In 19811982, 74 of 158 stills broken up in all virginia were in franklin county. Complete daily newspaper accounts beverly merritt, morris stephenson, angie leary on. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 greer, t. At the time, franklin county was believed to produce the highest volume of. A visit to franklin county is a visit to the moonshine capital of the world and. Jim smith, a prisoner richards was transporting to the county jail at the time, was also killed, but smith had nothing to do with the conspiracy.
Amos rakes andrew davis arrested asked bailey bondurant bootleggers boys brother called carter lee charge charlie greer charlie guilliams christie claude shively clifford martin commonwealth counsel commonwealths attorney convicted court courthouse crossexamination cundiff dave nicholson davis defendants defense counsel deputy sheriff dillard. P682 ingram family still, franklin county, va, lloyd ingram collection, blue ridge institute and museum at ferrum college. The county was, as the contemporary writer sherwood anderson put it, the extreme wet spot of the united states in the thirties. Matt bondurant, the author of lawless, on which john hillcoats film was based, says his familys role in the moonshine business only came to light in recent years.
Fairfax county native matt bondurant hits big screen with lawless film based on va. The book tells of the trio during the depression and prohibition in rural virginia. Matt bondurants most recent novel is the night swimmer. Illicit distilling, illicit virginia franklin county. Kojo nnamdi but long ago, the bondurant name was better known for something else, moonshine. Franklin county, virginia wikimili, the free encyclopedia. The wettest county in the world book by matt bondurant. Sep 05, 2012 in whats referred to as the great franklin county moonshine conspiracy, commonwealth attorney mason wardell got his hands dirty when he demanded money in return for moonshinerunning protection. The real story behind lawless by matt bondurant newsweek.
During that same period the county used 37 tons of yeast nine times what. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 wikipedia. In whats referred to as the great franklin county moonshine conspiracy. Jul 05, 2011 a few photos of interest of our franklin county virginia known as the wettest county. Find property records, vital records, inmate and court records, professional and business licenses, contractor licenses and much more. Franklin countys famous 1935 moonshine conspiracy trial.
With the highly organized moonshine industry disrupted, franklin county was not out of business. See more ideas about moonshine still, how to make moonshine and homemade wine. During that same period the county used 37 tons of yeast nine times what the city of richmond used and 16,920 tons of sugar. Richmond, va virginia department of alcoholic beverage control special agents wrapped up several monthslong investigations into moonshine and narcotics operations in franklin county last week. Author matt bondurants family legend is brought to. Evidence gathered for the franklin county moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 showed that from 1930 to 1935 more than 1,000,000 fivegallon whiskey storage cans were sold in the county. A history of moonshine production in franklin county, va. Bondurant boys as appalachian gangsters blue ridge. These 3 men bootlegged gallons and gallons of moonshine all. Fairfax county native matt bondurant hits big screen with. This is the rare first edition of a book that sold out in 2003. A very indepth history of moonshine whiskey making in franklin county, virgina moonshine capital of the world. Wardell brings in special deputy charlie rakes guy pearce to encourage read.
We were all aware that my grandfather used to run liquor when he was young, but these were things that were never discussed in franklin county, va. Aug 25, 2012 matt bondurant, the author of lawless, on which john hillcoats film was based, says his familys role in the moonshine business only came to light in recent years. In this 1979 photograph, morris stephenson poses with portions of the cemetery still moonshine operation discovered in franklin county that featured 18 800gallon submarine type stills. This book is fiction, but it examines the moonshine legend in franklin county, va in a way that brings those times to life. The salt while the revival has taken off around the country, its especially strong in virginia, where many of the twists, turns. Moonshine heritage exploring the history of moonshine in.
