Still Found in Hilltop Home
State Prohibition Officers Farmer, Hutchinson, Brown, and Traffic Officer Goodman, late Monday, raided the home of Herman Gabler 25, at 1637? Kinney’s Lane and unearthed a twenty-five-gallon copper still of the wash boiler type, 20 pounds of sugar, two full five-gallons kegs of moonshine, and one five-gallon keg partly full. Gabler was arrested and charged with possessing liquor and possessing property designed for the manufacturing of liquor.
According to the police, Gabler insisted that they still belonged to his wife. The police had been shadowing Gabler for some time and his arrest caused much to comment on the Hilltop. Gabler is an N&W employee.[1]
Riley Held to Grand Jury
Vanceburg, Ky., Feb. 2 – In county court, Hon. W.T. Stone presiding. Henry Dixon, alias Smokey, was found guilty of having whiskey unlawfully in his possession and was fined $100 and 30 days in jail. His partner, Lafe Carrington, now serving a similar sentence in the county jail.
John Riley, who resides in the state of Indiana, was bound over to the Grand Jury in the sum of $500 on a charge of forging a check on John Lewis, the dealer, and Boone Harris.[2]
Uncover Still
In a raid, last night, Chief of Police Sheets, Officers Godman and Clowe, and State Officers Farmer and Hutchinson uncovered a 25-gallon copper still near Sciotoville. Clarence Anderson, 21, and Lykens Henry, 15 were arrested.
In Municipal court Thursday, the case of Lykens was continued until Friday, February 12. The Henry lad was dismissed.[3]
Officers Interrupt Sale; Dixon Fined
A fine of $100 and costs war imposed against Jack Dixon, 22 years old, of 2001? Gallia street, by Squire O.R. Foster, Tuesday under his plea of guilty to possession of liquor unlawfully.
Dixon was taken into custody at the Terminals yesterday afternoon by Detective B.C. Vick just as he was in the act of making a sale of a half pint of moonshine liquor, the officer claimed. Dixon was remanded to jail in default of payment of the fine.[4]
Find Still; Owner Fined
William Collison, 60 arrested in a raid on his property in Hygean? Run, near Union Mills, was found guilty in Municipal court Friday of possessing a still and was fined $500 and costs.
State Officers Hutchinson, Farmer, Brown, and Davis composed the raiding party and confiscated a 200-gallon copper still and a dozen barrels of corn mush, they said.[5]
Unearth a Real Underground Distillery
Huntington, WV, February 22 – An ingenious underground moonshine plant, almost impregnable against discovery, was unearthed early yesterday by Federal Prohibition Agents Homer Joy and Mack. B. Lilly, assisted by city police, in the backyard of the residence of George France, 44 years old, 1702 Williams avenue.
Gaining entrance to the underground distilling chamber only after nearly four hours of strenuous labor required in pounding through an 18-inch concrete roofing over the chamber, the raiders found a 40-gallon copper still, complete in every detail, three 50-gallon barrels of mash and a small quantity f moonshine liquor.
France, who has served a two-year sentence in Atlanta for moonshining, was placed under arrest as the operator of the plant and was located in the federal department of the city jail.[6]
Courthouse Error Case Submitted
The suit of A.A. Ehoodin and Davis Cohen against the State of Ohio, on an error from the Municipal Court, was submitted to Judge Thomas in Common Pleas court yesterday afternoon on the record and the arguments of counsel.
The case grew out of a raid staged last October on the establishment of Ehoodin and Cohen at 210 Market street by State Prohibition Inspectors and their subsequent conviction in Municipal court for possession of property designed for the manufacture of intoxicating liquor in violation of law in way of malt, hops, barley, bottles, caps, kegs, jars and other articles used in the manufacturing of intoxicating liquor, especially home brew, which constituted a part of the stock of merchandise in their store.[7]
Gun Play Fails to Halt Alleged Stillers in Pike County, Ohio
Piketon, Ohio, February 23 – (Times Bureau) – Although raid after raid has been made and pay dirt has been struck, Camp Creek township continues to give forth more than her share of mash and liquor.
Wednesday afternoon, State Prohibition Officers S.D. Curtis and C.A. Lucas, accompanied by Marshall C.B. Murphy and Detective Charles Miller of Waverly, Ohio, visited Camp Creek township to look over the ground for possible offenders of the liquor laws.
As the officers approached the James Slones? home near the Joseph Riley place, they saw two men crossing the road toward Sloan’s home and carrying a large copper still. The officers left their car and when the two men discovered them, they deposited the still in the rear of Slones? home and started on a run into the woods.
