Uncover Big Still on Argonne Road
Acting on a tip Chief of Police Harry Sheets and Officers Goodman, Clowe and McManaway raided a house at 2101 Argonne Road at noon Thursday and uncovered a 75-gallon copper still while it was in operation.
A man who gave his name at the police station as E.R. Newman 43, was arrested and charged with manufacturing whiskey. He was released on a $500 bond for his appearance in Municipal court Friday afternoon at 1:00.
The officers, armed with a search warrant, swooped down on the house from all sides. The still was found in a back room of the second floor, operating full blast, the police say. Water had been piped by hose to the room to cool the coils and the outfit was complete in every detail police say. Two gas burners were used to heat the still.
Besides the still, the officers found 500 gallons of corn mash and six gallons of liquor which had just been run, they claim. The liquor was tested 120 proof. The mash was destroyed, and the rest of the outfit was handed to the police station in a big truck, the outfit attracting much attention.[1]
Norman Will Be Arraigned Saturday
The case of E.R. Norman, 43, charged with the manufacturing of liquor, will be heard in Municipal court Saturday at 9 a.m. Norman was arrested following a raid on his home at 2101 Argonne Road. Police say they found a 75-gallon copper still in operation, six gallons of whiskey, and 500 gallons of mash. Norman was released on a $500 bond for his appearance. The bond was signed by R.W. Heil.
According to police, Norman was implicated several years ago in the theft of liquor from the home of J.A. Stevens at Mt. Joy. He was later exonerated and released.[2]
Workmen Uncover Moonshine
Service Director John Lynn on Friday ordered the water works department to seal the 14-inch main from the old water works on Mill Street, which gave way during the recent high water and caused quite a bit of trouble. Workmen in getting bricks from a nearby brick pile with which to do the work uncovered five gallons of moonshine whiskey. They did not bother the liquor and claimed that some young man took the five-gallon job and vanished like a Billy Burns detective.[3]
Still is Found; An Arrest Made
Vanceburg, Kentucky, February 7 – A raiding party composed of Sheriff Smith McGill, Deputy Sheriff Edgar Sullivan, Deputy Sheriff Chester Gillam, and Deputy Commodore Pollitt entered the district known as the Schoolhouse Branch of Laurel Creek, 30 miles south of here, near the Rowan county line, where they found the largest still ever taken in these parts.
A 90-gallon copper still, copper thump keg, ox-bow worm, 500-gallons of mash, and three dozen one-half gallon Mason jars were confiscated and destroyed. Sheriff McGill said it was the most complete outfit he had ever found. The alleged owner, Lewis Jordan, 35, was arrested when he came to the still with an arm full of wood, ready to start the operation. Before Magistrate Dennis Stamper of Emerson, he gave a bond of $500 for his appearance before the Grand Jury here.[4]
Five Ohio Dry Raiders Charged with Murder
Accused of Shooting Lawrence County Farmer; Sheriff Finds No Liquor Evidence
Ironton, Ohio, March 12 – While Sheriff White was searching the farm of Robert Ellis, 26, Lawrence County, Ohio, farmer who died Friday night in a Huntington hospital after being fatally shot, five dry raiders charged with first-degree murder were at liberty today on a bond of $5,000 each.
Ellis, according to Sheriff White, with William Hawthorne, was cleaning spraying barrels for his orchard when the raiders appeared. Upon their approach, Hawthorne and Ellis ran when the raiders shot. Ellis fell with four pistol bullets and one charge of buckshot in his head and body.
The raiders, Meldon Neff, Rome Township; Charles Gorbey, Carl Bowen, John Lanthorn, and Jess Forgerger, all of Proctorville, were released on bond by Common Pleas Judge Jones after Justice of the Peace P. A. Burke had bound the men over to the grand jury charged with first-degree murder without bond.
Relatives of Ellis declare there were no liquor or liquor manufacturing devices on the farm, and Sheriff White reported he could find no evidence of a law violation though the officers told Justice of the Peace Burke they had destroyed several barrels of corn mash, he said.[5]
Seize Complete Still Outfit
Huntington, WV – April 22 – A complete still outfit except for the copper form was found by the Huntington unit of Federal Prohibition Agents working at Big Woods, Greenup county, Kentucky. The stand included 2,200 gallons of mash, 30 fermenters, a copper still cap, a pressure tank, two burner heads, and 100 feet of three-inch rubber hose. The still cap was brought to the headquarters office and the rest destroyed.[6]
Uncover a 400 Gallon Still Near Franklin Furnace, Ohio
The Huntington Herald Dispatch says:
A 400-gallon copper still with an estimated capacity of 100 gallons of moonshine a day was captured Tuesday by the Huntington unit of Federal Prohibition Agents near Franklin Furnace, Scioto county, Ohio. No arrests have been made.
The still was complete and was running when found by the officers. A stream of corn liquor was pouring from the still, the agents said. The operators had departed not more than five minutes before the agents arrived, it was believed. A wood fire was burning.
It was believed by the officers that practically the entire output of the plant was marketed in Huntington. The outfit was set up in an old log house a few yards from the Scioto river paved road, State Route 7 and it was learned that the operators had rented the house last December. The house stands in the open countryside in plain view of the highway.
