Dawe Pounces On Taylor

I have transcribed the first court report of the visit to the house of William Taylor by the Excise Officer Mr Dawe. It is such a classic story of the task of the Inland Revenue Officers to apprehend the illicit manufacture of whisky, and the efforts made by crofters, with the help of friends and neighbours, to evade them.

The actual trial report (next blog) throws a little more light on Taylor’s story.

IMPORTANT ILLICIT STILL SEIZURE

Stemster Hill. Now deserted and returning to bog

Loch Stemster

Another important seizure of an illicit still has been made in the Lybster district. On the morning of Thursday, the 19^th inst, Mr Dawe, Supervisor of Inland Revenue, left this place on a reconnoitring expedition, with the view of eliciting information as to the working of an illicit still which was known to be in the neighbourhood of the Loch of Stemster. For this purpose, and with the view of guarding against his operation causing suspicion in the neighbourhood, he first took a train to Bower, and from thence pursued a course across the moorlands, striking downwards in a southerly direction till he came to Chapel, where he left one of his officers. Having accomplished this journey he lodged for the night about twelve miles distant from the scene of next day’s operations. During Thursday, Mr Dawe was evidently observed by persons on the watch.

Mr Dawe struck out across the moors

On Friday accompanied by the Lybster officer, Mr Henderson, Mr Dawe struck out across the moors from Lybster to the Stemster Hill, between which and Rangag, is the suspected place, called Ballachyle about four miles from Achavannich to the east. It occupies a kind of gully and it is an isolated and sequestered spot, particularly congenial to such an occupation. Up to that time, however, Mr Dawe only knew the name of the party and neighbourhood but not the house. By a little manoeuvring, however he managed to call at the very dwelling. Here a little natural curiosity was manifested by the inmates which showed the officers that they had struck the proper trail. It is one thing to know where a thing may be found in a general way, and quite another to get it into possession. After going a short distance from the place, and returning again, a search was determined upon with the view of seeing if there were any illegal operations being carried on in the premises. These buildings consisted of two houses adjoining each other, lengthwise, of the ordinary construction. First the search of the living room of William Taylor, labourers and dyker, was begun but with no result. In the next room, leading out of the other, were two beds. Under these, on the floor, were found scattered a few grains of malt, which had been left conveniently handy for the benefit of the officers in their investigation, beside about half a dozen of stone jars, some of which had the smell of liquor. Mr Dawe then left the house for the purpose of rummaging the house of the sister, Mrs Taylor adjoining. In this house there was nothing found with the exception of an ordinary quart bottle or wort. 

Illicit still at the Colbost Museum

Investigation of the fowl house

An investigation was then made of a fowl house and another of the outhouses with no result. At the end of the second house – Mrs Taylors – there was a pendicle construction of a peculiar design, so that it would not be observed by any person coming in the ordinary direction, and which opened by means of a lock and key towards the hill side. The key having been obtained there was found a mash tun, what was evidently used for fermenting, and bags which contained grain, from the remaining grains contained in them. A very important portion of this house was a small piece of dead wall which evidently had been lately rebuilt up, and, on poking with their sticks, they found it to contain a properly built furnace site for the fire, with a hole for the still, and an arrangement by which the smoke would escape to the house vent.

Search the peat stack

The peat stack having been searched, and beyond finding some barrels which were empty, sunk in the ground, covered by a large Caithness flag and a divot, little else was got. It was not till after some ten hours searching that the still was got hold of in a large rectangular cistern which was constructed of Caithness stone, and placed in close proximity to the house. This copper still would hold from 30 to 40 gallons. A considerable number of half threats were used in order to get quit of the officers, one asking Mr Dawe if he knew what Samson was told, that the Philistines were upon him. All this would not do, with tact and determination Mr Dawe held to his purpose and completed his work.

A rough and dark night

Increasing the difficulty and danger of the enterprise it was a very rough and dark night. 

The still was obtained

When the still was obtained it was carried by the officers in the direction of the Stemster farm, occupied by Mr Waters, sheep farmer, who was roused up, and the demand made, in the Queen’s name, for a horse and conveyance. Mr Waters was, we believe, very reluctant to comply with the request to provide horse and cart for the officers; but at last did so. After a number of articles were placed on the conveyance they were driven on to Lybster, and from thence to Wick.

A fine of up to £800

We believe the trial will not take place from some time. A fine of £200 is the fine for malting; and £600 for the possession of a still. It certainly was exceedingly daring for two revenue officers to attempt the seizure and complete it in such a solitary place, without personal violence being used. We believe it is stated that Taylor maintains he has not done anything with the still for twelve months. This will all come out at the trial.

John O Grout Journal 19 Sept 1878

How is Whisky Made?

To help understand some of the terms in the story here is a brief explanation on how whisky is made.

Traditionally there are five stages to the process - malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation and maturation.

Step 1 - Malting

Barley contains starch and it is this starch which needs to be converted into soluble sugars to make alcohol. For this to occur, the barley must undergo germination and this first part of the process is called 'malting.

The barley is soaked for 2-3 days in warm water and then traditionally spread on the floor of a building called a malting house.

When the barley has started to shoot, the germination has to be stopped by drying it in a kiln. Traditionally peat is used to power the kiln and it is at this point where the type of peat used and length of drying in the peat smoke can influence the flavour of the final spirit. The barley is now called 'malt' and this is ground down in a mill, with any husks and other debris being removed.

Step 2 - Mashing

The ground down malt, which is called 'grist', is now added to warm water to begin the extraction of the soluble sugars. The water is normally from a pure, reliable, local source. The liquid combination of malt and water is called the 'mash'. It is put into a large vessel called a mash tun and stirred for several hours.

During this process, the sugars in the malt dissolve and these are drawn off through the bottom of the mash tun. The resulting liquid is called 'wort'.

Step 3 - Fermentation

The wort is cooled and passed into large tanks called washbacks. These are traditionally made of wood. Here the yeast is added and the fermentation begins. The yeast turns the sugars that are present into alcohol.

Step 4 - Distillation

In Scotland, the wash is traditionally distilled twice.

The stills are made from copper, which has been found to be the best material for extracting impurities from the spirit as it is being distilled and consist of a bowl shape at the bottom that rises up to the neck at the top.

The wash enters the larger wash still and is heated. The liquid vaporises and rises up the still until it reaches the neck, where it condenses.

Step 5 - Maturation

The spirit is put into oak casks and stored.

Source: http://www.whiskyforeveryone.com/whisky_basics/how_is_whisky_made.html

John O Grout Journal 19 Sept 1878