Officers Lucas and Murphy gave chase and when the men refused to halt, the officers fired several shots, but these only served to quicken the pace of the men who led the officers two miles into the Ganderhook neighborhood. The officers lost the trail in the thickly wooded section. One man lost his hat on the flight.
While Officers Lucas and Murphy were on the chase, Officers Curtis and Miller searched Sloan’s home and in the cellar claim, they found eight barrels of mash, ripe enough for the still. The top parts of the still-found back of the Slone? the home was found on Oscar Riley place. Oscar Riley is the son of Joseph Riley. The officers left word with Joseph Riley to have Slone? a report in Mayor Charles P. Gableman’s court at Waverly, Ohio. They will make further investigation of the ownership of the still and part found on the Oscar Riley place.
The raiding party then went to the Ganderhook community and on Wild Range found part of a still and five barrels of mash. They will make further investigations here in an effort to locate the owners of the property.[8]
Huge Still Uncovered; Arrests Made
Piketon, Ohio, March 4 – Ira LeGrand, in the toils of the law several times since the prohibition law went into effect, and alleged to be an ace in the moonshine business in Union township, fell into the clutches of the law again Wednesday when Federal Officer G.W. Davis, State Officers S.D. Curtis, C.A. Lucas, and Waverly Officers Murphy, Miller, and Noel paid a visit to the vicinity of the LaGrand farm.
The officers were but a short distance from LeGrand’s home when they discovered LeGrand and John Frederick in the woods enjoying what the officers termed a social drink, the officers say.
They arrested the pair and while Officers Murphy and Noel took the men to the LeGrand home the remaining officers made a search of the woods. They first uncovered a half-gallon container with a pint of ‘shine in it and a few minutes later found concealed in the heavy underbrush a 100-gallon copper still, a two-inch coil, and four barrels of mash.
LeGrand and Frederick were taken to Waverly, where they were arraigned before Mayor Charles P. Gableman. Frederick entered a plea of guilty to charges of possessing moonshine and possessing a still. On the first charge, he was fined $200 and costs. LeGrand entered a plea of not guilty to possessing moonshine and he was released on $500 bond with the date of the trial set for March 25.[9]
Alleged Stiller Strikes for Higher Wages; Fight Ensues; Arrests Follow in Pike County, Ohio
Waverly, Ohio, March 4 – (Times Bureau) – A strike for higher wages by an alleged member of the moonshiners union in Pike and Ross counties, led to the arrest of Frank Stumbo at his home in Huntington township, Ross county, on a charge of possessing articles designed for the manufacturing of liquor.
On Monday afternoon, one Floyd Wilson, also of Huntington township, Ross county, came to Waverly, Ohio, and sought out State Prohibition Officers F.C. Curtis and C.A. Lucas and informed them that Stumbo, who lives in Ross county, Ohio, has a farm leased in East Jackson township, Pike county, Ohio, where Wilson alleged that Stumbo carries on the manufacturing of illicit liquor.
According to Wilson’s story, Stumbo wanted him to go to his farm in East Jackson township, Pike county, Monday afternoon to run off a quantity of liquor, and when he asked for a fee for his services in excess of the prevailing wage scale paid by manufacturers of moonshine, the two engaged in a quarrel which ended in a fist fight in which the principals were both pretty badly beaten up.
Wilson feeling rather sore, both in mind and body, as a result of their fistic encounter, came to Waverly, Ohio, and unburdened his mind to the state officers. He was placed in the county jail for future reference and State Officers F.C. Curtis and C.A. Lucas, Sheriff William Anderson, Marshall C.B. Murphy, Detective Charles Miller, and Officer Orme Noel, went to the farm in Jackson township, where Wilson alleged that Stumbo carried on his operations, where they found five barrels of mash, ready for use, concealed in a poultry house. They also found twenty-one barrels, which had contained mash, concealed in a hollow near an abandoned house on the farm.
The officers concealed themselves about the premises and when night fell, Earl Sanders appeared on the scene in a Ford truck, which contained a quantity of material designed for the manufacturing of liquor.
He was placed under arrest by Sheriff Anderson and Marshall Murphy. Officers Miller and Noel took the prisoner in custody and drove the truck to Waverly, while the other officers remained to destroy the mash and barrels Sanders made an affidavit against Stumbo and the information furnished by him led to a raid by the same officers at Stumbo’s home in Ross county.
When the officers arrived at Stumbo’s home, they found Stumbo’s wife and mother-in-law who said that he was not at home, While the other officers were searching the premises and woods near the Stumbo home for illicit property, Marshall Murphy found Stumbo hiding under the bed.
