Liquor Laws Defied – January 7, 1921
According to the Gov. Edwin P. Morrow, in an address to the Association of Circuit Judges and Commonwealth Attorneys, moon-shining and bootlegging are rampant in Kentucky, and the violations of the liquor laws are such as to challenge all of the forces of law and order.
"Illicit manufacture and sale of liquor has grown to an appalling extent" he said. There is today a challenge being thrown out to the forces of law and order in Kentucky, he told them, "So far as the sale and manufacture of it is concerned there has never been anything like it before." I ask the Circuit Judges of Kentucky to meet this challenge, I will help in as much as I can. I will go to the utmost of my power fighting this evil and in sustaining you. No man convicted of participating in the whiskey traffic will find any clemency at my hands."
Which shall be supreme in this state, the Law or the Blind Tiger?
(Blind tiger is a place where liquor is sold illegally. This term was popular during the Prohibition Era (1920-33) when alcohol was illegal in the U.S.)
It was also rampant here in our own Marion and Crittenden County. I found many, many items and articles in the old Crittenden Presses telling about the struggle to stop the manufacturing and selling of the bootleg liquor. I’ll share just a few in this post and maybe more in a later post. I find them interesting to read about this era of our past history.
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Crittenden Press, Oct. 2, 1925 – Case Of Booze In Monument Shop?
A supply of alleged liquor, supposedly being stocked for disposal on circus day, was accidentally discovered last Friday night about ten o’clock by Policemen Joe Barnes and Hugh Norris. The officers were doing some sleuthing in the vacant lot behind the marble shop of Henry and Henry and saw Press Hill leave the back door of the shop, it is alleged.
A casual glance revealed to them a dark object in the door and officer Norris turned on his flashlight and saw a man whom he recognized as Kenna Powell just inside the open door by a box that was partly open and the opening displayed some bottles in neat rows, and asked him what he was doing there at that time of the night.
Just at this time it is alleged that Howard Henry walked in and was asked by the officer what was in the box. He is said to have denied any knowledge of the contents. While they were thus engaged in the questioning and replies Kenna Powell made his escape.
The three men were later taken in custody on warrants charging them with illegal possession of liquor, it is said. Hill and Powell were released on $500 bonds each and Henry on his own recognizance. The trio is to appear for trial Saturday.
There is said to have been thirty-two half pints of liquor in the case, which was placed in the custody of County Judge E. Jeffrey Travis.
Oct. 9, 1925 – Jury Orphans The Case of Booze
Last Saturday occurred the trials of the three men charged with the possession of the case of alleged liquor found by Policeman Norris and Barnes on Friday night of the previous week.
Howard Henry was the first on to face the jury and conducted his own defense. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
Press Hill next presented his case to the courts. County Judge E. Jeffrey Travis presiding. He bound the defendant over to the Nov. grand jury.
Kenna Powell was tried before a jury, also conducting his own defense, and the jury was unable to agree, after which the commonwealth dismissed the case.
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April 5, 1929 – Sheriff Bing in "Shiner’s" Plant
County officers who searched the farm of Geo. H. Brooks Tuesday night confiscated and brought to Marion a portion of a still, some "moonshine" liquor and mash which was found concealed in the woods on the Brooks farm.
The raid was made at about midnight by Sheriff P. R. Taylor, Deputy B. F. Walker and Special Deputy C. F. Conger. In addition to the still over two gallons of liquor, about 400 gallons of mash, a quantity of meal and about 500 pounds of sugar were found.
No arrests were made as the still was deserted. It is believed that the owner of the farm did not know that the still was in operation on his place.
The Brooks farm is located on the Mexico and Caldwell Springs road about two and a half miles from Mexico.
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April 22, 1927 – Officers Take 3 Stills and Mash
Sheriff and Deputies Make Raids on Three Stills and Capture One Man
During the past week several stills have been raided in Crittenden County and quantities of mash found in every case.
W. H. Hardesty, justice of the peace in the Tolu magisterial district, together with B. F. Walker, Fred Hill and George Holloman raided the farm of Buckner Croft near Tolu last Friday, April 15, and found a still that had been in recent operation. The still was of forty gallon capacity and with it was found 350 gallons of mash.
No arrests have been made in the case but it is suspected that the moonshiner lives on the other side of the river.
Last Saturday night Sheriff P. R. Taylor with deputy B. F. Walker raided the J. H. King farm near Cookseyville and discovered one gallon whiskey and one hundred gallons of mash. The discovery was made in the woods on the back of the farm and the mash and whiskey was covered with a quantity of cedar brush. No arrest were made.
Sheriff Taylor with Deputy Walker and Chief of Police Hugh Norris located a still in Charlie Bob Sanders’ smokehouse on the Tradewater river Monday night. The still was of thirty-five gallon capacity and with it was found one hundred gallons of mash and five gallons of whiskey.. Sanders was placed under arrest and is now in jail at Marion awaiting trial.