Still Reported to be at Greens Creek Is Really in South Carolina, Says Sheriff McFarland, May 28, 1925

Moonshine Still Not Found in Polk County But In South Carolina Asserts R.F. McFarland, Sheriff. . . Green’s Creek Citizens Very Indignant Over Statement That Revenue Raiders Uncovered Illicit Moonshine Factory in Polk County According to the latest dispatches from the seat of war, the government’s land and see offensive on rum runners has resulted in an increase in the retail price of liquor and a marked scarcity of the standard brands of hooch in certain quarters. The offensive against bootleggers and moonshiners on land is reported to be as effective as the action of the enforcement fleet along the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf seas-boards. Be the outcome what it may, the News made a big mistake when it credited the capture of a still to Major Hutcheson, Federal enforcement officer operating in Polk County, stating that the still and auxiliary paraphernalia was located in Greens Creek township in the County of Polk.

The information coming direct from a federal officer was supposed to be authentic. In his statement the officer in question stated that the still was located 10 miles East of Columbus in Greens Creek township near the South Carolina line.

Numerous complaints have reached us concerning that statement both by letter and telephone. In order to keep the record straight we are running an official statement made by R.F. McFarland, Sheriff of Polk County, who in a written communication says:

Still Not Found in Polk County

Editor of the Polk County News:

There was an item in the last issue of your paper stating that on Monday last (18th) the Federal Prohibition Officers destroyed the largest illicit still ever found in Polk County, located 10 miles east of Columbus in the Greens Creek section.

The above statement was called to my attention by a citizen of this county, he stating that some one had misrepresented the location of this still, and asked that I make a personal investigation and state facts as found. And on last Monday (in company with one of the men who was caught at the still) I went to the site and found that it had been destroyed about one mile South of Pacolet River in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, and about two miles south of the Earles Bridge, and at least 1 ½ miles south of the North and South Carolina line.

I am making this statement in Justice to the people of Polk County, and especially the Greens Creek Township, for in my experience as an officer I have found less violation of the whiskey law than any other township in the county. So please let us endeavor to place the burden where it righty belongs.

This May 26, 1925

(Signed) R.F. McFarland,

Sheriff of Polk County

From the front page of The Polk County News, Tryon, N.C., May 28, 1925. While the headline with this story called the location Green's Creek, the article and another letter to the editor called it Greens Creek.

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn94058241/1925-05-28/ed-1/seq-1/#words=May+26%2C+1925