In the meantime, Detective Charles Miller brought a neighbor of Stumbo’s to the house for safekeeping so that he would not tip off any other violators who might be in the neighborhood. This man and Stumbo were left in the custody of Officers Miller and Noel while the other officers continued their search of the premises.
Buried in a dugout, under a quantity of debris they found a 300-gallon capacity copper still which is said to be the largest one ever captured in this vicinity. They also found a number of empty jugs and containers but not liquor.
Stumbo was taken to Waverly, Ohio, where he was arraigned before Mayor Charles P. Gableman on a charge of possessing articles designed for the manufacturing, viz, the five barrels of mash which were found by the officers at Stumbo’s farm in East Jackson township, Pike county.
He entered a plea of guilty and was fined $500 and the costs which he was unable to pay and was remanded to the county jail. When Stumbo gains his freedom in Pike county, he will be tried by Ross county on a charge of possessing articles designed for the manufacturing of liquor, viz, the 300-gallon still that the officers captured at his home in Ross county.[10]
Stephenson Trial Tomorrow at Oak Hill, Ohio
Special to the Times – Jackson, Ohio, March 4 – S.E. Stephenson, a prominent local citizen will be given a trial Friday at 10 a.m. before Mayor Roscoe Kern of Oak Hill. He faces a charge of possessing whisky illegally, the arrest being made following a raid state officers recently staged on Stephenson’s summer Home, Wasatake, near here.
The trial will be held in the Odd Fellows’ Hall and is expected to attract a large crowd.
Stephenson was arrested by State Prohibition Agent, S.A. Propst, who has been under fire the past ten days. He will be defended by Attorney Joseph McGhee of Columbus and the former Attorney General of Ohio.[11]
Woman Still Owner Fined
Zella Hooper, 40 was fined $100 and costs for possessing liquor and $100 and costs for possessing property designed for the manufacture of liquor when arraigned in Municipal Court Monday. She was arrested in a raid on her home at 2138 Jackson street, Sunday afternoon by Chief of Police Harry Sheets and Officer Clowe, and State Prohibition Officers Farmer. Hutchinson and Brown. A quantity of liquor, mash, and a 50-gallon copper still was confiscated.[12]
Lewis County, Kentucky Man Faces Serious Charge
Vanceburg, Ky., March 30 – Deputy Sheriff Chester Gillam arrested Fielden Stone yesterday, wanted by both county and Federal authorities, on a charge of shooting with an attempt to kill Federal Prohibition Agent W.C. Manning during a whiskey raid last Thanksgiving. On the way to jail here, Stone attempted to escape by leaping from the car, which was running about 30 miles an hour, suffering a dislocated ankle.
Deputy Gillam also brought in a 60-gallon copper still, a 10-gallon keg of moonshine whiskey, and 8 barrels of mash.[13]
Dry Officer is Re-Instated
Waverly, Ohio, April 9 – Officer Fred C. Curtiss who was suspended about a month ago by Governor A.V. Donahey celebrated his reinstatement and return to Pike county Wednesday when being in company with Sheriff William Anderson and State Prohibition Officer C.A. Lucas made a raid in Benton township Wednesday afternoon and unearthed a forty-gallon copper still on the premises of Levi Leeth, who lives between Buchanan and Morgantown.
Leeth was brought to Waverly and given a temporary arraignment before Mayor Charles P. Gablman on a charge of possessing articles designed for the manufacture of liquor. Leeth admitted that he owned the land on which the still was found, but firmly denied the ownership of the still. He will be tried later upon the return of Officers Lucas and Curtis who were called to Athens Thursday on business. The officers claim that this is Leeth’s second offense.[14]
Proctorville, Ohio, April 17-On being released under bond on an assault charge with intent to kill, Berkley Morris was re-arrested on a charge of dynamiting the home of William Jones, town marshal. The marshal’s activities against bootleggers are assigned by police as the motive for the bombing. No one was injured. Greenville Daily Advocate, Greenville, Ohio 17 April 1926, Saturday, page 1
Proctorville, Ohio Man Sentenced
Earl Lemley, 30 years old, Proctorville, Ohio, appeared before US District Judge Smith Hickenlooper and entered a plea of guilty under a piece of a criminal information charging him with having possessed and transported whisky in violation of the Volstead Act. He was fined $100 and sentenced to serve 60 days in Miami County Jail on the transportation charge. His automobile was ordered confiscated.
