Wadesboro Police Blotter, February 8, 1921

Wadesboro, Feb. 8—Sheriff Braswell, Superintendent of Wlfare Ader, and Attorney Tarlton of the local bar made a trip into Gulledge township late Saturday night and located a still and several barrels of beer on the farm of Casey Ratliff, an old negro preacher living in that section. The still was found in Ratliff’s barn and the beer in a clump of wood near the house. Ratliff at first denied any knowledge of the outfit but later, when the officers had searched the premises and found the still, said that the outfit belonged to a company of white men who had been in the habit of coming there and making whiskey. He gave the names of the men whom he claimed the still belonged to and as a result of this information one of the parties, Frank Propest, a young white man of the same community, was arrested and brought to Wadesboro and lodged in jail. The old man, who is past 60, and who has heretofore borne a good reputation, was allowed to give bond for his appearance at the preliminary hearing which will take place Saturday. Propest, who, it is stated, came here from Catawba county about a year ago, is still in jail, having failed so far to furnish a satisfactory bond.

Another still was found by Constable J.F. Tice and Officer Rone Low of the local police department this morning. The outfit, an old wooden box with copper bottom, was loaded and ready for business when the officers arrived. Considerable beer was on hand and ready for use. The still was brought to town and the beer destroyed. The outfit was found about five miles from town in Gulledge township.

Leo Tomlinson, a young white man living near here, was arrested Saturday night charged with being drunk, and this afternoon bound over to federal court on a charge of transporting whiskey. Bond was fixed at $200.

Prisoners either intentionally or accidentally set fire to bed clothing in the jail here this morning and for some time it looked like a serious fire might result. The building, however, being of brick and concrete construction, withstood the heat and the only damage was to the bedding and walls of the jail.

Coon Little, a demented colored girl living in Ansonville township, was brought here Sunday afternoon and placed in jail pending the time when she can be sent to the asylum for colored insane at Goldsboro. The girl’s mother lost her mind about two years ago and drowned herself.

From the Winston-Salem Journal, Feb. 9, 1921