A Fatal Shootout Marker

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Near this location on the evening of July 31, 1929, Deputy Sheriff Clyde L. Hauver was fatally wounded in a raid on a still near this marker. Police eventually tracked down several suspects, and two moonshiners were convicted in connection with the murder after several days of conflicting testimony. Tales of a double-crossing informant, a love triangle, arson, and other rumors spread throughout central Maryland. What exactly happened at the Blue Blazes moonshine still remains a mystery.

Images

The Marker

Deputy Sheriff Clyde L. Hauver

Frederick Post on Aug. 1, 1929

The scene of the raid where the deputy was killed.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Deputy Sheriff Clyde Hauver, was shot and killed while conducting a raid on a large still in the Catoctin Mountains known as the Blue Blazes Still.The raid occurred near the present location of the Camp David Presidential Retreat.

As Chief Deputy Hauver and his posse approached the still their were fired upon and engaged in a long gun battle. Although Chief Deputy Hauver was mortally wounded, the rest of the posse was eventually able to make it to the site were they destroyed the still and several thousand gallons of moonshine. The suspect was arrested in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and charged with Chief Deputy Hauver's murder.

Sources

Susan Nicol, "Blue Blazes raid takes only deputy to die on duty," Frederick News-Post, Aug 3, 1998. Location and photo of the marker from the Historical Marker Database, http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=79932