Will Herman Sentenced to the Roads, Dec. 10, 1920

Will Herman, whose bar room near Catawba Springs was broken up on Wednesday night, November 24, was sentenced in county court Tuesday to six months on the public roads on the charge of selling liquor. He was caught with the goods. Sheriff Isenhower and Mr. C.R. Brady of Conover and two other officers raided his alleged store and found barroom fixtures. He was evidently preparing for a busy Thanksgiving trade. As Herman learned what was happening, he made off with two jugs of liquor, spilling the juice as he fled. Mr. Brady and a Newton officer grabbed him. Herman is about 60 years old and has a family. His age saved him from a longer sentence, County Judge Sigmon said. For several days it was believed that Herman, who was out under bond on charge of selling liquor, would expose a score or more of blockaders and bootleggers in Catawba, Caldwell and Alexander counties, but somebody “worked” on him before the day of trial. A Hickory man, who went his bond, is said to have told him the consequences of uncovering the liquor dealers, while Mr. Brady pointed out to him the good he could do his own family and several counties by telling of the rottenness that he knew about. Herman considered a light sentence and a clean breast of the rotten business or closed lips and a term on the roads. He chose the roads. (From the Hickory Daily Record, Dec. 10, 1920)