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Famed moonshiner kills self to avoid jail
AJC ^ | March 18, 2009 | AP

Posted on 03/19/2009 6:02:38 AM PDT by Vigilantcitizen

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Famed Appalachian moonshiner Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, whose incorrigible bootlegging ways were as out of step with modern times as his hillbilly beard and overalls, took his own life rather than go to prison for making white lightning, his widow says.

“He couldn’t go to prison. His mind would just not accept it. … So I credit the federal government for my husband being dead, I really do,” Pam Sutton told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday from the couple’s home in the Parrottsville community, about 50 miles east of Knoxville.

(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Georgia; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: alcohol; moonshining; popcorn; suicide
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To: avacado

I doubt this guy could do a worse job as President than that Kenyan fellow


81 posted on 03/19/2009 8:45:50 AM PDT by Rome2000 (Peace is not an option)
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To: Vigilantcitizen

Actually Popcorn lived in both N.C. and Cocke County Tennessee, the border of the two states. He was buried in Parrotsville TN., close to where I live, and where he was reared.

There was a local news report on TV just now. A small private service was held Wednesday, and a public service is planned later.


82 posted on 03/19/2009 9:04:10 AM PDT by girlangler (Fish Fear Me)
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To: girlangler; Diana in Wisconsin

Cool, thanks. My apologies Diana.

You catchin any? I’m about to head out the door right now to hit a pond with a wooly hawgtail.


83 posted on 03/19/2009 9:10:47 AM PDT by Vigilantcitizen (Maybe we should elect illegals to congress to cut costs.)
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To: Vigilantcitizen

Well in North Carolina, way back in the hills
Me and my old pappy had a hand in a still
We brewed white lightnin’ ‘til the sun went down
Then he’d fill him a jug and he’d pass it around
Mighty, mighty pleasin, pappy’s corn squeezin’
Whshhhoooh . . . white lightnin’

Chorus:
Well the “G” men, “T” men, revenuers, too
Searchin’ for the place where he made his brew
They were looking, tryin to book him,
But my pappy kept a-cookin’
Whshhhoooh . . . white lightnin’

Well I asked my old pappy why he called his brew
White lightnin’ ‘stead of mountain dew
I took a little sip and right away I knew
As my eyes bugged out and my face turned blue
Lightnin’ started flashin’ and thunder started crashin’
Shhhoooh . . . white lightnin’

Chorus:
Well the “G” men, “T” men, revenuers, too
Searchin’ for the place where he made his brew
They were looking, tryin to book him,
but my pappy kept a-cookin’
Whshhhoooh . . . white lightnin’

Well a city slicker came and he said “I’m tough”
I think I wanna taste that powerful stuff
He took one g-g-glug and drank it right down
And I heard him a moaning as he hit the ground
Mighty, mighty pleasin, pappy’s corn squeezin’
Whshhhoooh . . . white lightnin’

Chorus:
Well the “G” men, “T” men, revenuers, too
Searchin’ for the place where he made his brew
They were looking, tryin to book him,
but my pappy kept a-cookin’
Whshhhoooh . . . white lightnin’...


84 posted on 03/19/2009 9:14:32 AM PDT by Mila
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To: Vigilantcitizen; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; ...
Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton

Any relation to Chris "Pancake" Meyers?


85 posted on 03/19/2009 9:44:52 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Can't get enough of my snarking? http://twitter.com/slingsandarrows)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Big Government stomps on another little person.


86 posted on 03/19/2009 9:47:02 AM PDT by Enterprise (I went to America and all I got were some DVDs and little helicopters.)
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To: monday
Why? Is it illegal to own guns where he lives?

He was a convicted felon and the law stipulates that possession and ownership of a gun by convicted felons is illegal.

87 posted on 03/19/2009 9:55:01 AM PDT by TennTuxedo
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To: jrd

Really? I did not know that! Interesting indeed...

I met a few old-timers in my months in Tennessee while my mom was sick. Some of the best people you could ever hope to meet in your life.

He definitely lived on his own terms, and died by them. RIP “Popcorn”!


