Moonshine Stories 1923

Woman Stiller Fined; Moonshine Plant, 54 Gallons of Hootch Confiscated

Mrs. Ethel Fannin, 35 years old, 2117?  Gallia street was penalized to the extent of $200 and costs on each of two separate charges of violating the dry laws by Judge McCall in Municipal court Saturday morning under her admission of guilt to both complaints, one charging possession of liquor and the other for possession of a still unlawfully.

Mrs. Fannin was taken into custody following a raid by Patrolmen Miller, Brahman, Haley and Kenard on her home at the Gallia street address yesterday afternoon which resulted in the captured of fifty-four gallons of high-proof “hootch” and a 25-gallon?

Capacity copper still, besides 028 gallons of mash in the process of fermentation. The mash was promptly destroyed b the officers and the seized liquor and still were removed to police headquarters. Mrs. Fannin who was represented by Attorney H. L. Small, arranged to pay and was released from custody.[2]

Accused of Having Hootch

Arrested late last night by Officers Downs and Powers at Eleventh and John streets for alleged violation of the dry law, David Black, 22 and Buford Spears, 23 both white, denied guilt when arraigned in Municipal court Saturday and the accused men were released on bond pending trial Monday.

They have retained Attorney H. L. Small to defend them ‘According to the arresting officers the defendants each had a half pint flask of “hootch” in their possession when taken into custody.[3]

Sweeping Victory for the Government in Scioto County Liquor Cases

Cincinnati, Oh., January 27-By the Associated Press-What federal officials in Cincinnati declared is another blow in the cause of dry enforcement, is a decision handed down today by U.S. District Judge J. W. Peck holding that operators of stills may be prosecuted under the Willis-Campbell act, embodying the old internal revenue laws, as well as under the newer sections of the Volstead act.

The effect of the decision is to make offenders amendable to the heavier penalties that are attached to the Willis-Campbell act. Judge Peck’s decision was given at the conclusion of arguments on a motion to quash those portions of an indictment against four Scioto count men that brought under the Willis-Campbell act.

R. T. Dickerson, assistant U.S. District Attorney, declared the government’s victory opens  up a wide field for prohibition agents.

The men under indictment are Howard Hazler, John Osborn, Harry Shields and Mac Downey all of Scioto County, who were alleged to have been operating a still at Wright’s Run, near Portsmouth, Ohio.[4]

Waverly Ohio News

Local officers staged a raid Monday up on Jackson Run near the foot of Linn Hill. They secured a small copper still but not hootch. They brought along Patterson Sanders and his son Merrill who are accused of the ownership. When arraigned before Squire Brown they centered a plea of not guilty. They will have their trial Friday. Sheriff Anderson, Deputy Sheriff Dowdle. Constable Robinson and deputy Marshalls Barch and Davis made the raid. [5]

Two Stillers are Fined

Admitting guilt when brought into Municipal Court Tuesday of violating the dry laws. John Tinsley and Luther Armstrong both colored were fined $200 each by Judge McCall.

The men were taken in a raid staged last night by the police on Tinsley’s home in the North End, which resulted in the uncovering of a copper still of the wash boiler type, 100 gallons of mash and 10 half-pints of moonshine liquor.[6]

Charge is Not Pressed

Arrested Monday night by the police for alleged obtaining money under false pretenses, Ed Sally, notorious police character was dismissed by Judge McCall in Municipal court because L. C. Skaggs Vanceburg man failed to appear to press the charge.

Sally admitted that Skaggs had given him $10 to buy liquor but claimed that while he was hunting for the “hootch” Skaggs disappeared and that he spent several hours searching for him, so as to return the money. The hearing disclosed that Sally had squandered all but $7.25 of the money which was turned back to the owner.[7]

Still Found on Shanty boat

In a raid on a shanty boat anchored in the Ohio river at the mouth of Turkey Creek Saturday night, county officers seized a seventy gallon capacity copper still destroyed twenty barrels containing fermentation and arrested John Delong, 77 years old, who claimed to be the sole caretaker of the boat.