The court was informed that authorities here had received a number of complaints against Lemley from residents of Lawrence County, Ohio and that Frank W. Rickey, Portsmouth, Ohio, a former Federal prohibition agent, had been sent to investigate. He caused the arrest of Lemley, it was stated, after Lemley had arranged to sell him a half gallon of moonshine for $8.
Lemley is said to be the son of a Proctorville, Ohio, businessman. [16]
Ohio Town Has Another Blast – Poolroom Destroyed at Proctorville, Ohio – Sixth Bombing in Past Year.
Village rocked by two explosions that destroyed L. D. Edwards’s poolroom adjoining the town hall. No one was hurt but Special Officer Ward Shaffer and Bert Smith, who lives across the street from the poolroom, were knocked down and stunned. This was the 6th bldg. to be dynamited in this community in a little more than a year. The outrages are believed due to a feud between moonshiners and officers.
Dynamite Blast
Wrecks Ohioans Store – “Neutral in Wet-Dry Fight,” Proctorville, Ohio Proprietor Declares
Ironton, Ohio, June 30 – The second dynamiting within the last five days took place at Proctorville, Ohio, near here, early today. The pool and lunchroom conducted by Dewey Edward were nearly demolished by two blasts.
Edwards said he no motive for the act, as he “always has been neutral in the fight between dry law violators and enforcement officers.
The Edwards building adjoins the Mayor’s office of the village. The Ben Beckett hardware store was dynamited early last Saturday morning and almost demolished. [17]
Find Still
Prohibition enforcement officers and deputies from the Lawrence county, Ohio, sheriff’s office, made a raid into the Proctorville, Lawrence county, Ohio, section Wednesday night, looking for evidence in the connection with the dynamiting of a store in that village sometime ago. No arrests were made, but the prohibition men captured a 70-gallon still.
Making the raids were inspectors Hutchinson, Brown, and Farmer of the state department and Federal Agent Davis.[18]
Uncover Still; Arrest Made
Vanceburg, Kentucky, August 26 – Federal Prohibition Officer W.C. Manney, Sheriff Smith McGill, and Deputy Commodore Pollitt are again in the midst of a moonshine raid.
Two outfits are reported so far, the first being a 50-gallon copper still, and 3 barrels of mash, which officers allege belong to Wesley McCleese, whom they arrested and brought to jail here. This outfit was found on the head of Indian creek, near the Rowan county line.
On Laurel, the officers found the largest still house ever uncovered so far, a well-built house, 14 feet square, with a first-class rubber roof, the door fastened with a Yale lock. Eleven barrels of mash, ready to use were within.[19]
Crime in a Verse
Hedrick has told about the crime in verse, according to Chief of Police Roush, Pomeroy, who said he received a letter from the condemned man, which contained the following:
Poor little Shorty Bryant with a jug in a sack
Is going to a barbecue and not coming back,
Here is Richard Rhoades and his old copper still,
Who made good moonshine at the old rolling mill?
Here is John Hedrick, poor darned fool,
Who deserted wife and babies to join the wild crew,
And now must pay with the other what the law’s due[20]
Three Alleged Stillers Forfeit Bonds
Three men giving the names of Elza and Victor Porter and Stephen Mauck were arrested near Scioto Furnace last Saturday on a charge of having property designed for the manufacture of liquor in their possession. A hundred-gallon copper still was confiscated and is now in the office of Squire C.O. Davis of New Boston, Ohio. The three men posted bonds of $200 each with Squire Davis for an appearance in his court Wednesday. They failed to appear, and their bonds were declared forfeited.[21]
Alleged Stiller Placed in Jail
Vanceburg, Kentucky, Sept. 16 – Yesterday local officers accompanied by Jailer George Sparks went to Happy Hollow where Sheriff McGill, at last, came upon Sherman Wilson at his still, which was in full operation.
Not wanting to have to hurt the man, the sheriff watched the operations for more than an hour, before he finally managed to signal to the other officers. When they came up, Wilson was surrounded and placed under arrest. Five gallons of new whiskey, 150 gallons of mash, and a 25-gallon copper still were captured and confiscated. Wilson was lodged in jail here, afterward given bond in the sum of $500 to appear in Circuit Court next week.[22]
Second Gun Battle in Green Township
A gun battle Federal and State Prohibition Officers had with operators of a moonshine still in the eastern part of the county was the second of the past few days in Green township.
Moonshiners and constables in search of liquor law violators engaged in a gun battle at the head of Pine Creek several days ago. Constables Dan Cullum and Tom Tibbs of New Boston, Ohio, and John Dutiel of Bloom township had a narrow escape from being wounded.
