Twenty to Go on Trial in Bootlegging
Hundreds of Gallons of Moonshine Being Made in Two States, Claim
Huntington, WV- December 10.—(AP)—The joint trial of 20 persons accused of conspiracy to violate the Federal liquor laws entered its second day with the assistant district attorney, John W. Hereford declaring that, “hundreds of gallons of whiskey” were transported into Huntington from stills in Kentucky and Ohio.
Six others scheduled to be tried in “the largest trial from the standpoint of a number of defendants involved” in the history of the Huntington Federal court were permitted to change their pleas from innocent to guilty. Fifteen of the 42 defendants have been apprehended.
Defense Counsel Philip A. Baer said that witnesses would deny conspiracy while Hereford asserted that the liquor was transported to Huntington in trucks and ferried across the Ohio River from Lawrence County, Ohio.
Locations of the stills, as cited by Hereford, were Boyd County, Ky, near Proctorville, Ohio, on a farm in Rome Township, Lawrence County; near Reeves Creek, Lawrence County, and near Scottown, Ohio.
Listed as other “Ohio outfits” were the “Turley Still” near Jackson Hill. Lawrence County, and the “Hessom Farm Outfit’’ near Greasy Ridge. Washington Court House, Ohio.[1]
MOONSHINE
Flows to Huntington From Ohio and Kentucky, Aid of District Attorney Says a Trial of 20 Persons.
Huntington, WV – December 9 -(AP) Twenty people, being tried jointly on charges of having conspired to violate the Federal liquor laws were accused today of having transported “hundreds of gallons of moonshine whisky” into Huntington from stills in Kentucky and Ohio.
John W. Hereford, United States District Attorney’s assistant, made the charge at the start of the “largest trial from the standpoint of a number of defendants involved” in the history of the Huntington Federal Court.
Six others scheduled to be tried were permitted to change their pleas from innocent to guilty, and 15 of the 42 defendants have not been apprehended. Hereford asserted the liquor was transported to Huntington in trucks or ferried across the Ohio River from Lawrence County, Ohio.
Philip A. Baer of counsel for the defense said witnesses would deny conspiracy. Hereford said the stills were located in Boyd County, Ky., near Proctorville, Ohio, on a farm in Rome Township, Lawrence County, near Reeves Creek, Lawrence County, and another near Scottown, Ohio.
Other “Ohio outfits” he listed as the “Turley still.” near Jackson Hill, Lawrence County, and the “Hossom farm outfit” near Greasy Ridge, which he charged was operated by persons who rented a farm for the purpose.
Hereford disclosed that “from 14 to 16 automobiles” he said were engaged in running the non-tax paid liquor produced by the ring Into Huntington between June 1938, and October 1940, had been seized. Washington C.H. Record-Herald 10 Dec 1940 p1
Trio Free of Liquor Counts When Slate Closes Case in Huntington Court
Defense Motion for Release Of 17 Other Defendants Is Overruled at Trial
Huntington, WV – December 16 (AP) Federal Judge Harry E. Watkins dismissed charges of conspiracy to violate the liquor laws against three of 20 persons on trial as the government closed its case today in the prosecution of alleged participants in a three-state liquor ring.
On motion of Charles M. Love, Jr, Assistant United States District Attorney, the court released Clovis Adkins, Denver Harmon, and Granville Brammer, all of near Greasy Ridge, Lawrence County, Ohio.
Judge Watkins overruled, however, a motion by defense counsel for directed acquittal of the remaining defendants, and the defense will start its case tomorrow-seventh day of the trial which, is expected to last the rest of the week.
Defense attorneys emphasized that their request for acquittal applied only to the 17 remaining on trial, and not to 15 others indicted in the case, but not apprehended. Six other defendants pleaded guilty before the trial started.
For the first time since the trial started, the cost of moonshine liquor to customers of the bootleggers the government charges were supplied by the ring, was disclosed.
Dave Larkins, who resumed the stand at the start of today’s half-day court session, said he sold “small drinks” for 10 cents and received 60 cents a pint, or $4.80 a gallon.
Previous witnesses, among them, several charged with transporting liquor to Huntington from stills in Lawrence County, Ohio, and Boyd County, Kentucky, said they paid from $1.50 to $2.75 a gallon.
Elmer Phifer, an agent for the Federal alcohol tax unit, testified that he had confiscated 15 of the 27 automobiles seized from members of the ring and that he had participated in raids against a dozen or more stills in the two counties. Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 Dec. 1940, page2
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