88 posted on 03/19/2009 10:02:39 AM PDT by LibertyRocks ( http://LibertyRocks.wordpress.com ~ ANTI-OBAMA STUFF : http://cafepress.com/NO_ObamaBiden08)
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To: Vigilantcitizen

RIP Mr. Sutton. Condolences to his family, friends and customers.


89 posted on 03/19/2009 10:04:09 AM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life)
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To: TennTuxedo

Never mind that THAT law is totally flawed, and Unconstitutional, but it seems you don’t see his actions as having anything to do with Civil Disobedience.

I would not choose to do anything as risky in my own life perhaps, but I have to give this man props for refusing to go along with some of these laws.

As for the alleged attempted murder you mentioned - was he convicted of that?

Did you happen to know this man personally? It seems as if you have a decidedly negative view of the man, and it makes me wonder whether you and he were ever at odds personally.


90 posted on 03/19/2009 10:14:40 AM PDT by LibertyRocks ( http://LibertyRocks.wordpress.com ~ ANTI-OBAMA STUFF : http://cafepress.com/NO_ObamaBiden08)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Me too.

Just finished a batch of cranberry wine that a friend gave me the recipe for in Jan.

5 cans jellied cramberries
5 lbs. sugar
2 packs of yeast

Heat jellied cranberries and add sugar, stir until dissolved. Pour in to 5 gallon container(carboy) and add cool water to within 6" of top. Add yeast and install airlock.

P.S. I wrap my jugs in a heating pad set on low. Fermentation is usually complete in 2 1/2 to 3 weeks.

Rack until desired clarity is obtained.

91 posted on 03/19/2009 10:21:08 AM PDT by sleddogs
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To: jrd
yep were the only country in he world that cannot make whiskey legally

That's not true. Most countries have similar laws to the US, requiring taxes to be paid. Wikipedia has an overview of the laws of other countries

92 posted on 03/19/2009 10:29:52 AM PDT by Bubba Ho-Tep ("More weight!"--Giles Corey)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Speaking of Everclear, my home town in central Illinois is the site of the old American Distillery where they used to make Everclear. Then they went to making ethanol. Now they make Skyy vodka there.


93 posted on 03/19/2009 10:36:50 AM PDT by Bubba Ho-Tep ("More weight!"--Giles Corey)
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To: Bubba Ho-Tep
Know the area well. I used to travel Illinois when i was selling coal. Some years back I heard a statistic that more vodka was manufactured between Clinton and Muscatine Iowa than anywhere else on earth...
94 posted on 03/19/2009 10:45:49 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Slings and Arrows
"...Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton...

Any relation to Chris "Pancake" Meyers?

Any relation to "Pancake" Rachel Corrie?

Photobucket

95 posted on 03/19/2009 11:07:09 AM PDT by I Buried My Guns (I just hope CW2 comes before my creaky knees give out completely!)
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To: sleddogs

Terrific! I gotta get my carboy back from my BIL...then I’ll be all set. Thanks! :)


96 posted on 03/19/2009 2:56:18 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Vigilantcitizen; Grammy

“You catchin any?”

Nope, but plan to go this weekend to a small lake nearby. Taking my canoe and going to try to catch a few bass. It’s predicted to be in the high 60s/low 70s.


97 posted on 03/19/2009 8:02:55 PM PDT by girlangler (Fish Fear Me)
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To: metesky

Ping


98 posted on 03/20/2009 2:47:24 AM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: Alberta's Child; Vaquero

In retrospect, one has to wonder if Washington paid his Federal whiskey production taxes or if he should be added to the growing list of do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do politicians, eh?


99 posted on 03/20/2009 3:36:09 AM PDT by metesky (My retirement fund is holding steady @ $.05 a can.)
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To: Gunflint

“I had some ‘white lightning’ in Knoxville, once. Tastes like a toxic defoliant. Horrible stuff.”

I’ve had it a few times. Most of it smelled like year old silage except for a peach flavored variety which was dang tasty!


100 posted on 03/20/2009 3:56:50 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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