---

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 18, 1993                   TAG: 9302180138
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LON WAGNER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

---

PITTSYLVANIA MAN CHARGED IN STILL CASE

The Pittsylvania County man whose name was found on a "No Trespassing" sign at the entrance to Virginia's largest illegal distillery has given himself up to authorities.

Paul A. Henson, 29, was charged with aiding and abetting the illegal manufacturing of alcohol in connection with the Jan. 6 raid on a 36-pot still near Cool Branch, Major Gary Goodson of the county Sheriff's Department said.

Goodson said authorities have yet to determine whether Henson owned the property on which the huge still was found. But Goodson said indications are that Henson was "in control of the property from all aspects."

Henson turned himself in last Thursday. He told authorities he had been on vacation and read about the raid in the newspaper upon returning to the area.

The still's 36 pots of 800 gallons each made it the largest such operation discovered in Virginia. The previous landmark had been a 24-pot distillery raided in the Endicott section of Franklin County in 1974.

The Pittsylvania County still, in fact, was so large it would have required four or five people to operate it, authorities said at the time. Therefore, Goodson said, the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Department expects to make more arrests.

Henson was released after posting $25,000 bail.

---