Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-02-11
POLITICIAN TO. PEN
Noted Georgia Moonshiner Convicted
After Many Months Of Work.

Noted Georgia Moonshiner Convicted
After Many Months Of Work.
Russ Hubbard, Of Dawson county,
for many years political leader in:
that section of the state, former rep
.resentative In the legislature. and gem
orally conceded to be the wealthiest
man In the mountain section of Geor-
gla, was sentenced in United States
court Wednesday to serve thirteen
months. in the federal penitentiary for
violating the, same dry laws he bitterly
fought in the Georgia legislature more
than thirteen years ago. >
United States Attorney Hooper Alex
ander, relates the Atlanta Journal, who
conducted the prosecution for the gov
ernment, served in the legislature with
Hubbard. and had been his staunch
personal friend for many years.
When a state prohibition law first
claimed attention Of the Georgia gen.
eral assembly, Mr.. Alexander was one
of its strongest advocates, while vigor-
Gus speeches against it's passage were
made in the house by Hubbard.
After his term In the legislature ex-'
pired. Hubbard. returned to Dawson
county, where he, continued to be
power in politics. Prohibition officials
say he gave the enforcement depart
inent considerable trouble from the
time the dry law first became effective
MANY dlstIlleries were unearthed
near his home, and we knew he was
connected with them. but were never
able to catch Hubbard with the goods y
said Director ~. Can't. HE was the
cleverest moonshiner our department
came, in, contact with"
Director CAN'T said a great many at
tempts to, obtain direct evidence
against Hubbard were futile, and that
two years ago he was acquitted of IL
quor charges owing to the prohibition
departments inability to force his
mountain nelghhbors to testify against
him. Z. -. ,,,.
Three whisky runners, Jim Thomp-
son, E. ]. McGill and Mangum Wilson
were given instructions BY Hubbard as
to where they could obtain an auto
mobile load Of liquor" said Director
Can't, "and one Of our agents over
heard portion of this conversation.
Officers overlook the whisky car, and
a pitched battle between the runners
and the officers followed, which came
near to ending in tragedy. Proceed
ings to condemn the automobile were
started, and out of this case grew the
recent decision by the United States
supreme court with reference to con-
demnation of vehicles engaged in the
liquor traffic"
On the day following this occur
renee, prohibition agents said United
States Attorney Hooper. Alexander ar
rived in Dawson county TO make a
speech in behalf of the Liberty loan
drive. and was met by Hubbard, who
drove him over the county in his au-
tomobile and royalty entertained him.
Hubbard received his sentence We'd
ncsday with a smile. He made no
statement concerning his case, but
his attorneys indicated that mo-
ton for new trial will be made.
PERSONALLY. Hubbard always was
one of the best sports in the whole
country" declared Director Can't.
Although my entire staff aided the
district attorney in prosecuting MIN
wednesday, l am sure that if we Wis
tied his home town today, he would
greet us cordially, invite us into his
home and show us every possible
courtesy"
Back in his younger days when he
was prominent figure in the state
legislature, 'Hubbard's position on the
prohibition law was that ut deprives
man of his personal liberty and will
never be enforced"