The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-12-19
WAKES BOOZE
PRICE RISES
Moonshine Doubles in Cost
as Legal" Liquor Brings
Sc Per Quart
By J. c. BASKERVlLL
The Times-NewS Bureau
Sn NG,It.I IIo,si

RALEIGH, Dec. 20.-The price
of bootleg liquor has increased
again in this section within the
past two weeks, according to
those in touch with the liquor
trade. This the second general
increase in prices since the state
voted against repeal of the 18th
amendment November 7, although
the state would have continued
to remain technically dry as long
as the burlington act, the states
bone-dry prohibition enforcement
law, remains in effect. The first
general increase in prices for
bootleg liquor took place within
a few days after the repeal cleo.
ton, evidently on the assumption
by the bootleggers that the uot-
come of the election continued
their monopoly on the liquor bust
ness in North Carolina. Prior TO
the election it was generally
known that quite number were
selling their portable goods at re-
duced prices, evidently in the be-
lief that the state would vote for
repeal and that this would then
permit the sale of legal liquor.
Another factor in the law prices
before the election was that the
prevailing belief then was that
regardless of how North Carolina
voted, legal liquor would be easily
obtainable after December 6 from
other states where it would be
legally obtainable after that date.
But since this legal liquor has
been on sale in states that are
now "wet" the prices have been
much higher than was expected,
with the result that while some
of this has been obtainable here
for some time, the prices are so
high as to make its purchase al
most prohibitive, according to
current reports. One dealer here
is reported to be selling two
standard grades, guaranteed to
be bottled in bond legal gov
eminent liquor, at Sc quart.
But reports also indicate that he
is not doing much Of business.
The high prices being asked
for this so-called genuine" bot
tied in bond liquor are regarded
as being responsible for the in
crease in the demand for bootleg
liquor and the constant increase
in prices. Some of those who
have been discussing the situation
here maintain that many of those
who are accustomed to purchase
little liquor for Christmas have
this year been holding off in
placing their orders in the hope
they could get some of the new
legal liquor" illegally for this
Christmas, but that the prices are
so high they have decided to go
back to their old bootleggers in
stead. Another factor is said TO
be the large amount of fake "bot-
tied in bond" in counterfeit bot
ties and labels being sold as "the
real thing" Right here in Wake
county, officers last week raided
liquor making and bottling plant
in which nothing but ordinary
bootleg liquor was being "blend-
ed" with alcohol, colored and
favored and bottled in fake bot
ties, under fake labels. The Off
GERS captured 45 gallons of pure
grain alcohol, 30S half gallon
jars Of rye liquor two cases of
"Cognac" and a case of Scotch
in addition to large quantities of
mash and two copper stills, ac-
cording to the report of the raid
in the Raleigh News and OBJ
server.
Thus the regular "honest" boot
leggers are believed to have de-
cided that if these outside liquor
runners who are bringing illegal
liquor" into the state from other
states and can sell it at Sc a
quart that they can charge from
So to So a gallon for their home
made product. And they are said
to be doing this. The current
prices for corn liquor in Norm
Carolina the night of December
8, according to an Associated
Press dispatch from Charlotte I'M
der that date, was "from So to
81 a gallon" This is regarded
as about the same price range
that existed here in Raleigh and
throughout this section 10 days
ago. Here is what the press dis
patch from Charlotte said in con-
nection with the passing of the
18th amendment in the Caro-
linas:
There was no ! ablic celebra-
ton, no spontaneous outbreak of
revelry. Native corn whiskey was
available at the usual price of So
to 81 a gallon, but there was the
usual scarcity of real stuff
Sales of 80 beer continued as
usual"
According to those Gin the
know" here, the same corn liquor
that sold at 81 a gallon 10 days
ago is now 81 gallon and aged
corn and rye that formerly sold
at 81 to SIS gallon has now
gone up to Sc and So a gallon.
County mining property which
had been held at $4,000. whose
owner now holds it for $4,000.
Prospects, whose owners a few
weeks ago begged prospective
buyers to take an interest at a
nominal sum, now are. held at
thousands of dollars" DR.. George