The son of a martinsville commonwealths attorney who prosecuted bootleggers during the infamous 1935 moonshine conspiracy trial, john redd smith, jr. Moonshine still is discovered beneath cemetery in virginia. The writer matt bondurant had ancestors in the area, whose exploits during this period inspired his historical novel, the wettest county in the world 2008. Franklin county is a county located in the blue ridge foothills of the u. For more information about the story or charlie thompsons book, visit. It is also the tale of a manuscript written by a disgruntled band of rogue conquistadors who had. Franklin countys famous 1935 moonshine conspiracy trial. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935, 2002, 916 pages. Complete daily newspaper accounts merritt, beverly, stephenson, morris, leary, angie on. Spirits of just men tells the story of moonshine in 1930s america, as seen through the remarkable location of franklin county, virginia, a place that many still refer to. Matt bondurants most recent novel is the night swimmer.
The untold stories of notorious franklin county moonshiner amos law. I personally have used this book to beat several branches of the government. 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. Find property records, vital records, inmate and court records, professional and business licenses, contractor licenses and much more. Spirits of just men tells the story of moonshine in 1930s america, as seen through the remarkable location of franklin county, virginia, a place that many still refer to as the moonshine capital of the world. 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. Moonshine heritage is a moonshine website that explores the history of moonshine in the appalachians. This is the rare first edition of a book that sold out in 2003. Bondurant brothers prohibition franklin county virginia.
With the highly organized moonshine industry disrupted, franklin county was not out of business. The wettest county in the world book by matt bondurant official. The wettest county in the world is a 2008 historical novel by matt bondurant, an american. While the courts ruled that the entire case was a carefully crafted hoax, theres plenty evidence to. Franklin county speedway moonshine capital promotions shared a post. The biggest moonshine bust took place in 2001 after eightyear operation lightning strike exposed a franklin countybased corn liquor racket spanning raleigh, n. The real story behind lawless by matt bondurant newsweek. The book tells of the trio during the depression and prohibition in rural virginia, who made a living bootlegging moonshine. Moonshine conspiracy author to discuss history of franklin countys infamous liquor industry for immediate release. Indeed, franklin countys moonshine heritage has inspired annual festivals, numerous books, and a major motion picture, lawless, that stars shia lebeouf, jessica chastain, and tom hardy. Franklin county virginia has been called the moonshine capital of the world.
This documentary exposed a network of religious leaders and washington politicians who flew children to washington d. At the time, franklin county was believed to produce the highest volume of. Franklin county, virginia public records directory quickly find public record sources in the largest human edited public record directory. A man by the name of sherwood anderson began to research about the men who had. 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. In other words, memories of franklin countys recent history remain strong, but memories may have to suffice. The morning delivery december 19, 1930 surviving the shootout moonshine continues forrest bondurant nov. The three bondurant boys shia labeouf, tom hardy, jason clarke, along with their sultry new hire jessica chastain, command the most. A documentary about the scandal, conspiracy of silence, was listed in the tv guide to air on the discovery channel in may of 1993 but was mysteriously pulled without notice at the last minute. The only written records that still exist are those written by reporters from franklin. In other words, memories of franklin countys recent history remain strong, but. 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. Franklin county virginia was once called the moonshine capital of the. But the headstones were fakes, the flowers were artificial, and state and federal agents say the only thing buried at the franklin county cemetery turned out to, be a moonshine still.
Franklin county moonshine adventures and ramblings from the. The franklin conspiracy is the story of a small rural real estate salesman whose normal, everyday life is thrown into chaos when his office is delivered a 400 year old scheme to take over the world. A tale of two moonshine towns san antonio expressnews. Oct 19, 2017 moonshine makes a comeback in virginia.
Coverup, betrayal and the astonishing secret behind the lost arctic expedition a hounslow book by latta, jeffrey blair, colombo, john robert isbn. Written in question and answer form using courtroom testimony without the enhancement of opinion, the book. The novel is told from both the perspectives of the three bondurant brothers, mainly focusing on the youngest, jack, and of the writer sherwood anderson, who described fra. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. Buy franklin countys famous 1935 moonshine conspiracy trial.
Moonshine maker shares the good and the bad of his profession. Franklin county is featured in the film lawless 2012, adapted from the novel in a screenplay by nick cave. 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. A very indepth history of moonshine whiskey making in franklin county, virginamoonshine capital of the world. 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. A timewarp, historical, and ghost novel full of local color, set in a small town in franklin county, virginia, known by all as the moonshining capital of the world, this story was written by the widow of the author of the authoritative legal history on the subject, t.
