Prohibition.Days.Breckinridge.HISTORY-OtherFrom: KyArchives 
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Subject: Prohibition.Days.Breckinridge.HISTORY-Other


Prohibition Days  
Breckinridge County KyArchives History Other 
Book Title: A Glimpse Of The Past 
   Being the largest producer of alcoholic products, Kentucky was the hardest 
hit from an economical standpoint.  The state lost a major portion of its 
income from this heavily taxed industry.  Only a few employees were needed to 
carry on and produce enough whiskey to meet medicinal requirements.  With 
unemployment and hunger facing former employees, some rigged themselves with 
home made stills, and with their knowledge of distillation, began producing 
whiskey on their own.  Ingredients such as malt, yeast, sugar, grain and fruits 
could be obtained from the farm and local merchants.  They made a pretty good 
substitute for the real thing and their product brought in a nice profit on 
their investment, until revenue officers found and destroyed their equipment 
and marched them off to jail. 
   The scarcity of money and the chance of a quick dollar in illicit whiskey 
made lawbreakers out of many people, who were once law-abiding citizens.  As 
the demand for moonshine increased, unscrupulous characters began using stills 
made of tin, zinc, lard cans, wash boilers and anything else that would serve 
the purpose, and made whiskey, some of which was poisonous and unfit to drink.  
Many deaths and permanent injuries resulted from this practice.  Either through 
sympathy or fear of reprisal, neighbors refrained from reporting makers and 
sellers of illicit liquors.  Anyone with the price could buy the stuff.  Large 
operators confined their supply to wholesalers, who distributed it to customers 
and sub-dealers in metropolitan areas.  The small fry sold it locally in 
quantities ranging from half-pints to gallons, and at prices conforming to that 
of their competitors.  Few gangs developed in rural communities, but cities 
were exposed to gang wars and murders with little chance of legal action.  
Neither faction would expose the other, and eyewitnesses kept silent for their 
personal safety. 
   Investigations on tax-evasion charges afforded the reason for exposure, 
indictment and conviction.  Many took the fifth amendment and escaped 
punishment from their accusers, but their evasion was so pronounced, the law 
enforcement officials kept an eye on their activities until they were either 
convicted or forced to leave the country.  Their take from the public by 
extortion and illegal practices was millions of dollars without taxation. 
   Kentucky never became a center for gangsters and underworld organization, as 
did many other states and cities.  It had its local violators of laws and 
decency, but they never grew beyond local control.  The biggest interstate 
organization of crime to invade our state was the Remus Gang, a nationally 
known organization of illicit whiskey distribution, with headquarters in 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 
   Prohibition did not alter the drinking habits of Kentuckian's excpet for a 
short time.  They learned to make their own brew, not in the conventional 
manner, but the product had the same wallop.  The makings for home brewing were 
easily obtained.  Stores carried malts, yeast and sugar; farmers had grains, 
fruits and other ingredients needed in fermenting a brew with a kick.  Some say 
that prohibition was a success; others claim it a force.  Men, women and 
children could obtain, from some source, intoxicating drinks if they so 
desired, before, during and after prohibition days.  The tax loss to Kentucky 
and the nation was millions of dollars.  Whether it was a success or failure, 
prohibition was ended by the 21st amendment to the Constitution December 5, 
1933. 
   Many thing that there was more drinking during the prohibition days than 
there was before.  Some people just want to play with the law. 
Submitted by: Dana Brown 
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00005.html#0001067 



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