Moonshine, Murder, & Mayhem

Episode 14: Respectfully, J. Logan Molloy Final Episode of Season One Facebook Message Sent Feb 24, 2020, to Kevin Molloy, Grandson of James Logan Molloy, Hey Kevin, my name is Bran Merritt. I'm starting a podcast about Moonshine in McMinnville in the early 1900s. I would like to interview you sometime about your Father and Grandfather since they worked on the Alcohol Division of the IRS. If you are available or could point me in the right direction. I would appreciate it so much. Thank you for your time. The first episode of the podcast was released on March 23 of this year. So, I sent a message to Kevin fairly early on in my journey. When you send a message on Facebook, and you’re not friends with the other person sometimes you don’t see the message easily. So after he didn’t respond, I felt like I’d hit a brick wall in my research until… And then, five months later, I finally got a reply.  Interview: Kevin Molloy Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Editor: Bryanna Licciardi Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4

Episode 13: Questioning Everything James Logan Molloy, 58, special investigator of the Alcohol Tax Division of the Treasury Department, died in a local hospital Tuesday night at 10 o'clock as a result of injuries incurred in an automobile wreck on the morning of December 30.  The wreck occurred as the car in which Mr. Molloy and Sandy Holmes of Shelbyville were riding overturned after crossing Hurrican Bridge near Smithville. He had been confined to the local hospital since. Mr. Molloy had been connected with the Internal Revenue Department of the Federal Government for 22 years, with the exception of a term as sheriff of Warren county from 1926 to 1928. The deceased was the only son of the late James Logan Molloy and Sarah Seitz Molloy, pioneer settlers of Van Buren County, where he was born and reared, moving to McMinnville some 20 years ago. Mr. Molloy was regarded as a fearless and just peace officer, commanding the respect of all law violators, and had the reputation of always bringing in his man. He was perhaps the most widely known investigator in the entire state and enjoyed a wide circle of friends. Interview: David Cook Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Editor: Bryanna Licciardi Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4

Episode 12: Two Years Later  I thought this investigation was coming to an end. I felt like I had figured out just about all I could find out. Then I received a message that led to a phone conversation with someone I’ve been waiting to speak with for a long time now. Then, shortly after that, I received an anonymous lead to someone who provided me information that made me question everything. I thought I was narrowing the search for Slim’s murderer, but after these two most recent conversations, I’m beginning to rethink my initial thoughts. But before I reveal the facts of those conversations, there is something that needs to be covered first. Something concerning Logan “The Law” Molloy. That was the nickname Ricky Estes’ dad gave. Logan “The Law”.  Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows / Uncle Dave Macon - Cannon County Hills Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Editor: Bryanna Licciardi Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4

Behind the Scenes of the Moonshine, Murder, and Mayhem Podcast. Brandon Hillis wanted to give the listeners a closer look at what it takes to put this podcast together. Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows  Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Editor: Bryanna Licciardi Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4

Episode 11: One Hell of a Ride You guessed it. Uncle Dave Macon knew where the best was made. Even Portner Wagnor knew. And Al Capone. They all wanted what Cooper Melton was supplying. My investigation keeps leading me back to Short Mountain. This location is offering me more answers and information than anywhere else. Answers flowing just like the spring not too far from the Distillery’s property.  In this episode, I sit down with Ricky Estes, a real moonshiner, Cannon County native, literally born of the Short Mountain hills. when Billy Kaufman, owner of Short Mountain Distillery, told me to interview Ricky. I’ve been eager to pick his brain. But, what I ended up finding out was way more than I ever imagined. In this conversation, we start just like every other--with the story of Slim. Interview: Ricky Estes, Moonshiner Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows / Uncle Dave Macon - Cannon County Hills Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Editor: Bryanna Licciardi Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4

Episode 10: Declassified: The State vs . Molloy Dear Patron: We regret that the enclosed photocopies are the best we were able to obtain using our normal reproduction process. This is caused primarily by the age and faded conditions of some of the documents from which these copies were made. Sept 30 1935. Department of Justice. Division of Records. File Number 23-70. Sub-File 134. Material must not be removed from nor added to this file. In this episode we are going to reveal a declassified federal document from the National Archives of College Park, Maryland. My previous email with Tab Lewis revealed that while he didn’t have any records on Slim, he did have the following declassified document. Interview: Daniel Barnes, Criminal Attorney Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Editor: Bryanna Licciardi Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4 Sponsorship: Ivy League Murders Podcast

