The War Against Moonshiners
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Captured still, law enforcement officers unknown, courtesy of the Arkansas History Commission |
Needing to raise revenue during the Civil War, the United States Congress in 1862 imposed excise taxes on alcohol and required distillers to have a federal license. With the end of the war, newly appointed district tax collectors in each of the southern states employed deputy collectors to arrest "wildcatters," those who made untaxed moonshine whiskey. These federal agents were the "revenoors" of rural folklore.
Moonshining in Arkansas did not approach the levels found in the southern Appalachian states, but the late 19th and early 20th century raids against distillers throughout the state were risky and sometimes bloody. John Burris, in service from 1897 to 1914, was a legendary agent in Arkansas. His exploits were vividly recounted in a 1920 memoir by Isaac Stapleton, himself a collector. Burris's reputation grew from a grand swing through west Arkansas:
"One of the most successful raids ever made in Arkansas was made by John Burris with eight possemen in January, 1898. He made an overland drive of eighty-five miles, starting out from Hot Springs and driving to Big Cedar Creek in Scott County. On this seven-day trip he arrested twenty-three wild-catters, cut up six stills, destroyed nine thousand gallons of beer [sour mash] and poured out two barrels of whiskey.... Having now destroyed six stills and capturing as many prisoners as they could successfully care for, they started on the return trip to Hot Springs with two wagons, three buggies, and four saddle horses. Burris would drive on in advance and arrange for meals and camping spots, as the citizens were so much in sympathy with the wild-catters that it was impossible to get meals and lodgings at any of their residences.... They arrived at Hot Springs and put up for the night at the Great Northern Hotel, the proprietor giving them an upper suite of rooms for the prisoners, many of whom had never been in a city and were unused to city ways. One man fainted while going up in the elevator. As soon as practicable the prisoners were all conveyed by rail from Hot Springs to Fort Smith, where they were indicted and arraigned before the Court, all receiving sentences varying from thirty days in the Fort Smith Jail to two years imprisonment in the United States Penitentiary at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas."
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Washington Hunter Perrin, Sheriff of Randolph County, and Capt. Donald Jackson, his Deputy, with confiscated stills. Photo courtesy of Tony Perrin. |
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500-gallon still captured Oct. 18, 1925, near Whittington School, by John Hopper, Dave Brown, Jim Floyd, and W. Lowe. Photo courtesy of Tony Perrin. |
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