Mattie Haden Takes Law Into Her Own Hands, Sept. 21, 1919

From the Richmond, Va., Times-Dispatch, Sunday, Sept. 21, 1919

Teacher Becomes Sleuth; Pours Beer into Run. . . Sits on Guard with Shot Gun Until Sister Succeeds in Locating Several Helpers

Lynchburg, Va., Sept. 20—When Miss Mattie W. Haden, a Campbell County school-teacher, had reason to believe that “moonshine” liquor was being made in the vicinity of her home, she didn’t report it to the State or national government, but set about to locate the still unassisted, and when she located it she poured 400 gallons of “beer” into a stream.

Rather, Miss Haden discovered the “beer” when it was just ready for a run, which would have turned out 40 gallons of corn liquor, and then, while she kept watch with a loaded shot gun, waited for her sisters to go for several men who had strength sufficient to spill the mash. Miss Haden ordered the men to pour the mash into Falling River, and this they did. The operators of the still did not appear on the scene during the “raid.”