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 t

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 overturn

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 qu

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 Disti

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.

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

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. Locat

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 i

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 re