The aged man, who was the sole occupant of the boat, was brought to the county jail where he is held to answer to charges of manufacturing and possessing liquor unlawfully. It is said the officers in their investigation obtained the names of the real owners of the outfit.[8]

Man, 77, Admits Making Whiskey; Is Fine $500

John Delong, 77 years old, arrested by county officers late Saturday in a raid on a shanty boat anchored in the Ohio River, at the mouth of Turkey Creek, pleaded guilty to a charge of manufacturing liquor unlawfully when brought before Squire George S. Morgan Tuesday. The aged man was fined $500 and costs by the magistrate and in default of payment, he was remanded to the county jail.

Delong claimed he was merely the caretaker of the boat on which the officers found and seized a large copper still and a thousand gallons of mash. The owners of the booze boat have not been apprehended.

Delong is the oldest man in point of years to be prosecuted for violating the dry laws in Scioto County, Ohio.[9]

Piketon Ohio Stiller Fined $200

Special to the Times Waverly, Ohio, March 13 – In a liquor raid at Piketon, C.W. Johnson, otherwise known as “Slim” or “Dolly,” was arrested on a charge of operating a still. When arraigned before Mayor George B. Smith, Johnson entered a plea of guilty and was fined $200 and costs.

The fine was paid, and he was released. State Prohibition Inspector W. H. Castor was in charge of the liquor squad which made the arrest. He was assisted by Constable Lewis Robinson and Deputy Marshall’s, William Davis, and James Barch. The apparatus, which the officers confiscated, was a cute little eight-gallon capacity, 1923 model, copper, condensing still.

Joe Davis of Piketon, Ohio was also placed under arrest on a charge of interfering with an officer while in the discharge of his duty. He was given a fine of $25 and costs.[10]

Big Still Taken to The Post office

The big copper still seized in the raid last night at the Morris home on twenty-third street was removed to the post office building Thursday afternoon for storage and the device will be an important exhibit in the trial of H. B. Morris and the Walker brothers when their cases come up for trial in the United States court on various charges of violating the provisions of the Volstead law.[11]

Are Held to Grand Jury

Charles Puckett, Sciotoville tinner and Tracy Dodds, Mt. Joy young man, arrested a week ago by U.S. Deputy Marshall J.T. Donovan on warrants issued from the United States District court at Cincinnati charging them with violating the dry laws, were bound over to the U.S. Grand Jury under $2500 bond each by U.S. Commissioner J. F. Johnley Friday when they appeared and waved examination. Both furnished bond and were released from custody.

Barney O’Toole, who was also arrested with Puckett and Dodds, will be given preliminary hearing before Commissioner J.F. Johnley Saturday morning.

Puckett is accused of having constructed the big copper still belong to Ernest Park and others which was seized on the Lyons farm on Long Run a few weeks ago by Federal Agents and Dodds and O’Toole are charged with having participated in the operation of the still in the manufacture of illicit liquor.[12]

Capture Still Near Greenup

Greenup, Ky., June 8 (Special to the Times) – Last night Sheriff Callahan, Deputies Tinsley and Sturgill and Prohibition Enforcement Officer George Biggs of Greenup made a raid in Hensley Hollow on the waters of East Fork and captured a complete 100 gallons of mash.

The still is said to be the most complete ever taken by officers in this county. Officers claim that a man named Hensley and a man named Tacket had been operating the still but that they must have obtained word of their coming for they had deserted the site of the whisky making plant when they arrived after dark, fully expecting to catch the operators of the still at work.[13]

Claim Still Was Found

A woman who registered as Mrs. Mike Kitchen at police headquarters in New Boston Monday was arrested after officers say they found a 15-gallon copper still, two quarts of moonshine and mash in her home, 3920 Stanton avenue. The still was removed to Mayor Newberry’s officers. Kitchen, the officers say will be placed in custody tonight when he completes his day’s work in the Portsmouth Works Wheeling Steel Corporation.[14]

