Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-10-18
TRUE
by Vance cPuolic Ledger
The Man Who Hit the
Bulls Eye

NGOONSHINING i~ourished long be-
1SI fore the prohibition amendment
was made to the Constitution Of the
United States.
Twenty years ago 1t was carried on
In the mountains Of West Virginia on
a scale that made the government au-
thorities gasp for breath.
The general impression Of the moon
sinner is that Of a poor white man
who Ia willing to take big chances In
order to make a little Illegal money.
This Is true of some sections, but
at the time mentioned there were bold
and INSCRIPTIONS distillers who car
ried 1t on as a business In a big way
and who made fortunes by the opera
ton.
Wayne Gooch was one OF these men.
He was called "the King OF the
Moonshiners," and there is no reason
to doubt that he was entitled to the
distinction.
The scandals grew to such proper
lions that the commissioner Of inter-
nal revenue at Washington deter
mined 1t would have to be stopped at
all hazards.
The man he assigned to the job was
a fearless agent named Tom Kennedy.
He had several advantages. One
was that he knew the mountains of
West Virginia.
Another was that he was a crack
shot.
These things were important, be-
cause the moonshiners placed small
value on human life.
Most Of them boasted that they
would not be taken alive, and by the
same token they would kill anyone
who attempted to interfere with their
business.
Kennedy determined to confront the
lion In his den.
He made up his mind to 60 to the
Gooch stamping grounds In the guise
of a government forester.
Merely to be known as a person
who was connected with the govern
ment In any capacity was taking a big
chance, but Kennedy was a man who
had been taking chances all his life,
and one additional chance meant little
to him.
He had two capable assistants with
him, and he went direct to the cabin
where the king Of the moonshiners
made his headquarters.
He introduced himself by his real
name, and he wanted to know what
the authorities could do to help the
cultivation Of trees In that part of
the country. Gooch. who vas a big,
bluff fellow, received him cordially
enough, even though he kept his
weather eye on this curious stranger,
He said the soil In that part of
West Virginia was not particularly
adapted to forestry, but he cheer
fully offered to escort Kennedy about
the country.
II was just what the revenue agent
wanted.
He kept his eyes and his ears open,
and at the end Of "a hours was forced
to confess that there vas not even the
sign Of a still In operation.
During that time the king enter.
tanned the agent in a royal fashion.
One day they had a shooting match
with a big target set up near the
cabin. Kennedy participated. and to
the great delight and admiration OF
the king the visitor hit the bulls eye
nine times out Of ten.
Gooch said that was the best record
ever made In that locality.
He parted with his guest with ap
parent reluctance.
Kennedy had played his cards sc
well that he was not ven suspected
by the king Of the moonshlners.
They parted one night with expires
sions OF mutual esteem. Kennedy had
no misconception of his man.
He knew that If his true character
had become known he would have
been shot down like a dog.
This thought keyed him up to the
game he was about to play.
He left the cabin and the vicinity
but he had proof that distilling was
going on on a great scale.
He discovered that the stuff was
sent to the depot In a truck at about
midnight each night.
So he lay In wait with his two mer
and when the team arrived at a Ger
tain part OF the road he appeared Ii
the highway with d loaded and primet
revolver.
The driver and his assistant, takeI
unawares. surrendered.
In the meantime, Kennedy sent fol-
requirements and before another
day had gore by the king Of the noon
sinners and his men had been taker
into custody.
wNU Service.