The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 19, 1979, Image 5
Mc
By Dean Williamson
Qamscock Staff Writer
"Although our unit has lost a
good many men in shoot-outs, I've
only been shot at once in my 14
years on the force," George
Barron said of his experiences in
the Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms Bureau, ATFB.
Barron spoke to Thomas Connelly's
History 634 class this past
Thursday about the confiscation
and arrest of illegal liquor stills
and operators. He displayed
various types of "moonshine"
n?:iln tU?t U? 1 u:? i
amis uuti iic uiiu ins utilizers nave
discovered in the area of
Charleston County, Mississippi,
during the past few years.
The manufacture and consumption
of moonshine whiskey
has declined, Barron said.
"Society is more affluent now," he
said. "People are drinking higherclass
liquors, such as scotch,
vodka and gin." Barron said
society has eliminated more
moonshiners than law enforcement
has.
Barron said his forces only seek
out and apprehend the major
moonshine operations: "Usually
we just let the state and local officials
handle the smaller cases."
Moonshine is illegal because of a
federal law prohibiting private
manufacturing of alcohol for
consumption.
MASH, from which moonshine
whiskey is made, largely consists
of corn, water and sugar, Barron
said. It is heated to a high temperature
in a copper or galvanized
pot and then allowed to cool and
formnnt in mafol rlrtimp TV>o lijitiirl
IVI IIIvllv All IAIVVCI1 \?1 UiliO. A IIV* llVjUIU
remaining after fermentation is
distilled and bottled. Moonshine
ranges from 120 to 190 proof, about
60 to 95 percent alcohol, Barron
said.
Mash takes three to eight days to
ferment, depending on the season.
Barron said this gave his crew
ample time to set up a capture
once they had located a still.
Barron said the stills discovered
were owned by "lower-class"
whites, who in turn, had several
"still hands" to operate the stills.
Barron said these helpers would
often become informants.
A V/OI I 1 V MZJ agtllllbl
an alleged moonshiner is required
before arrests can be made.
Barron said most suspects
surrender peacefully, and most
violators were so well known to law
enforcement officers and judges
that defendants were referred to
by their first names.
Barron said his crew had
elaborate ways of detecting and
annrtihpnrlinfr ctillc innln^inn
aerial photography. After stills are
located, they are usually
dynamited and the liquor is
destroyed.
Arrested moonshiners are
usually given probation after their
first offense, Barron said. Up to
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1320 Main St. I
Drinking it cai
>onsh
'We generally r
from local autht
politically unfeasib
the authorities m
selves'
one year in prison is the penalty I
second offenders and three to fi
years for over three offenses,
said. The maximum sentence I
moonshining in Mississippi is
years.
"I arrested a man for operati
a still who received five years
prison," Barron said. "He was
paroled, and I arrested him agf
three days after he got out
BHkir
NlilgSMilinri 933 S. Main 1
mori
I?
n cause poisoning
9 V Ti
une Ui
eceive very little help \
wties because it is <
le and because many of i
ake moonshine them- j
]
for prison for selling moonshine. The ]
ve judge didn't think the man had ]
he learned his lesson so he gave him
for 10 years," he said. "Last I heard,
12 he still hasn't gotten out." j
Rarrnn ooirl wowti
uunvii ooiu iiioiijr iiiuuuaiiiiicia j
ng flourish in "dry" counties, which ,
in have outlawed the sale of alcoholic i
n't beverages. "We generally receive ]
lin very little help from local <
of authorities because it is politically <
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unfeasible and because many
the authorities make moonsh
themselves," he said.
MAnVCIII\TI? U~ J ? ?
inwiioniiiE/ ton uc udii^n
to a person's health, depending
how it is made, Barron said. Th
is usually little bacteria
moonshine whiskey because of
heat and distillation process,
large amounts of lead may
present, he said.
Lead from heat sources or t
aparatus can find its way into
mash. It mixes with the ac<
acid, in the form of vinegar m
during the fermentation proc<
to form lead acetate, accordinj
Barron. Lead acetate can
cumulate and have damag
effects on the human body, he si
jo
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| by callh
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NwsmM H?u<? Coptfono Top of Carotin
African origins
of civilization
speech topic
Yosef ben-Jochannan, professor
ui n.gypioiogy ana /\incan nisiory
. , at Cornell University, will present
line I a public lecture on "The African
Origin of Civilization," Wedous
nesday, 8 p.m., Gambrell Hall,
on Room 250.
ere A native of Nigeria, ben*n
Jochannan has doctorate degrees
*he from Oxford University in cultural
anthropology and Moorish history.
^ He is the author of 32 books, ineluding
Black Man of the Nile
y?" Family, African Mother of
,e Western Civilization and African
et!c Origins of Major Western
a"e Religions.
^ Ben-Jochannan's lecture, a
5to feature of the USC Black Lecture?c'
Scholar Series, is free and open to
;,!Jp the public.
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