Subject: [KYF] NEWS : Moonshiner Killed, 1924, Harlan Co. Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 4:31 AM Submitted by Mary Lou Husdon Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, KY Oct. 8, 1924 One Dead In Cranks Creek Section Hi Frees, An Alleged Moonshiner is Dead Locate 4 Stills State and Federal Officers Make Raid Monday -- Return for Aid - More Trouble Expected Harlan, Oct. 8 -- One man is dead and one seriously wounded as the result of a battle between moonshiners and officers both Federal and State, in the mountains near the Virginia-Kentucky border, fifteen miles from here Monday afternoon. Hi Free, alleged moonshiner, sixty years of age is dead, and Alex Vandover, also reputed moonshiner is seriously wounded. The shooting followed a surprise raid, the officers having located four stills in the Cranks Creek section of Harlan county. On the approach of the officers the moonshiners opened fire which was returned. The officers returned to Harlan for aid and a posse headed by the sheriff left yesterday for the scene of the trouble Monday, the hunt for the moonshiners continuing yesterday. The Cranks Creek gang of moonshiners are reported to be notoriously bad and serious trouble is expected. Two alleged moonshiners were shot and seriously wounded in a raid on a still by federal prohibition officers at Cranks Creek, Harlan county, yesterday afternoon, according to information obtained at Pineville. Hiram Fee (sic) and Alec Vanover, alleged operators of a still, were wounded in the fight with Henry Step and Pearl Howard, prohibition officers. Details of the fight are not known. Neither of the officers were hurt, according to reports. The wounded men are reported to be in a critical condition. ______________________________