The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-23
BIRMINGHAM AROUSED OVER DEADLI POISON CONCOCTIONS SOLD AS WHISKY
Claim Is Made That Several
 of City's WeII-Known Citi- zens have been Killed By Murderous Compounds S Bearing Government Stamp

Bearing Government stamp
 Birmingham is aroused as it has not been in long time over the cause of many deaths which have recently occurred.
 It is claimed that not less than a half dozen citizens of prominence have been killed recently by drinking con cocted whisky which has been brought in by b?otleggers.
 Much of this whisky has beenSpf alleged rye brand with old labels and defaced government stamps on it. The bootleggers have claimed that it has been dropped overheard from foreign ships in Savannah harbor or at Jack sonville. They have likewise claimed that people who had it have sunk the bottles in streams and that the labels lock old on that account.
 But it is believed that people are making this alleged whisky out of wood alcohol and other chemicals. col bring it and selling it as real rye or bourbon whisky.
 USE LYE IN PROCESS
 It is also believed that many of the mocnshiners in the mountains ana hills around Birmingham are causing their mash to ferment quickly by ada ing Red Devil' lye to it, and various form os washing powders which makes the mash ferment in 24 hours, 0n ;c tal time.
 A very prominent man in Birming- | ham is said to have died within the { month after drinking some $12-a-oottle I whisky, which was alleged to have been brought to him from Savannah, Ga. It gave him convulsions in very short while, and when the physician tired to bleed him his blood looked like black molasses. Another well-known citizen died within the week in cons vulsions from similar poison.
 Several prominent young men have been killed in the same manner in Bir- mingham in recent months, and every body knows that two of the most prominent automobile manufacturers in America were killed several months ago by drinking concocted whisky con- taining poison
 Many matured men who have been in the habit of taking their toddies for many years, and naturally desire a good whisky occasionally, have been buying from men who have brought t in from the various seaport towns. be- l1ieving that it was the real stuff. In- stead, some of them have bought poi sor connections in apparently honest Hooking bottles.
 GUILTY OF MURDER
 prominent coal operator, probably SO years of age. who has been in II e habit of taking a today before his din- ner for 30 or 35 years, yesterday said:
 "These men who bring poison
 whisky into Birmingham and sell
 it as real stuff and thereby Kill
 people are just as guilty of murder
 as the man who goes out with l. pistol and commits murder. They
 should be hnng-not merely fined
 for bringing in this whisky.
 think I know one of the men who
 has brought in some of the poison
 stuff. and I propose to see that he
 is tried for murder If we can lay
 hands on him. I hear he has left
 town, but we may get him yet.
 T have no criticism to make of some of the men who happen to get good whisky elsewhere and bring it Tn ana divide it among their friends charging 1 or course TOT Inelr trOuDl6 ana eX- penses of their trip. But when man deliberately brings in poison concoc- tions and sells 1t for consideration thereby killing people. he deserves to be hanged.
 Again, am told by some of the Of T ficers that men in Birmingham go out and buy corn whisky from people in Shelby county and in Jefferson, bop doring on Shelby; that they bring il into Birmingham. mix it with wood all } cohol and other chemicals and sell it } These men should know that this is deadly poisonous, and they should bs tried by the courts as murderers.
 T am not averse to a drink. My physician says that at my age I neeo a stimulant of this character but I am , beginning to feel that I take my life in my own hands when take one these days. I certainly hope that the } decision of former Attorney General l Palmer will soon go into effect. and , that under the law I may be able tc [ get from some druggist here or else. . where small amount for medicinal purposes.s