The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-03-21
OFFICERS FACE CUNFIRE
RADING STILL YESTERDAY
Federal Investigators Arrest 4
Alleged ViOlatOrs Near Vindex;
100-GallOn Still Destroyed
TAKEN TO CUMBERLAND

Raiding a still near Vindex
yesterday afternoon in the face
of gunfire, three Federal investi-
gators of the Alcohol Tax Unit
from Cumberland arrested four
men and brought them to the
Garrett County Jail in Oakland
where they were held until this
morning and then taken to Cum
berland to be arraigned before
U. S. Commissioner Taylor Nor
riSon.
Harry Riggleman, %, one of the
prisoners, received a scalp wound
when he was struck by one of the Of
fcers. He was relieved of .38-calibre
pistol with which he is said to have
fired on the Federal officers.
James Riggleman, 10, Arthur Rig
gleman, 80, and Fred. Houston, 80,
were later apprehended.
William R. Harvey, in charge of the
raiding party, came upon the still
week ago shortly after it had finished
run" of spirits. Harvey and his
assistants, Walker and Howe, returned
to the spot yesterday, concealed their
automobile and walked for some dis
lance in the direction of the still,
which was located at a point on the
roadway known as Mud Bridge, about
four miles from Kitzmiller on the
Kitzmiller-Deer Park road. Arthur
Riggleman, stationed as lookout man
on the highway, fired three shots in
the air as one of the Federal men ap-
preached and then ran into the woods
skirting the road. These shots were
answered by the men at the still, Har-
vey said.
AS the Federal men closed in on the
still Harry Riggleman was said to
have fired on them, bullets from his
firearm passing close to Officer Har-
vey. He was disarmed by Fred. Wal
ker, of the Federal force and placed
under arrest. Arthur and James Rig
gleman were arrested after chase Of
more than two miles in the automo-
bile, which Riggleman had used for
hauling in supplies and hauling out
the finished product. Fred Houston
was arrested as an accomplice.
At the site of the operations carried
on by the sinners, officers found 100
gallon still, one and one-half gallons
of alleged whiskey, eight barrels of
mash, all in tar paper shack 1918
feet. They also found a .44-calibre
high-powered rifle, lying behind
stump which the officers believe Ar
thur Riggleman tried to possess as he
ran from the officers into the woods.
The still was destroyed and the fire.
arms confscated.
The men, according to Officer Har-
vey, will be held under new Fed
eral law which provides a penalty Of
from six to ten years Imprisonment
for firing upon Federal officers while
in line of duty.
Upon being arraigned before Com
missioner Morrison that officer will be
asked to hold Harry Riggleman under
bond of $4,000; Arthur Riggleman
unde a bond of $4,000 and the other
prisoners under bonds of $1,000 each.
Harry Riggleman served a term in
a Maryland prison two years ago for
moonshining, and Arthur Riggleman
was convicted of the same offense five
years ago.
The raid of yesterday is continu-
alton of the intensive drive being
made by Federal officers in this coun-
ty during the past three months, dur
ing which time they have confscated
twenty-four still and have captured
from one to three men with each still
confiscated.
Another Successful Raid
On Saturday evening above Bloom
ington, on Backbone Mountain Federal
officers found a seventy gallon
still, eight barrels of mash, 48 gal
Ions of liquor in the woods near the
Pattison farm and arrested Caul
"Red" E. Howdyshell and William H.
Ward, alleged owners and operators
of the illicit plant. Nearby the Off
GERS found new Plymouth sedan
containing two hundred pounds of su-
gar. The car, which was confscated,
with it's contents, belonged, it is al
legged, to James Fazenbaker. The still
and all material found nearby belong
ing to it, was destroyed.