A week ago today, Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton died from an apparent suicide. He was what some consider to be the last of the REAL Appalachian Moonshiners. Popcorn had been arrested and convicted for possession of 800 gallons of his spirits and was waiting to report to federal prison. Last Monday, he received notice that he was to report on Friday. Popcorn went out to his barn and started his old Ford Fairlaine and went out on his terms (dying from carbon monoxide poisoning) - just as he had lived his life.
Here is the story as reported by JJ Stambaugh in The Knoxville News Sentinel on March 16, 2009:
NEWPORT, Tenn. — Nationally renowned moonshiner Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton died today in Cocke County and authorities are investigating his death as a possible suicide, a Cocke County official confirmed tonight.
Coroner Terry Jarnagin said that an autopsy will be performed Tuesday at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. He said a determination as to the manner of Sutton’s death hasn’t been made yet and authorities aren’t planning on releasing further details tonight.
Sutton, 61, of Parrottsville, was soon expected to report to federal prison to serve an 18-month sentence for illegally brewing spirits and possessing a firearm as a felon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed.
Sutton spent the last three decades building a reputation as one of the South’s top makers of white lightning. He starred in various documentaries about the tradition and penned an autobiography, “Me and My Likker.”
A raid last year on Sutton’s property turned up guns, three 1,000-gallon stills, more than 800 gallons of moonshine and hundreds of gallons of sour mash and other ingredients, records show. He kept some of the illegal brew in a shed and some in a junk school bus.
Because of a July 2007 conviction on state charges triggered by a still explosion, Sutton was on probation in Cocke County when federal authorities raided his property. He also had prior convictions for moonshining and felony assault with a deadly weapon, court records show.
Sutton recently was sentenced to two concurrent 18-month terms by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer. He was also to spend three years on supervised release once he finished up the term.
Sutton’s attorney, Tim Moore, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. Moore filed notice last month that he planned to appeal Sutton’s case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, officials said.
Popcorn's story isn't exactly new in Appalachia. For years the land and the ways of its people have be endangered by "progress" and "civilization". There is something romantic about the old way. The way that it was done before there were big box stores putting the little guys out of business. A time when things were done out of necessity and not greed. It is important, at least to me, that we as a people don't lose sight of where we came from and the uniqueness of our cultural past.
To that end, I am happy to report that I will be playing a Memorial Benefit for Popcorn. The Event - Pickin For Popcorn - will be held on Saturday, April 4th in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. It costs $5, goes from 3-9pm, and all proceeds go to the family to help offset their mounting bills. It should be a great time and a fitting tribute to unique figure in the cultural landscape of Appalachia.
rs
Coroner Terry Jarnagin said that an autopsy will be performed Tuesday at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. He said a determination as to the manner of Sutton’s death hasn’t been made yet and authorities aren’t planning on releasing further details tonight.
Sutton, 61, of Parrottsville, was soon expected to report to federal prison to serve an 18-month sentence for illegally brewing spirits and possessing a firearm as a felon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed.
Sutton spent the last three decades building a reputation as one of the South’s top makers of white lightning. He starred in various documentaries about the tradition and penned an autobiography, “Me and My Likker.”
A raid last year on Sutton’s property turned up guns, three 1,000-gallon stills, more than 800 gallons of moonshine and hundreds of gallons of sour mash and other ingredients, records show. He kept some of the illegal brew in a shed and some in a junk school bus.
Because of a July 2007 conviction on state charges triggered by a still explosion, Sutton was on probation in Cocke County when federal authorities raided his property. He also had prior convictions for moonshining and felony assault with a deadly weapon, court records show.
Sutton recently was sentenced to two concurrent 18-month terms by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer. He was also to spend three years on supervised release once he finished up the term.
Sutton’s attorney, Tim Moore, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. Moore filed notice last month that he planned to appeal Sutton’s case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, officials said.
Popcorn's story isn't exactly new in Appalachia. For years the land and the ways of its people have be endangered by "progress" and "civilization". There is something romantic about the old way. The way that it was done before there were big box stores putting the little guys out of business. A time when things were done out of necessity and not greed. It is important, at least to me, that we as a people don't lose sight of where we came from and the uniqueness of our cultural past.
To that end, I am happy to report that I will be playing a Memorial Benefit for Popcorn. The Event - Pickin For Popcorn - will be held on Saturday, April 4th in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. It costs $5, goes from 3-9pm, and all proceeds go to the family to help offset their mounting bills. It should be a great time and a fitting tribute to unique figure in the cultural landscape of Appalachia.
rs
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I find it sad that someone who was only 61 would choose to end his life over a year and a half in jail. Of course, you can never know what's going on in someone else's head. He seems like he really was a throwback to another time. I'd be interested to know how he went about selling all of that moonshine...
ReplyDeleteAnd, for what it's worth, the guy looks disturbingly like John Brown...
ReplyDeleteGood on ya, Richard.
ReplyDeleteFly high, Popcorn.