From The Nicholas Republican
Richwood, West Virginia
Thursday, April 29, 1926
Page One
Headline: OFFICERS CAPTURE MOONSHINE STILL ON LITTLE LAUREL
Monday afternoon, State Police Roach and Carmen and Chief Police Henry
Wayne and Police Parsons of Dain, made a raid up Little Laurel Creek
and when about two miles above Paper Mill they discovered a moonshine
still. The still was of fifty gallon capacity and a complete outfit
had been installed including three barrels of mash just ready for a
run.
From indications it seems that this still had been in use for months
past and had been stationed at various points along this creek where
runs had been made and then located in more secluded quarters. The officers
had received a tip off that a run was about to be made but arrived on
the ground a little too early to nab the offenders. The presumption
is that probably hundreds of gallons of liquor had been manufactured
by this outfit to supply the bootlegging trade of this city. Chief Wayne
informs us that he estimated that there was sufficient mash ready at
the still to make 25 gallons of bookleg liquor and which readily sells
here for from six to ten dollars per quart and which would have realized
the venders an enormous profit from the sale of the poison. From the
appearance of the surroundings in and about the still the officials
declare that they would'nt [sic.] risk feeding a common swine from the
mash or the vessels containing same but yet this same fluid that is
produced from this filth finds ready sale and is imbibed by people of
some social standing, little thinking of the conditions under which
the bug juice is manufactured.
The officers destroyed the still and outfit and the seething mash was
poured into the earth.
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