75 Gallon Still Located; Owner is Under Arrest

When Deputy Sheriff’s Elza Canter and Robert Reno went to the Justice home in Morgan township, near Sedan. Monday night a search of the premises resulted in the uncovering of a modern plant for the manufacturing of illicit liquor, the equipment of the young distillery consisting of a 75-gallon capacity copper still, 450 gallons of mash and 12 gallons of the finished product. The mash was destroyed while the equipment and liquor were confiscated and is held as evidence in the trial of the owner, William E. Justice, 33 years old, who was taken into custody and brought to the county jail.[15]

Big Still Discovered; Two Arrests

Vanceburg, Ky., July 20 – Sheriff Frank Lykins and Deputy Sheriff’s Danny Lykins and Smith McGill arrived here Thursday with a 60-gallon copper still, which they secured on the farm of Orville Waggoner, near Petersville, about twenty miles south of here.

They arrested Orville Waggoner and Frank Holler but another confederate escaped. They also destroyed about eight gallons of whiskey; they claim. Deputy Smith McGill took Waggoner and Holler to Covington on the afternoon train and lodged the in the Federal prison to await trial.

Smith McGill, who is one of the regular deputies located the still several days ago, but as there were three in the gang operating it, he did not attempt the arrests alone, but waited to notify Sheriff Frank S. Lykins.

Last night the sheriff properly armed with search warrants and accompanied by Deputy Lykins and Smith McGill went to the place Wednesday night and search all night but failed to find the still till just at daybreak.

They then secreted themselves near the house and when the men showed up, arrested two of them, one getting away. It is thought that the still had been in operation several years.[16]

Man Arrested in Pike County Raid Taken to Chillicothe

Chillicothe, Ohio, August 11 – Harrison Bond, 34 a farmer living within 14 miles of Waverly, was arrested by Federal officers from Columbus. They got 27 gallons of liquor and a 52-gallon copper still. The officers filed charges before L.S. Evans, U.S. Commissioner, here.

It seems that the Federal Officers are desirous of having liquor violators dealt with more severely than a $100 fine, as it is said to be the rule in Pike county courts, hence the bringing of Bond to this city for arraignment in Federal court.

The Federal officers believe that liquor violators are getting “ups” of their activities. They got on their trails and find large quantities of hidden sugar, but the operators are always missing, they say.

Harrison Bond is a brother to Sheridan Bond, who recently went on a rampage at Richmondale recently.[17]

Held to Federal Grand Jury

Harrison Bond, living out in Pebble Township, who was arrested by Federal officers from Columbus and was taken to Chillicothe to face federal charges waived examined when arraigned before United States Commissioner Lyle Evans and was bound over to the Federal Grand Jury under $500 bond.

When the officers raided Bond’s home, they got 27-gallons of liquor and a fifty-two-gallon copper still-Waverly Republican Herald[18]

Big Still Uncovered; Two Arrests Made

A sixty gallon copper still, 800 gallons of mash and eight gallons of the finished product was the net result of a raid made by Deputy Sheriff Elza Canter and Robert Reno, when they visited the Pond Creek section of the West Side yesterday afternoon and caught Hardin Rister, 28 and Charles Jerrell, 18 in the act of operating the whiskey making outfit.

The two prisoners were brought to the county jail where they are held to answer charges of manufacturing illicit liquor, while the seized still and liquor were transported to the sheriff’s office for evidence and the mash was destroyed.

Sheriff Harry M. Dunham stated today that Rister on whose farm the still was found, will be required to meet an additional charge of possession of the illegal liquor making device and that it will be made the subject of investigation of the next Grand Jury. Under a new law, the offense on conviction, is punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary.[19]

Rister Found Guilty of Possessing Still

Harold Rister was brought to trial before Judge Thomas and the petit jury in Common Pleas Court this morning under an indictment charging him with manufacturing distilled liquor. In violation of a new law, the provisions of which make the offense, on conviction, punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary

Deputy Sheriff’s Elza Canter and Robert Reno, the arresting officers, were the principal witnesses for the state. They related of a raid which they staged on the morning of August 28 last, when they visited the head of Pond Run, West Side and told of finding as a result of a search a moonshine making outfit consisting of a fifty-gallon capacity copper still, 10 barrels of mash and some eight or nine gallons of the finished product, together with a large quantity of sugar and yeast, in a hollow, a short distance from the defendant’s home.

