The Charlotte Democrat

Flushing the Drummers.

Our Sheriff caused quite a commotion among the drummers lounging about our town last Tuesday.

There is a statute among the laws of our State making it a penal offence to sell by sample without paying a license tax. This statute, our worthy Sheriff thought was not revered and respected by certain of these Northern business Tourists as the dignity of our Commonwealth demanded. Filled with zeal for the maintenance of the law, and perhaps unconsciously stimulated by the fact that half of the penal sum ($50) went to the informant, who in this case was none other than his own dear person, he "went for" that poaching drummer.

There happened to be quite a number of these excursionists, the gentlemen of bland smiles and genial ways, in our city at the time and the commotion excited by the arrest of two of their number was such as a sportsman sees when his setter flushes the covey. The excitement, however, was cooling under the influence of Attorneys, Justices, Warrants, &c., when lo! it was whispered that one, the one of the arrested parties, from whom the Sheriff felt sure of getting a greenback denominated "C," and whom he watched with the sweetest complacency, had flown to parts unknown. The righteous indignation of our Sheriff was aroused and he vowed vengeance on the remaining victim, but the Justice thinking differently he was released.

The absconding drummer was a shoe dealer, and he showed himself proficient in the expeditious manner in which he used his own sole-leather. He was, however, re-arrested in Wilson, brought back to Tarboro', tried and convicted and placed under a bond of $300 for his appearance at the Fall Term of our Court.—Tarboro Enquirer.

The Sheriffs in every county should compel "drummers" to pay the State tax, and we call the attention of officers to their duty.

Why do they neglect to collect the tax as the law directs?