|
1909 |
- The boll weevil enters Alabama.
|
1914 |
- Prohibitionists gain control of the Alabama legislature.
|
1915 |
- Law is passed in Alabama prohibiting all alcohol manufacture
and sales (two years before US congress passes national prohibition
laws).
- Many families reliant on the liquor trade loose huge incomes
and their homes.
- Economic stress causes many to continue with the illegal manufacture
of whiskey, in open defiance of the law...
- Interference with liquor production is not tolerated and the
crime rate increases through murder, arson, maimed horses and
smashed newspaper presses.
|
| 1916 |
May, "The First Clean-up"
- William Logan Morgan, attorney general for Alabama sends 40
deputies to destroy a million dollars of illegal whiskey...
- Russell County courts are disqualified.
- Judge A.H. Alston sets up a blue ribbon grand jury and assigns
Hugo Black as chief prosecutor.
- City marshal is convicted for accepting bribes from liquor
dealers.
- Russell Co. Sheriff Pal M. Daniel is impeached.
- The mayor and board of aldermen resign by popular demand.
August
- All involved have been convicted and sentenced.
|
1917 |
March
- Operations resume... a rumor circulates that bootleggers
have dug a tunnel into riverbank under warehouse to float supplies
down river.
- U.S. becomes involved in WWI, which begins to distract attention
away from the liquor laws.
|
1918 |
|
