Evening star., 1962-12-24

cops got your truck" the
youth said. Il got away"
IT believe that boy stole my
truck and the whisky" Par
confided to West. MY
man down south says there
hasn't been a whisky car seized
in Vero Beach or anywhere
down there in weeks. How
about coming south with us to
find out about this?"
It was what West had been
waiting for, a chance to tag
Parmenter'S distributor.
Next day, Parmenter, West
and Harvey started south. West
drove and Parmenter talked.
Going through Stuart, Par
told him he had lost
a truck there loaded with over
$50 gallons of whisky. Farther
along, he pointed out where
one Of his boys wrecked q
truck trying to escape police.
On the edge of West Palm
Beach, Parmenter told him 10
stop so he could call Bobby"
West assumed Bobby was the
distributor but Parmenter told
him and Harvey to stay in the
car when they pulled into the
yard of a large bungalow with
a three-car garage. The agent
noticed four cars parked in the
back and memorized the tags.
Sends Harvey Out
Parmenter emerged with a
sour look on his face and
grunted directions to a hotel.
AS soon as they arrived he sent
Harvey out for ice.
Bobby has checked all his
contacts" he said. There's
been no whisky caught nowhere
down here"
When Harvey came back,
Parmenter told him to take a
shower.
II wanted to see If he had
any scratches on him." Par
menter explained. IF he ran
through the swamps like he
said. he'd be scratched all over
That boy didn't have a scratch
on him."
A few days later Parmentel
asked West to take a load oi
whisky to Bobby. Harvey would
go along to make the contact
you seem smart enough to
get Harvey to make a slip, "
Parmenter told West. "See II
you can't find out what he did
with the truck and the whisky"
In West Palm Beach, West
watched as Harvey dialed a
number and said, THE mer-
chandise is ready" Then Har-
vey drove to a street beside
the bay. A few minutes later, a
boy he introduced as Pony
Boy" Joined them long enough
to get the car keys.
Recognizes Cor
That night, Harvey dale d
the same number again and
the agents spirits lifted. May
be they would meet Bobby.
Four blocks from the hotel,
West recognized a car he had
seen in Bobby's back yard and
the man at the wheel motioned
them into the back seat. In
the dimness, West could see a
strapping Negro with a scar
across the bridge of his nose.
Introducing him, Harvey gave
his full name-George David
the Bobby" Parmenter
always cleared with before
trusting a new driver.
West figured he passed mus
ter because Lincoln, handing
over a bag Of money, said he
wanted him to come back with
another load soon.
AS soon as West returned to
Jacksonville, he started agents
checking on Lincoln. They
reported back that he reputedly
controlled the numbers racket
and allied gambling in the
Negro areas around Palm Beach.
owned a taxicab company, a
poolroom and other enterprises
bringing in a monthly income
Of more than $1,000. He also
owned about $4,000 worth Of
real estate. Like Parmenter, he
had once been convicted as a
liquor law violator but he was
smarter now.
West was now making regu-
lar runs TO West Palm Beach,
collecting evidence all the while
on more moonshiners as Par
had him canvass the
stills TO fill Bobby's orders.
Weeks Respite
TT. ..... s.zANA..a - ....... "a