A fifteenyear search uncovered evidence of unparalleled disaster, but to this day no one knows. 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. Family books available in the research library at the franklin. Franklin county, virginia has been called the moonshine capital of the world.
Yes sir, that was a good one, said jim hunt, agent in charge of the roanoke office of the bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms. S governments actual transcripts of the 1935 franklin county moonshine conspiracy trial were accidently destroyed by nature several yearsmonths after the trail had concluded. Feb 21, 2009 franklin county has a long history of moonshiners and there are many folks living in the county today that were involved or had friends in the business of making and selling illegal alcohol. The guy that runs it recently moved near franklin county and discovered that there are old moonshine stills all over the place. A very indepth history of moonshine whiskey making in franklin county, virginamoonshine capital of. Franklin county has a long history of moonshiners and there are many folks living in the county today that were involved or had friends in the business of making and selling illegal alcohol. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 download. Published october 14th 2008 by scribner book company first published 2008. The franklin county conspiracy blue ridge institute and museum. The franklin conspiracy is an absorbing account of the single most enigmatic event in canadian history. 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. Family books available in the research library at the.
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. Through the eyes, and keys, of a young realtor new to town, times past and hidden secrets come to light. The wettest county in the world by matt bondurant based on the true story of. Transcripts of the governments grand jury testimony were not lost. Franklin county in the 1930s wasnt a place where people spent much time. In 1845, two british royal navy ships, the erebus and the terror, commanded by sir john franklin, entered the canadian arctic in search of the northwest passage. The salt while the revival has taken off around the country, its especially strong in virginia, where many of the twists, turns.
Franklin county speedway moonshine capital promotions. The franklin county conspiracy blue ridge institute and. 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. Books also can be ordered by calling 5404893642 or visiting. Complete daily newspaper accounts by beverly merritt, morris stephenson, angie leary isbn. The franklin conspiracy by gordon collis nook book. Bondurant boys as appalachian gangsters blue ridge.
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. Moonshine blue ridge style blue ridge institute and museum. Keister greers history the great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 2002 covered the trial and its background in the county. The overall story was through many events and even an actual trial the bondurant brothers were found at the center of franklin county moonshine. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 wikipedia. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 greer, t.
Keister greer, retired attorney franklin county, va. This was a conspiracy many events were talked about it regards to the bondurant brothers. 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. Jul 15, 2017 come join us under the shade trees onsite saturday, july 15 at 9. 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. When pirates of the sqaurerigger original sin steal ashore to abduct a doctor to tend to their wounded, they. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 2nd edition by t. Forrest, the eldest brother, is fierce, mythically indestructible. 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. Franklin county moonshine adventures and ramblings from. 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. Wardell brings in special deputy charlie rakes guy pearce to encourage read.
Ive commented before on how easy it is to find old moonshine stills rusting away in the woods. Franklin county moonshine conspiracy, and break open the silence that shrouds franklin county. During that same period the county used 37 tons of yeast nine times what. There has been so much moonshine made in franklin county that you can. In 19811982, 74 of 158 stills broken up in all virginia were in franklin county. The only written records that still exist are those written by reporters from franklin county s nearby daily newspapers. At the time, franklin county was believed to produce the highest volume of illegal liquor in the u. 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. The great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935, 2002, 916.
Franklin county moonshine stills moonshine heritage. This is a great book for more information about the common law and how the government has secretly put you under a contract. There has been so much moonshine made in franklin county that you can literally walk up any creek and find an old moonshine still. Jimmy boyd shares stories about what it was like to cook and transport moonshine in franklin county, virginia. Moonshine maker shares the good and the bad of his. Bondurants involvement with the moonshine conspiracy in franklin county. 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. Jan 01, 2002 the great moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 book.
Moonshine heritage exploring the history of moonshine in. 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. Conspiracy of silence, a documentary listed for viewing in tv guide magazine was to be aired on the discovery channel, on may 3 1994. Mar 26, 20 jimmy boyd shares stories about what it was like to cook and transport moonshine in franklin county, virginia.
371 1440 938 734 52 652 55 936 1518 462 1437 1020 904 186 496 735 205 596 1384 492 336 1377 306 1468 403 1213 1224 590 1470 1161 1178 874 1032 875 1301 848 393