WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT GLEN ROSE MOONSHINERS IN TEXAS

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During Prohibition, Governor Pat Neff worked with a more punitive state law than the Federal Volstead Act. Neither laws had deterred the Glen Rose cotton farmers from their very lucrative Moonshine business. The farmlands and hills were awash with distilleries. Bootleggers, whiskey haulers and even prominent citizens were in on the take from thirsty folks in “dry” north Texas. One of the “bootleggers” was former policeman Tom Darnaby and the County Attorney’s son Bryan Roark. Another distillery owner was cotton farmer Jim West and his two sons. Twenty five year old Dick Watson and his boyhood friend, Pruitt Merrill hauled moonshine in glass jars to dealers and speakeasies in Dallas and Ft. Worth. Respected Dr. William B. Pruitt, a licensed physician, organized all of the operators into a syndicate of distillers and haulers. He then bribed the local law officers so the illegal organization would not be bothered, while taking his cut of the considerable profits. Governor Neff sent Texas Ranger Red Watson to Glen Rose to work with other local lawmen and federal agents to break up the most extensive liquor syndicate in Texas. In exchange for minor crimes with the law, whisky haulers Watson and Merrill agreed to act as undercover agents. They located all the “stills” for those participating in the raid planned on August 25, 1923. Early Saturday morning the compromised Sheriff Walter Davis was arrested. By early afternoon the lawn of the County Courthouse was stacked with 7 whiskey stills small enough to be moved, (larger ones were destroyed) 66 gallons of corn liquor, 8 gallons of wine, 800 pounds of sugar and 84 cases of beer and 31 county residents were in custody; on Sunday another ten folks were captured. Over the weekend spectators had gathered around the courthouse square. Monday they watched a line of cars transporting the prisoners to appear in Waco before a U.S. Commissioner. The compromised County Prosecutor, as well as the Sheriff, was among those arrested. Fathers and friends hired a local lawyer in town to represent the mostly young men. Knowing the boy’s fathers and mothers, the lawyer warned them that they could expect the majesty of their government to prevail because a law of the land had been broken. The men were arraigned in Waco and bonds were set for each at $750. The local bank president paid the bonds and all were released. But Gov. Neff was not satisfied with the Federal law, so all were sequestered under the stricter Dean law of Texas resulting in 92 indictments for 41 defendants. The test case was the trial of James Carl Pruitt, a son of Dr. William B. Pruitt on September 27 th. He was found guilty and given 2 years in the penitentiary. The following cases: Sheriff Davis guilty of accepting bribes, 4 years; Jim West 4 years; Tom Darnaby 3 years; Man Lowe pled guilty and received 1 year; Dr. Pruitt and his second son Jesse pled guilty, 2 ½ years for father and one for the son. The county prosecutor had resigned and joined a big city law firm; His case ended with a hung jury. Many citizens were unhappy with these events. No further cases were filed after Ranger Red Watson, the star wittness, was killed. Carole Sikes REf. Glen Rose Moonshine Raid by Martin Brown. (A great read!) Published by History Press, Charleston, S.C.

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