFTSCATED
200-GallOn Plant Near Mason
School Found In Operation;
Five Men Are Arrested
WORKED ALL DAY ON CASE

One of the largest liquor seizures
and confscations ever made in Garrett
county was effected last Friday by
Federal Prohibition Investigators
William R. Harvey and Leon Poore,
Cumberland, and Samuel Cole, deputy
sheriff of Garrett county.
Several cases were completed dur
ing the week, the total seizures includ-
ing two automobiles, four stills of a
total capacity of 355 gallons, nearly
300 gallons of whiskey and 1,200 gal
Ions of mash, together with large
quantities of equipment and material
used in the moonshine business. A
thousand pounds of brown sugar was
also seized which was given to the
relief organizations of the county.
Eight were arrested in the several
cases made, the majority being in
Garrett county.
Investigator Harvey said he and
Poore, accompanied by Deputy Sheriff
Cole, worked on the Garrett county
case nearly all day Friday, having
the license number of new automo-
bile which was alleged to be used by
persons engaged in the liquor bust
ness. The officers spotted the car in
Oakland and followed it to the vicin-
ity of Mason school, near Table Rock,
about twelve miles from town, where
after an intensive search and investi-
cation they found a 200-gallon plant
in operation.
William Runner, of Philippi, w.
Va, was arrested at the plant, and G.
Lee Ridder was arrested at his farm
house nearby. w. C. Nuetzling, alias
William G. Lewis, of Clarksburg, a
previous offender, was arrested as the
driver of the car the officers followed
from Oakland and which served to
lead them to the discovery of the
plant.
William P. Lee, who resided with
Ridder, and Shirley H. Sager, on
whose property part of the seizure
was made, were also taken into GUS
tody and arraigned before Magistrate
Charles F. White and held under bond
of $500 each for the September term
grand jury on charges of possession
and manufacture,
Ridder was held on a dual charge
under $50 bond in each case. A room
in his house was used as cutting
plant and ageing quarters for whis-
key and brandy, the major products
at the still, and it was here 286 gal
Ions of intoxicants were seized.
Officer Harvey said the case in
volved several families, but thought
all those implicated in the plant were
apprehended. The entire outfit was
confiscated.
Some of the prisoners had in their
possession complete plans of the still
and plant and also records of liquor
transactions and their expense ac-
counts in connection with the selling
and manufacturing of the product.
Officers seized two stills, mash and
whiskey at the home of Edward Wam-
pier near Finzel, who was held for the
Garrett county grand jury on charges
of manufacture and possession under
a bond of $500.
One of the seized stills was in OPP
Grafton in the spring house of Wam-
piers farm when the seizure was
made.
Preston Coulter, of Hutton, was
arrested Saturday after Prohibition
agents had discovered 20-gallon still
and 100 gallons of mash on his prop
erty.
He was taken to Cumberland where
he was lodged in Jail on Federal
charge of manufacture and posses
sion. He failed to give bond.
Coulter is an alleged previous vio-
lator. Officers said when they reided
this liquor plant they were attacked
by large dog which seemed to object
to their presence and Officer Poore
had some difficulty in driving the en-
ragged animal away long enough fol
Harvey to arrest Coulter.