The wettest county in the world is a 2008 historical novel by matt bondurant, an american writer who features his grandfather jack and granduncles forrest and howard as the main characters in the novel. Ook eview the lawyers guide to fact finding on the internet. Moonshine maker shares the good and the bad of his. In whats referred to as the great franklin county moonshine conspiracy, commonwealth attorney mason wardell got his hands dirty when he demanded money in return for moonshinerunning protection. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 download. Virginia at the time of these brothers would come to be known as the wettest. Bondurant of horsepasture in henry county was torn in his. Jan 01, 2002 the great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 book. Distilleries embrace franklin countys moonshine history. See more ideas about moonshine still, how to make moonshine and moonshine whiskey. Moonshine still is discovered beneath cemetery in virginia. Moonshine maker shares the good and the bad of his profession. Moonshine in va yall book releaseauthor event spirits. The morning delivery december 19, 1930 surviving the shootout moonshine continues forrest bondurant nov.
Of course the famous moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 has always taken center stage. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 download ebook. From 19281935, prosecutors alleged that a conspiracy ring had defrauded the government out of 5. The bondurant boys were a notorious gang of roughnecks and moonshiners who ran liquor through franklin county, virginia, during prohibition and. The franklin county conspiracy blue ridge institute and. But, in 1935, he was indicted in a corruption trial the great franklin county moonshine conspiracy trial as it came to be known which exposed a massive system of kickbacks and bribes. Fascinating account of this most famous trial shows us the inner workings of moonshine production and distribution operations in franklin county, virginia, as told by those who were involved in the day to day tasks. May 24, 2012 fairfax county native matt bondurant hits big screen with lawless film based on va. Southeast of roanoke and approximately thirty miles from the north carolina line, the county is the birthplace of booker t. In the twilight of his career, anderson finds himself driving along dusty red roads trying to find the bondurant brothers, piece together the clues linking them to the great franklin county moonshine conspiracy, and break open the silence that shrouds franklin county. While lawless graphically recounts the conniving violence and brutality that naturally came along with such successful criminal activities, it also delves into the nuances of the. A family story and some colorful legends combine in this classic american novel of crime, passion, revenge, and violence set in rural franklin county, va, during the great depression.
Bondurant family has mixed emotions about lawless local. With the influx of the scotchirish to southwestern franklin county in the. Moonshine in va yall book releaseauthor event spirits of just men sep, 2012 spirits of just menmountaineers, liquor bosses, and lawmen in the moonshine capital of the worldby charles. Franklin county is part of the roanoke, va metropolitan statistical area and is located in the roanoke region of virginia. Sherwood anderson was there working as a journalist at the time. When she appeared in court during the socalled moonshine conspiracy trial, in. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 resulted in the indictment of 80 people involved in the illegal production and distribution of moonshine whisky in virginia.
Running moonshine liquor during the prohibition years, a notorious trio of brothers continues their illicit business after prohibition and plays a central role in a violent conspiracy triala story that is investigated in 1935 by a magazine journalist. Based on the true story of matt bondurants grandfather and two granduncles, the wettest county in the world is a gripping tale of brotherhood, greed, and murder. Deputy jeff richards, the alleged treasurer in franklin countys moonshine conspiracy, was murdered in his car with his 38 revolver, shown here, in his hand. It was on a little rise, and the grounds were neat and closely mowed. Franklin county, which is older than the constitution of the united states, is part of virginias southside. Explain the sequence of events that precipitates the great franklin county moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935. The untold stories of notorious franklin county moonshiner amos law, written by his son henry lee law, has finally been published. Family books available in the research library at the. Deputy jeff richards, the alleged treasurer in franklin countys moonshine conspiracy, was murdered in. Being born in franklin county, you are gonna hear and see a lot about the liquor business, prillaman said. The franklin newspost, rocky mount, va 2020 lee bhm corp. Keister greer, holds a copy of his landmark 2002 book, the great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935. There has been so much moonshine made in franklin county that you can literally walk up any creek and find an old moonshine still.
