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 the IRS. If you are available or could point me in the right direction. I would appreciate it so much. Thank...

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 overturned after crossing Hurrican Bridge near Smithville. He had been confined to the local hospital since. Mr. Molloy had...

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 question everything. I thought I was narrowing the search for Slim’s murderer, but after these two most recent...

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 Distillery’s property. In this episode, I sit down with Ricky Estes, a real moonshiner, Cannon County native,...

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. Material must not be removed from nor added to this file. In this episode we are going to reveal a...

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 else’s involvement. Maybe whoever killed him did so to get him out of the way. Interview: Dan Pierce -...

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. Located to my left was a log cabin and suddenly it was like I had taken a turn through a wormhole, and ended up in the...

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 is breathtaking. But, even with all the beauty, there’s so much dark history literally growing from these mountains. I park my car...

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 register.” 40 years later, The Beatles would also indulge in sweets there after playing Comiskey Park. Margie’s...

Listener Provided Question and Answer Session from Facebook Live Event 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 Sponsorship: What Happens in the Woods https://www.whathappensinthewoods.com/

Episode 5 - By Blood We Are Connected This episode we're with one of my best friends, Brandon Hillis, whose family produced moonshine in Warren County around the same time as Slim. Let’s recap the big pieces of information. Slim was shot in 1937. Shortly after, his taxi and family car were confiscated by law enforcement. Next, their house mysteriously caught fire. Lillian, my Great-Grandmother took off and left her 3 young sons with their Grandparents. Brandon and I are talking on his...

Episode 4 - After the Fire Last episode, my Dad left us with a story that contained information I believe could be one of the most important pieces to solving this. After Slim’s death, the two vehicles were confiscated, the house caught fire, and my Great-Grandmother Lilian left her 3 young boys with their grandparents. I still have no idea why a mother would just abandon her children, which makes me wonder if she had a choice in it. In this episode, we’re going to review audio from my...

Episode 3 - The Rest of the Story “Thunder Road” was loosely based in reality, the story of a moonshine runner in 1952 who crashed to a deathly end on Kingston Pike in Knoxville, Tn. Evidently, the incident was either witnessed or passed on to Mitchum, inspiring the movie. Slim Merritt, my great grandfather, cab operator, and moonshine runner, predates “Thunder Road” by 20 years. I believe that Slim was the Lucas Doolin sort of character, staying one step ahead of the law... or should I...

Episode 2: The Death Code The year is 1937. In the Nashville Tennessean Newspaper, Slim’s obituary reads: Cab Operator Dies, McMinnville, Tennessee, Sept 19, Odus “Slim” Merritt, 34, died at his residence four miles from McMinnville on the Smithville Road at 3 o'clock this morning. He had been ill for several months. Interview with Cody Prince. Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows / pATCHES - Hard To Let Go of Grammer /...

Bonus Episode 2: McMinnville, John High, and the Death Certificate Patricia tells what it was like growing up in McMinnville. She tells a story about John High. We both sit down and discuss Slim's death certificate. Interview with Patricia Merritt. Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows / Chris Haugen - Castleshire / Sextile - Crimson Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4

Episode 1: “I Tell Crazy Stories” Nestled in the back corner of Mt. Zion Cemetery in Warren County Tennessee sits a tombstone that reads… Odus “Slim” Merritt June 26 1903 Sept 19 1937 “He is not Dead, But Asleep.” Interview with Patricia Merritt. Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows / pATCHES - Because For Everything There Is Someone / Ashley Shadow - Peace Creek Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Join Us:...

Bonus Episode 1: “I Tell Crazy Stories" A story that Patricia eluded to in Episode 1 that had to be told. Interview with Patricia Merritt. Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan / Bryanna Licciardi Music: The Whole Other - Beyond the Lows / The Mini Vandals - Under The Wire Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4

Upcoming True Crime Podcast Teaser for Moonshine, Murder, and Mayhem. CAUSE OF DEATH: UNKNOWN. In this series, we will look back to the 1930s, diving into the mysterious death of a cab operator who braved selling moonshine in the dry county of McMinnville, Tennessee. Did he die of natural causes? Or are the rumors true about police involvement? Music: Beyond the Lows - The Whole Other Mixing / Mastering : Julio Silva Iacobelli Join Us: https://tinyurl.com/s248yv4

Upcoming True Crime Podcast Trailer for Moonshine, Murder, and Mayhem. CAUSE OF DEATH: UNKNOWN. In this series, we will look back to the 1930s, diving into the mysterious death of a cab operator who braved selling moonshine in the dry county of McMinnville, Tennessee. Did he die of natural causes? Or are the rumors true about police involvement? Voiceovers: Micheal Licciardi / Jinny Ryan Music: Beyond the Lows - The Whole Other Mixing / Mastering: Nyquist Audio Join Us:...