Episode 9: Rally Around The Family So, the question remains, who is Slim’s killer? Slim was potentially dealing with some massive players in the illegal liquor game. Involved enough to put a high price on his head, or so I believe. I mean why else would someone feel the need to murder a father of 3? Slim had to be involved beyond a local level. Maybe he got in the way of someone else’s involvement. Maybe whoever killed him did so to get him out of the way.  Interview: Dan Pierce - Professor of History at the University of North Carolina, Asheville and the author of Tar Heel Lightnin’: How Secret Stills and Fast Cars Made North Carolina the Moonshine Capital of the World Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows  Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Editor: Bryanna Licciardi Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4 Sponsorship: Crimelight Podcast

Episode 8: Cold Springs and Cold Cases The interview at Short Mountain Distillery brought me to the Great-Grandaughter of Cooper Melton, Melanie Nistad. She is the author of the book, “Mechanicsville”, which is a community located not far from the distillery. I got back on that same road, Short Mountain Rd, took a right down a gravel road a mile or so from Short Mountain. Located to my left was a log cabin and suddenly it was like I had taken a turn through a wormhole, and ended up in the early 1900s. The houses, road, and cemetery, everything was a step back in time. I finally reached my destination--a quaint Methodist church dating back to the 1800s. Interview: Melanie Nistad, Author of "Mechanicsville" Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows / Bascom Lamar Lunsford - Mountain Dew (http://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200212367) Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Editor: Bryanna Licciardi Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4 Sponsorship: Find Me in the Dark Podcast https://www.facebook.com/pg/fmitd/about/?ref=page_internal

Episode 7: History Makes for Hallowed Ground Short Mountain Distillery is located on Short Mountain Rd. A road I’m very familiar with. I drive it every time I go to band practice, but as I drove it for my interview,  it seemed different.  The distillery sits right in the middle of nature,  nestled right at the foot of Short Mountain. The view from the parking lot is breathtaking. But, even with all the beauty, there’s so much dark history literally growing from these mountains. I park my car near the distillery’s restaurant and proceed to the building that houses all of the stills. It’s the end of the day, so they are beginning to close up shop. It’s almost dark, I knock and open the door. Billy is in the office, rocking a handlebar mustache and suspenders--essential clothing for all moonshiners. I don’t waste any time. I tell him the story of Slim. Interview: Billy Kaufman, owner of Short Mountain Distillery Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows / Bascom Lamar Lunsford - Mountain Dew (http://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200212367) Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Editor: Bryanna Licciardi Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4 Sponsorship: Evil Transgression Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evil-transgression/id1497823718

Episode 6: Al Capone and the Magical Mystery Tour A good story is best left to the imagination. Throughout the years, the Chicago-based Margie’s Candy store gained notoriety thanks to visitations from various pop culture icons. Al Capone would tame his sweet tooth sitting in their booth blocked by a cement wall. He signed a photo for the owners instructing them to “watch the register.” 40 years later, The Beatles would also indulge in sweets there after playing Comiskey Park. Margie’s candy store owner, Margie, recalls a story with her son, George. She said, “Hey, some English guys are here from Sox Park. George said, “Ma, there’s no English baseball team. She said, “No dummy, It’s the Beatles.”  Interviews: Jonathan Eig is an American journalist and the author of five books. His most recent book, Ali: A Life, is a biography of Muhammad and Get Capone: The Secret Plot that Captured America's Most Wanted Gangster. Kelly Kazek writes a humor column and the weekly Odd Travels feature for AL.com. She is an award-winning journalist and humorist and the author of eight books. Wil Elrick hails from Guntersville in the northeastern part of Alabama. He is a writer and "weirdologist" who loves telling stories, whether as a tour guide to historic Huntsville or with friends around a campfire. He can often be found "off the beaten path" researching historical, weird, or unusual tales. Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows  Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Editor: Bryanna Licciardi Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4 Sponsorship: Find Me in the Dark Podcast https://www.facebook.com/pg/fmitd/about/?ref=page_internal