Keister greers history the great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 2002 covered the trial and its background in the county. Its true the great conspiracy trial of 1935 resulted in charging 80 for the illegal production and distribution of untaxed moonshine whiskey in virginia, earning franklin county the moniker of moonshine capital of the world, though the mystique surrounding mountainmade liquor is more hollywood legend than the facts support. Im virginia born and raised, the history of moonshine in franklin county is almost legendary. Va metropolitan statistical area and is located in the roanoke region of virginia. At the time, franklin county was believed to produce the highest volume of illegal liquor in the u.
Millions of gallons of moonshine poured out of franklin county every year, cooked up in stills from a fermented mixture of sugar, water, grain or fruit. Franklin county, va has been tagged as the moonshine. According to prillaman, his grandfather was one of the 80 people indicted in franklin countys historic great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935. Aug 23, 2012 but, in 1935, he was indicted in a corruption trial the great franklin county moonshine conspiracy trial as it came to be known which exposed a massive system of kickbacks and bribes.
What were the outcomes of the trial for the bondurants. Intrigued by the movie lawless, on which the book the wettest county in the world is based, i decided to read mr bondu. The son of a martinsville commonwealths attorney who prosecuted bootleggers during the infamous 1935 moonshine conspiracy trial, john redd smith, jr. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935, 2002, 916 pages.
Lawless is based on the book the wettest county in the world by matt. Written in question and answer form using courtroom testimony without the enhancement of opinion, the book effectively tells the story of the likker conspiracy in franklin county, va. Franklin county is a county located in the blue ridge foothills of the u. Franklin county moonshine stills moonshine heritage. Making moonshine is even a bit of a family business. The book the wettest county in the world was the inspiration for the movie. The christian science monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, online daily edition, and email newsletters. Franklin county, virginia has been called the moonshine capital of the world. Bondurant brothers prohibition franklin county virginia. Franklin county is the setting for matt bondurants historical novel, the wettest county in the world 2008 set in the prohibition era, featuring his grandfather and two greatuncles among the bootleggers. The ingram family poses with a turnipstyle moonshine still, franklin county, virginia, 1929.
Deputy jeff richards, the alleged treasurer in franklin county s moonshine conspiracy, was murdered in his car with his 38 revolver, shown here, in his hand. Franklin county, virginia public records directory quickly find public record sources in the largest human edited public record directory. The novel, inspired by the authors paternal grandfather jack and two granduncles, forrest and howard, focuses on the historical events of the great franklin county moonshine conspiracy, a series of events and a trial related to the illegal activities of the moonshiners in franklin county. Keister greer, retired attorney franklin county, va.
Aug 23, 2016 franklin county s famous 1935 moonshine conspiracy trial. Matts grandfather and grand uncles were central players in franklin county, virginias illegal alcohol business, a racket so notorious that the place. I live close to the area and it is strange to see many roads, areas and landmarks described with so much detail and accuracy as reflected in the book. County in the worldwas a new york times editors choice, and one of the san francisco chronicles 50 best books of the year. The franklin county broadband authority and the franklin county board of supervisors moves forward with phase one of delivering broadband to its citizens utilizing grant funds awarded in january from the virginia telecommunications initiative vati. These bondurant brothers were the stuff of legend in franklin county, va. There are no journals, memoirs, or letters from my grandfather and his brothers.
Note that every member of the family assisted in the production of moonshine during prohibition. Ive commented before on how easy it is to find old moonshine stills rusting away in the woods. The franklin county conspiracy blue ridge institute and museum. The bondurant boys were a notorious gang of roughnecks and moonshiners who ran liquor through franklin county, virginia, during prohibition and in the years after. Oct 19, 2017 moonshine makes a comeback in virginia. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. A very indepth history of moonshine whiskey making in franklin county, virginamoonshine capital of the world. Franklin county virginia has been called the moonshine capital of the world. Franklin county in the 1930s wasnt a place where people spent much time documenting their daily activities.
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