Moonshine Made in Gasoline Drums Contains Poisonous Levels of Zinc, Sept. 13, 1919

From The Daily Times, Wilson, N.C., Sept. 13, 1919

Moonshiners in the Toils

Tarboro, Sept. 13—Deputy Collector Charles H. Jenkins was at Ahoskie, in Hertford County, Friday, in quest of moonshiners, and he succeeded in bagging some game as the result of his trip.

Within a radius of four miles of Ahoskie he captured four stills, and arrested two negroes, John Ruffin and William Smith, whom he caught red-handed. Ruffin was required to give a bond of $300, and Smith a $100 cash bond, for their appearance here Monday before U.S. Commissioner F.H. Pender.

Mr. Jenkins says that liquor is being made in gasoline drums and the zinc has already poisoned some people who drank the vile stuff. One man, he said, died as the result of being poisoned by the chemicals in it.

The man who was arrested in Ahoskie had a still in operation in his house. It was an ordinary gasoline drum.

Mr. Jenkins in his raid destroyed 300 gallons of grape beer, blackberry beer, molasses and corn meal beer, and two gallons of liquor.