Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-03-15
hand on the trigger of his trusty shot


gun.
! It is very seldom that an armed
man is found working at his still, as
the 1noonshiner will never meet an
antagonist face to face, Mr. MeFar-
land said. If he wants to get an
enemy out of the way his favofite
method is to waylay him or to con-
ceal himself behind tree and fire up
on him. He knows if man is killed
near his still that he will be suspected
of the. crime.
The mooshiner always respects his
wcmen, whatever his other faults may
be and in al. his experience with this
type of law-brel1er Mr. Mcfarland
has never found a woman working
around still. She does not think it
wrong for the men to defy the govern
ment, but she considers her place is in
the home and there she stays.
Time was when whisky-making was
licensed by the government, but even
then the campaign against Illicit MAX
ers of it was conducted vigorously.
The moonshiner could never under
stand this. 1t was his opinion that he
was being Disseminated against and
that the government was favoring
those who had money and who lived
in the cities.
But, with the coming of prohibi-
tion this has changed and the moon
sinner realizes the chance he is TAX
ing. He takes his arrest in sports
nanlilse nanner having played the
game and, lost.
Moonshiners generally sell their
product to bootlegge1s, who have
standing orders for their entire out
put and who then peddle it.
As soon as the liquor is made it is
put in a jugs and buried or placed in
kegs and covered with leaves to pre-
i vent detection. When it is buried
marks are made on bushes OF on trees
to show the owners where the "treas
:re' is when they find themselves in
need of it.
Only in the cases of the most ig
norant moonshiners is liquor ever
found in residences. This is a chance
the shrewd Sinner never takes.
In making liquor, the mountaineer
is able to tell when it is at the right
Temperature by dipping a small vial
in the liquid and looking at the
''bead." This is one Of the most diff
ficult phases Of the process, but the
trained moonshiner is able to judge
the right temperature with won
derful degree Of accuracy. :t'fA
Since prohibition went into effect
here has been a decided increase in
moonstining, Mr.. Mcfarland said, Be-
fore that time the corn product of
the mountain sold for So a gallon.
But the market he strengthened con-
siderably since then and now COM
mands $40 a gallon.
As a result Of the high prices the
better class of men in the hills it get
ting in the game, Mr.. Mcfarland said
These men, many OF whom are in
luential citizens, are wise enough not
% 90 around the stills themselves,
!5ut they furnish all the money and
put an ignorant man in charge to
operate it.
The only bond required of the oper-
ator is that he win agree to say moth
ing if caught. In turn, the real own
- er agree to take care of the opera
: tors family until, he returns from
IS prison and is again able to exc out an
70 existence with a copper kettle, a
Il worm and stream of water
70 Thus the "man higher up" enters
the Kentucky moonshining game and
Il converts what little romance was ever
+ attached to it into q purely CONNER
s cial prOpoSition,