In the rugged hills of Bacon Hollow, Virginia, a farmer by the name of Bluford Johnson met a violent end in 1927. His life was entangled with the illicit moonshine trade that thrived in the mountains, a fact that would ultimately lead to his demise. Johnson himself was no stranger to the law, having previously pleaded guilty in 1926 to possessing approximately 15 gallons of apple brandy.
This transgression earned him a 60-day jail sentence and a $50 fine.
The circumstances of his death pointed to a conflict within the close-knit and often volatile community of Bacon Hollow. An investigation into his murder led to the indictment of a father and son, Patrick and Dewey Shiflett. The local authorities were well acquainted with Pat Shiflett, dubbing him the 'King of Bootleggers,' a testament to his prominent role in the area's illegal liquor operations. The evidence presented against the Shifletts was compelling enough to secure a guilty verdict for the murder of Bluford Johnson.