The officers state that a fire was under the still and that Rister was there “setting” mash at the time. The finished liquor was found secreted some 150 yards from the still, the officers testified.

Virgil Fowler, a local chemist, testified as to the result of an analysis of a sample of liquor. He stated that the alcoholic content was 58% by volume or more than 100 proof, adding that it was a good grade of “moon.”

The defendant, on the stand in his behalf, denied that he had ever used the outfit found near his home for manufacturing liquor and told a story of having discovered the still where it was found a few days before while hunting his cows. He admitted on cross-examination that he was engaged in “setting” mash at the time of the officers’ visit.

The evidence was brief and Attorney H.L. Small, who defended the accused, waived argument after Prosecutor S.A. Skelton had finished his opening argument for the state, the case going to the jury shortly after 10:00, following the court’s general charge.

The jury, through its foreman, Ralph Mansfield, reported to the court that they were hopelessly divided, but a majority of the jurors were of the opinion that a verdict could be reached which promptly Judge Thomas to send the jury out for lunch and they considered the case further on their return.[20]

Woman, 65, Caught in Raid; Fined; Sent to Greenup Kentucky Jail

Special to the Times Greenup, KY., Oct. 10 – Constable Gabe Callahan of the Seventh District, which includes Russell, KY., sauntered down to Indian Run today, confiscated a copper still, two gallons of the finished product, he says, and arrested a woman giving the name of Mrs. Maggie Craft, aged 65 and a man giving the name of “Dunt” Ray.

Mrs. Craft was found guilty of possessing whiskey illegally when arraigned in Squire Coster’s court and was fined $100 and sent to jail for 30 days. Ray, who was found in Mrs. Craft’s house, was also fined $100 and sent to jail for 30 days. Another man was placed under arrest after the raid, but he made good his escape while on way to the Greenup jail.[21]

Stillers Fined

Waverly, Ohio November 23 – State prohibition officers landed in this city several days ago and made a bee line for Camp Creek township. Along towards evening, they returned with Oscar Riley and J.W. McClay and a 50-gallon copper still. Riley and McClay were arraigned before Mayor Smith entered pleas of guilty and were soaked to the tune of $400 and costs each.[22]

Still Found; Arrest Made

While Game Protector, Frank Voorhels and State Ranger, Frank Krick were patrolling the Roosevelt game preserve yesterday, they discovered a whiskey making plant in operation in the headwater of Pond Creek.

The officers promptly captured a man giving the name of Ben Murphy, 35 years old and seized the outfit, consisting of a 30-gallon capacity copper still, a gallon of the finished product and 10 barrels of mash. The mash was destroyed and the still and other equipment, together with the prisoner, were brought to the county jail where Murphy is held to answer charges of manufacturing distilled liquor.[23]

[1] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Thursday, 18 January 1923, page 2

[2] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Saturday, 27 January 1923, page 6

[3] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Saturday 27 January 1923, page 6

[4] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Saturday 27 January 1923, page 6

[5] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Saturday 8 February 1923, page 12

[6] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Saturday 13 February 1923, page 6

[7] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Tuesday 13 February 1923, page 6

[8] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Monday, 12 March 1923, page 11

[9] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Tuesday 13 March 1923, page 21

[10] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Tuesday13 March 1923, page 3

[11] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Thursday 26 April 1923, page 4

[12] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Friday 27 April 1923, page 19

[13] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Friday 8 June 1923, page 3

[14] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Monday 25 June 1923, page 12

[15] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Tuesday 17 July 1923, page 2

[16] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Friday 20 July 1923, page 9

[17] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Saturday 11 August 1923, page 6

[18] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Friday 17 August 1923, page 17

[19] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Wednesday 29 August 1923, page 3

[20] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio Wednesday 26 September 1923, page 16

[21] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio Wednesday 10 October 1923, page 11

[22] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio Wednesday 23 November 1923, page 6

[23] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio Monday 26 November 1923, page 2