The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-28
KING OF MooNsHINERs DEAD.
Jenkins Made More Contraband
 Whisky Than Any Other Man.

From the New York Press.
 B. Oliver Jenkins of York county, South Carolina, died the other day very sud- denly. "Old Man" Jenkins was known as the King of Moonshiners." He made and sold probably more contrabrand whisky than any other moonshiner in Western South Carolina and that is saying a good deal. At his death Jenkins was 5S years old. He made moonshine whisky for more than 40 years and derived fortune from it sale, as it is estimated that he was worth at least $200,000
 Jenkins began the illegal manufacture of whisky in York county, South Carolina, shortly after the Civil war It wasn't long till the revenue officers were after him. They kept after him for years, but Jenkins never was brought to punishment. He shipped contrabrand liquor all over the country for more than fifteen years, and the revenues never succeeded in catching him. But in the course of time it was recognized that Old Man Jenl<lns's whisky was creating a wild. lawless ele- ment in the community which made trou- ble at every opportunity. Finally, York county came to have such a bad name that the better class of people saw that something would have to be done. A con ference of the leading men of the com munty was held committee was ap- pointed which sought out Jenkins and quietly but firmly told him either to quit making whisky get out of the state and stay out. Jenkins knew the men who did the talking and he did not doubt that they meant what they said. He got out He moved to Cleveland county, North Carolina. and built an immense distllery exactly on the line between the states of North and South Carolina
 The part that this state line has play ed in the history of Carolina moonshin- CTS would fill a book. Whenever they
 of either state they made for the state line, which they straddled and defed the arms of the law on either hand. In effect, the moonshiners made use of the state line as If it were rubber band, and stretch ed and twisted 1t to suit their own ends The exact location of the boundary line always has been in dispute and has given rise to many complications. For instance, on account of the vagueness Of the fdivid- ing line North and South Carolina al- ways have been at loggerheads as to which was the mother state of President Andrew Jackson, each claiming that he was born on her soil. So when moon- sinner was caught, he hired smart law yer to prove that the officer who made the arrest had no right to. because the plaintiff at the time was on the soil Of another state.
 Jenkins continued to make whisky with minor Interruptions until few years ago, when the North Carolina legislature pass ed the Watts law, which makes it illegal to manufacture or sell whisky outside in corporated towns of specified size. Jen- kins was fairly caught If he moved 10 an incorporated town he found mmseif making whisky within two miles or a church or public school, and this also IS illegal in North Carolina. Jenkins saw 1t was all up with him and promptly ceased to manufacture whisky. He went into legitimate business then. making con siderable money in real estate and cot ton trading.
 Jenkins was typical moonshiner. He was illiterate. but scrupulously honest when it came to personal dealings Like