About 20 gallons of whiskey and 2,000 gallons of mash were taken. The plant included 39 60-gallon fermenters, a pressure pump, and various other articles to correspond. The still, which weighed about 100 pounds without the hood, was brought to Huntington in the agent’s car and carrying it to the Federal building Tuesday night, a crowd formed to see a second moonshine still exhibition of the day. At noon Tuesday, a dozen stills were destroyed on Government Square.[7]
Uncover Still; Arrests Are Made
Vanceburg, Kentucky – June 6 – Sheriff Smith McGill, with Deputies Commodore Pollitt and Chester A. Gillam uncovered a big copper still on the Nolen Fork of Laurel, late last night and destroyed 12 gallons of new moonshine whiskey. They arrested George Horsley and Dick Nolen whom they alleged had possession of the still. The pair was lodged in jail here until they will be arraigned before the Grand Jury to answer charges of having in their possession unlawfully a moonshine still.[8]
Alleged Stiller Under Arrest
Caught red-handed operating a still it is claimed Frank Bender, 21 years old was taken into custody at Bonser Run, back of Sciotoville, Ohio, by Ray Brown and Steve Dixon, Prohibition Enforcement Officers, and Deputy Sheriff Green Willis Monday night. The whiskey-making outfit was seized including a 30-gallon copper still, six barrels of mash, and three gallons of the finished product. Bender was brought to the county jail where he is held to meet a charge of manufacturing distilled liquor.[9]
Youth Shot During Raid Staged in Lawrence County
Ironton, June 28 — Howard Brammer, son of Jess Brammer, of Greasy Ridge, was committed to the county jail, the result of a raid conducted at the Brammer home. As a result of the raid young Brammer was shot through the leg and taken to the Marting hospital. According to the story told by officers this morning, numerous complaints have been received concerning the Brammer residence at Greasy Ridge.[10]
Moonshine in Assorted Flavors Latest; Big Still Uncovered
Vanceburg, Kentucky, July 21 – It looks quite probable that in the near future one can get their moonshine in assorted flavors.
At any rate, Federal Agent W.C. Manning, Sheriff McGill, and Deputy Commodore Pollitt discovered 3 ½ gallons flavored with birch, when they captured a 60-gallon copper still on Laurel Creek yesterday near Grassy Fork.
It was the fines outfit ever taken in the county; the officers declare. A warrant was sworn out for the alleged owners, whose identity the officers refused to divulge.[11]
Stage Raids in Lewis County, Kentucky
Vanceburg, Kentucky July 29 – Federal Officer W.C. Manning, Sheriff Smith McGill, and Deputy Commodore Pollett have returned from a five-day moonshine raid through different sections of the county.
On Bedford Branch near Head of Grassy yesterday they arrested Andrew Stephens when they discovered two barrels of blackberry mash, two barrels of meal mash, and a furnace outfit. He was released on bond to appear before the Federal Court.
On the same branch a thirty-gallon copper still, three barrels of mash and a complete outfit were taken, and a warrant was issued for the alleged owner.
While officers were in a distant section of the county Tuesday, Claude Queen, prominent farmer and merchant of Queen’s on Quick’s river, telephoned for the officers to come to his place and get still. Not being able to locate it, he swore out a warrant for Charlies Smith, whom Deputies Leon Hendrickson arrested when he found some mash alleged to belong to him, located on Mr. Queen’s farm. He was brought here and lodged in jail. Smith denies his guilt.[12]
Uncover Still on West Side
County officers swooped down upon a red-hot still in operation in Carey’s Run section Friday night, but the owners of the outfit discovered the officers as they approached and made good their escape. The raiders seized a 50-gallon copper still, five barrels of mash, and two gallons of the finished product.[13]
Dry Officer Is Seriously Burned
Mat. C. Wilson federal dry agent, of Ironton and formerly located here with federal and US prohibition agents, is in a serious condition. In the Kessler-Hatfield hospital at Huntington, as the result of burns sustained Thursday afternoon at about two o’clock while destroying a still near Bradrick on Greasy Ridge road near Proctorville, Lawrence county.
Wilson was badly burned about the face and hands and it is thought that he inhaled some of the flames, making his condition critical. The officers dismantled the still and in doing so some of the gasoline leaked out on the inside of the dugout.
After piling all the outfits inside the dugout, one of the men struck a match and fired the grass on the outside. The flames reached the inside of the dugout and an explosion resulted when the gasoline was reached. Wilson was standing directly in the path of the explosion and was badly burned. His clothing caught fire, but the fellow officers smothered out the fire before it reached his body.
Federal Agent Roy Gates was burned in the explosion. He was taken to the hospital but was able to leave a short time later. Wilson was rushed to the hospital in Huntington, WV. His condition was reported as critical last night. Wilson is well known in Portsmouth, Ohio, as he worked in this district for several months. He is a cousin of C.H. Hutchinson, a local state prohibition inspector. Wilson is a former Lawrence county, Ohio sheriff.[14]
[1] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 3 February 1927, page 15
[2] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 4 February 1927, page 2
[3] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 4 February 1927, page 2
[4] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 3 February 1927, page 9
[5] The Marion Star, Marion, Ohio 12 March 1927 page 10
[6] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 22 April 1927, page 14
[7] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 25 May 1927, page 3
[8] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 6 June 1927, page 24
[9] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 21 June 1927, page 14
[10] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 28 June 1927, Tuesday page 13
[11] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 21 July 1927, page 3
[12] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 29 July 1927, page 21
[13] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 20 August 1927, page 8
[14] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, Friday, 28 October 1927, page 13
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