It was late in the afternoon when the raiding officers approached the reported hiding place of the still. Without warning, shotguns started to fire, and small shots hailed around the officers who drew their revolvers and fired in the direction of the shotgun reports. The moonshiners used shotguns and no doubt were beyond the reach of revolver fire.
The officers continued their search after the exchange of shots and located a 75-gallon copper still and 45 barrels of mash, which were destroyed.[23]
Arrests Follow Series of Raids in Lewis County, Kentucky
Vanceburg, Kentucky, November 25 – A moonshine raid in the back end of the county was staged yesterday by Federal Prohibition Officer W.C. Manning, Sheriff Smith McGill, Deputy Commodore Pollitt, and Deputy Sheriff Vester Parker, Robert Hinton, Henderson and Crawford of Fleming county, who arrested seven Lewis Countians who had moved across the Lewis and Flemming county line one half a mile near Ryan Post Office. The officers apparently struck a hotbed this trip as all the operations were within a radius of one mile.
Eli Stedam and Trace Smith were the first apprehended with a 40-gallon copper still, 13 barrels of mash, and 400 pounds of sugar. Finding the still before daybreak the officers lay in wait until the two appeared and began operations when they were taken into custody and sent to Flemingsburg where they were lodged in jail.
Fred Stacy and another man given his last name as Ratliff were next captured with a 50-gallon still, seven barrels of mash, and four gallons of moonshine whiskey. They were sent to the Flemingsburg jail.
Not far on, they arrested John Rankin who had a 40-gallon still, seven barrels of mash, and seven gallons of whiskey, and who also was sent to the Flemingsburg jail.
Perry Price was next apprehended with a 50-gallon still and six barrels of mash and was taken to Flemingsburg.
Next was discovered a brand new 50-gallon still which had never had a fire under it which officers alleged belonged to Bill Hardy who it was later learned had gone to Maysville that morning. A warrant will be issued for him.
Two more still sites one with two barrels of apple mash for the stilling of apple brandy and another with six barrels of meal mash were destroyed but officers could not designate the owners.
According to officers all the men arrested will be arraigned in Federal Court at Catlettsburg.[24]
Not Sly Enough
William Sly, arrested in the rear of 1216 Front Street, will face a possession charge in Municipal court Monday afternoon. He was arrested in a raid on his place by Chief of Police Harry Sheets and Officer Templeman Thursday afternoon. The officers alleged they found eight half-pints of moonshine whiskey.[25]
Raid West End Hotel
Federal Officers Brown and Davis and State Officers Hutchinson and Farmer, armed with a number of search warrants, swooped down on the St. John’s Hotel, Third and Market streets, Thursday afternoon and gave the famous rendezvous the once over. It is alleged that the officers found several half-pints of moonshine in the basement of the hotel and several in various roo
[1] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 2 February 1926, page 11
[2] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 2 February 1926, page 11
[3] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 4 February 1926, page 11
[4] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 4 February 1926, page 11
[5] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 5 February 1926, page251
[6] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 22 February 1926, page 4
[7] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 2 March 1926, page 11
[8] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 4 March 1926, page 3
[9] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio 4 March 1926, page 3
[10] Portsmouth Daily Time, Portsmouth, Ohio, Thursday 4 March 1926, page 3
[11] Portsmouth Daily Time, Portsmouth, Ohio, Thursday 4 March 1926, page 3
[12] Portsmouth Daily Time, Portsmouth, Ohio, Monday 29 March 1926, page 10
[13] Portsmouth Daily Time, Portsmouth, Ohio, Tuesday 30 March 1926, page 10
[14] Portsmouth Daily Time, Portsmouth, Ohio, Friday 9 April 1926, page 10
[16] Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio 21 Apr 1926, Wednesday, page 11
[17] The Cincinnati Enquirer, Thursday, 1 July 1926, page 1
[18] Portsmouth Times, Portsmouth, Ohio 23 July 1926
[19] Portsmouth Daily Time, Portsmouth, Ohio, 26 August 1926, page 19
[20] Portsmouth Daily Time, Portsmouth, Ohio, 2 September 1926, page 3
[21] Portsmouth Daily Time, Portsmouth, Ohio, 8 September 1926, page 13
[22] Portsmouth Daily Time, Portsmouth, Ohio, 16 September 1926, page 19
[23] Portsmouth Daily Time, Portsmouth, Ohio, 18 November 1926, page 13
[24] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio Thursday, 25 November 1926, page 2
[25] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 26 November 1926, page 23
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