The following news story and photos appeared in the April 8, 1965 issue of The Vidette. I recently found the photos and thought it might be of interest to our readers. The story caught my attention because I have always been interested in the "State Line Mob" which was reported on in the books, "The Twelfth of August", concerning Sheriff Bufford Pusser, and "The Ghosts of the Stateline Mob." Both books tell of the men and women who controlled the state line area north of Corinth at the Tennessee State Line. The books tell of moonshine stills that were operated near Yellow Creek in Tishomingo County. When I read this article which appeared in The Vidette, the people charged in the still’s operation were very familiar as members of the "State Line Mob." Yes, this organized crime did happen in Alcorn County and many from Tishomingo County were involved. I hope you enjoy reading a part of what was happening in our county in 1965!

Big Moonshine Still Seized by Lawmen

4 Men Arrested at Site North of Iuka; Arraigned in Aberdeen

Tishomingo County law officers and Alcohol Tax Unit Agents moved in Monday afternoon and seized a 1,700-gallon whiskey still. Property confiscated at the site included a 20-gallon butane tank full of gas, forty-two 100 lb. sacks of sugar, and a ton of sweet mash. In addition, law officers impounded a late model Ford 2 ½ ton truck, a Ford pickup truck, a Ford tractor, a rubber-tired farm trailer, and a Ford car.

The still was destroyed around 3:00 p.m., along with ninety 55-gallon steel drums. It was located about two miles north of North Crossroads in a hollow just south of a fish cabin near Pickwick Lake. The location was east of Highway 25.

Five men were arrested according to Sheriff James Bishop, four of whom were apprehended at the scene. They were arraigned Tuesday in Aberdeen before U. S. Commissioner Ruth West and charged with possession of an unregistered still and possessing materials intended for use in violation of the Federal Liquor Law.

Men arrested at the still site were Jack Reid Newton, age 39, and Harry K. (Tommy) Bivins, 32, both of Corinth, Harold Ray Tidwell, 18, of Rienzi; and Donald Dawson, 39, of Sheffield. Surrendering at Aberdeen on Tuesday morning was Carl (Towhead) White, 32 also of Corinth.

Billy Pace, ATU Agent, said that warrants would be issued for at least two other persons including the occupant of a nearby fish camp house.

The still was first discovered by Sheriff Bishop when searching for stolen property in that area.

Officers had been watching the operation for 2 or 3 days before the arrest. They had been on the scene several hours watching those participating in the set-up, as they moved the equipment in and proceeded to make preparations to fill the drums and pot with mash. The raid was made as the first load of mash was being prepared for the cooker.