- It is the duty of all sheriffs and deputy sheriffs of the different counties of the state and the police officers of each incorporated city and town to search for, seize and capture all illicit distilleries, stills and worms, distilling and fermenting equipment and apparatus and other paraphernalia connected therewith, or used or to be used in the illicit manufacture of intoxicating liquors; raw materials and substances connected with or to be used in the illicit manufacture of intoxicating liquors; and containers connected with or used in the packaging of illicitly manufactured intoxicating liquors.
- It is the duty of such officer or officers to destroy any and all whiskey, beer, or other intoxicants found at or near such distilleries or stills except with respect to intoxicating liquors upon which federal tax has been paid as provided in § 57-9-115.
- It is the duty of such officer or officers capturing such distilleries, stills, distilling and fermenting equipment and apparatus and other paraphernalia, to summarily destroy and render useless such property. Any intoxicants or other articles of personal property destroyed under authority of this section shall be destroyed in the presence of at least two (2) credible witnesses. Within five (5) days after such destruction, the officer destroying such intoxicants or other articles shall file a written statement, listing all items destroyed, signed by the officer destroying and the witness or witnesses thereto, with the circuit or criminal court clerk of the county where seized and, in addition, shall file a copy thereof with the alcoholic beverage commission.
- The reference to sheriffs and deputy sheriffs in this section shall also include constables in counties of this state having a population of:
not less than nor more than
3,700 4,700
6,000 7,800
8,400 8,500
8,535 8,540
9,200 9,570
10,770 10,780
11,512 11,550
11,700 11,900
12,000 13,000
14,500 14,600
15,300 15,500
15,750 16,000
17,000 17,350
18,000 18,200
18,300 18,900
19,000 19,100
21,000 21,500
21,600 22,300
23,200 23,350
23,355 23,391
23,391 23,450
23,500 23,750
24,000 24,255
25,600 27,500
27,900 28,000
28,555 28,600
29,250 31,250
31,260 33,000
33,700 34,000
35,480 41,800
41,900 50,000
57,550 59,400
59,500 60,050
60,600 62,000
64,000 65,000
101,000 118,400
118,700 200,000
according to the 1960 federal census or any subsequent federal census, and Fentress County and Hamblen County.