Mohave County Miner and Our Mineral Wealth, Kingman, AZ, January 21, 1921
J. M. Rank, an old time miner of this county, but who of late years has been conducting a bee ranch on the Colorado river, near Topock, was brought in from that place under arrest by Sheriff W. P. Mahoney and his two deputies, Charles Bly and John W. Harris, last Saturday. The charge against Rank was that of running a distillery and manufacturing hooch. When the officers raided Rank’s place they found one of the best appointed stills in the state, thirty gallons of high proof alcohol, three barrels of booze that was ready for the final touches that would make it marketable. There was a large amount of mash and other accessories of a real distillery. It is reported that honey was used in the manufacture of the product and that screw beans were used for the mash. The beans were supposed to have been the ordinary bean of the mesquite and carry a large amount of sugar.
Mr. Rank was taken before Anson H. Smith, U. S. Commissioner, last Monday and waived examination. He was held in bonds in the sum of $500 for his appearance before the U. S. grand jury at Prescott.
