“MOONSHINE CONSPIRACY” AUTHOR TO DISCUSS HISTORY
OF FRANKLIN COUNTY’S INFAMOUS LIQUOR INDUSTRY

     Thomas Keister Greer, self-published author of The Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trail of 1935, will offer a historical perspective on the people, politics, economics and social conditions leading to and resulting from Franklin (Va) County’s national distinction as a producer and exporter of “white lightning.” The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Tuesday, February 25, at 7:00 p.m., in the Panther’s Den, Franklin Hall, Ferrum College.

     Rumored prior to publication to name many long-time and well-known residents and families of the region, Greer’s 916-page book, which required more than 20 years of research and writing, sold out 1000 copies in only 10 days. A reprinting is scheduled this spring.

Photo by Eric Lindsoe

     According to the tome’s dust jacket, “This book reveals the story of that trial based on the Government’s records, grand jury transcripts, and extensive reports of the two newspapers which covered the proceeding.” It also hints of the intrigue and pervasiveness of the liquor industry, saying, “A federal grand jury indicted 34 individuals for conspiracy to deprive the United States of its lawful taxes on the production of illegal liquor…The trial…took 50 days--the longest trail in the history of Virginia. The great majority of defendants lived in Franklin County, Virginia, headed by the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Charles Carter Lee,” Carter was a great nephew of General Robert E. Lee.

     Greer’s account also covers a second trial, “in which the Government prosecuted 24 persons for conspiracy to tamper with the jury. That trial, in federal court in Roanoke, was followed by three trials in the Circuit Court of Franklin County for the murder of Jeff Richards, a deputy sheriff who was shot down on October 12, 1934, only 17 days before the federal grand jury was to meet.”

     A retired attorney, Greer is a member of the Virginia and California State Bars. He has argued before both state’s Supreme Courts; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Seventh and Ninth Circuits; and the U.S. Supreme Court.

     After a stint as a Marine officer in World War II, Greer received an Honors degree in history from the University of Virginia. He graduated UVa’s Law School in 1948. Today, he is serving his second term on the University’s Board of Visitors.

     Greer lives with his wife Elizabeth T. Call Greer at The Grove in Rocky Mount. Elizabeth “Ibby” Greer is the proprietor of The Blue Lady Bookshoppe, the primary distributor of Greer’s book.

     For more information on the lecture, please contact Ferrum College Public Relations at (540) 365-4300.

     Ferrum College is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. For more information on Ferrum, visit www.ferrum.edu. # # #

Photos from the event: