Out of the Past - 100 Years Ago
Thursday, Feb. 22, 1923 Biggest Hooch Haul Yet Made Two Arrests follow
Something like fifteen hundred gallons of mash, six stills in good working order and about ten gallons of the finished product were seized last Thursday night by Sheriff Talbot when he and Deputy Crable raided a sod house ten miles northeast of Callaway and arrested William Faubion and Hiram McClure. It was probably the biggest haul of its kind ever made in the state and the outfit was one of the most complete. The officers were assisted in the raid by Marshal Jake Steiger of Callaway, who joined them at the latter place.
It was so dark they fairly had to feel their way along and as there was no road to guide them their progress was a slow and bumpy nature. The sod house, surrounded by a tight wire fence finally loomed out of the darkness and the visitors prepared for action. No light was visible anywhere, both doors and windows being closed and barred. Finally, as the sheriff made a detour of the house he saw a thin streak of light coming from an aperture at the corner. Wasting no time, he went to the door and kicked it in.
There was a man (McClure) lying in bed and surrounded him were many barrels of mash, jugs and three stills. They pulled McClure out of bed, placed him under arrest then started to investigate. Hearing a hissing sound from another area, Sheriff Talbot asked what it was and was told by McClure that it was stuff in the barrels fermenting. Having his suspicions, the sheriff went outside to a window, took hold of the frame and pulled it out. A burst of light greeted him and in the midst of it stood a hairy faced individual looking fierce enough to eat rattlers.
“Come out here and do it quick. Never mind the door,” the sheriff commanded. And reaching in he grabbed the unshaven individual, who happened to be Faubion, and pulled him through the window after which the bracelets were brought into requisition.
Thursday, Feb. 22, 1923 Law And Order Meeting Held at City Hall
Pursuant to the call made last week a mass meeting was held in the city hall this afternoon for the purpose of effecting an organization to assist the county and city official in enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment. There was a good turnout and the meeting demonstrated from the beginning that it meant business. John Dietz was made temporary chairman and Jules Haumont temporary secretary. The offices were later made permanent. Snappy talks were made by Mrs. Martha Hunter, John Dietz, Jules Haumont, J. D. Ream, C. W. Beal, Ross Moore, Rev. W. A. Baldwin and other, the speakers sticking well to the subject at hand, and offering some excellent suggestion in the way of organization. It seemed to be the sense of the meeting that it was there not for the purpose of passing judgment, but to render assistance as an organized body by lending moral support to the officers elected to enforce.
Thursday, Feb. 22, 1923 Soft Drink Man Handed Fine on Liquor Charge
Mack C.. Worth, who runs a place of refreshment on J Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues, appeared before Judge C. H. Holcomb in county court, Saturday of last week and, after pleading guilty to the charge of illegal possession on intoxicating liquor, was fined one hundred dollars and costs. Worth was arrested at his place of business last Friday night by Sheriff Talbot and Deputy Crable after the officers found a bottle containing liquor back of his bar. Bill Powell, an employee of the pace was also arrested and both gave bonds for their appearance at court the next day. When the case came up for trial Prosecutor Schaper dismissed the complaint against Powell, while Worth entered a please of guilty as charged. Worth stated that he was suffering with a bad cold and had procured the liquor to use in a medicinal way.
On the following Monday, County Attorney Schaper again had Worth in court on a charge of assault and battery on the person of Mrs. Amanda Worth, the divorced wife of the defendant. The complaining witness charged that her former husband had struck her in the face, scratched her neck and otherwise abused her, the alleged assault taking place Saturday night. Worth defended his actions by stating that his former wife should have been at home at the time looking after their children. In summing up, Judge Holcomb observed that there was no question as to the state’s evidence submitted and proceed to fine Worth twenty-five dollars and costs.