Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-11-01
Investigation on the Liquor Agency.

Town, Saturday, had no knowledge of the
proceedings, and inquired in what capacity he
appeared before the committee. The chair
man stated that the evidence elected entitled
him to a defence, and he could hear it repeated
if he desired.
Mr.. George Jaques of Somervile, partner
of john FELTON,, was called Am of the firm OF
John FELTON, Co.; the firm was engaged in
the distillatiOn of molasses never had any
dealings directly with Mr.. Durham; have
had dealings with Mr.. BrookhouSe, who is en-.
gagged in the State Liquor Agency office have
sold him brandy and other liquors. The mem
orandum book was produced, and an entry
was found to John Brookhouse of two hun
dred gallons pure Rochelle brandy received, to
which was added two hundred and five gallons
of pure spirits, making in all four hundred and
five gallons. After the brandy had been mixed,
there had been cOloring matter also mixed with
the brandy there had been other matter
mixed with the aduIterated brandy. This was
done by order of John Brookhouse. The bill
was settled in the office Of the State Agency.
The casks we've taken from our store by an
unknown drayman. There had been other
transactions which were shown on the books.
AT this point Mr.. Burnham rose and said
he thought it unnecessary to go into details on
this matter; he was ready to admit all that
they would prove and intmated that nothing
could be fastened on him in regard to the
transactions. The chairman said that the
committee thought it expedieHtt to continue the
examination in full and get the evidence from
witnesses
The examination was resumed and Mr..
jacques stated that these transactions in regard
to the brandy took place between May, 1858,
and August or September of the same year
An anti, n1e i
transaction had taken place with Mr.. Burn
ham, wherein there was l42 gallons of brandy
mixed with alcohol. The bill was made out
for whisky added, instead of alcohol. This
was done at the suggestion of Mr.. Brookhouse.
The bill was settled at the State Agency of
lice. This entry to Mr. Burnham was erased
or crossed out on one page, and entered on the
other to Mr.. Brookhouse. 1t was done by a
clerk. He did not know why the entry to Mr..
Burnham had been erased, but could imdqine
Credit was given on the ledger to Mr.. Burn
ham for note of Mr.. Hammond in payment of
the bill. The accounts in the ledger were kept
with MIR. Bunham, and the bills were made
out to Mr.. Brookhouse. These bills were made
out by request of Mr. Brookhouse to him.
The credits were given to Mr.. Burnham, as
the accounts were understood to be with him.
Other transactions had taken place; had
mixed New England rum, whisky, and Jamai-
ca rum had received half hogshead of ia
malca rum which was mixed with pure spirits
about halt and half. The quantity of pure ia
malca in the hogshead was about Ga gallons.
Inc witness then went on to state that he had
sold at sundry times lots of liquors to Mr.
Brookhouse and Mr.. Burnham ard that the
bills were paid at the State Agents office
that he made discount of 500 on one bill of
S456 also on another bill of S633 AZ discount
of S39 SO was made. The witness could not
swear that either Of these discounts were noted
on the bill. The witness had no inter
est whatever in the reductions made in
the liquors of Mr.. Burnham. To a ques-
ton put by Mr.. j. S. Eldredge, as to
whetheS the firm of FELTON, & CO. had mixed
liquors for other firms or individuals. Mr.
Spotford objected. Mr.. Eldredge stated that
he wished to know whether through other par
ties than Mr.. Brookhouse, Mr.. Burnham had
not procured authorizations, and that to discover
this 1t was necessary to inquire into the deal
ingS of FELTON, & Co. with other parties Mr.
Spofford still objected. The question was sus-
tanned, and the witness was asked if he had
ever furnished to other parties than Mr.. Brook
house or Mr.. Burnham any liquors similarly
mixed. He replied that he had not, except to
those whose names appeared on his books He
clearly understood, when he sold the liquors to
the use of the State Agency.
The direct examination being concluded,
Mr.. Burnham said he should give the witness
very thorough cross-eXamination, and as the
evidence thus tar had been entirely eX-parte
he thought it due to him that the committee
should continue in session until he had exam
med the witness, as the newspapers would
publish their report in the afternoon, and the
public would only get one side of the case.
The committee then directed Mr. Burnham to
proceed in his cross.eXamination OF Mr. Jaques.
In answer to question from Mr.. Burnham,
Mr.. jacques stated that they had applied to
the State Agency to sell New England rum;
think Mr.. Brookhouse applied to them first, in
regard to the brandy, but am not sure; did
notreceive the brandy all at once; the brandy
was pure when received from Mr.. Brookhouse;
understood that the brandy was received from
Mr.. Brookhouse. All the bills were settled at
the office generally, and by Mr. Brookhouse.
They always understood that these transac-
tons were with the State Agency. Mr.. Burn
ham did not understand why he should charge
the goods to him when they were bought by
Mr.. Brookhouse, and he (Mr. Burnhaml did
not appear in the transaction. The witness
stated that it was understood that Mr. Brook.
house represented the agency in all these
transactions did not know definitely WHY the
entry TO Mr.. Burnham The mixture of alco-
hol with the whisky, as appears on the books,
should be spirits never had any transactions
with others in the mixture of spirits with bran
dy; have sold to the agency pure rum and
whisky; the article was of the purest kind
applied to furnish the agency with rum, as we
have very pure article and charged a high
price. The bills were generally settled by Mr..
Brookhouse, but remember once receiving
a note in payment from Mr. Burnham. Their
firm was in no way implicated in the prof
1t accrulng from the aduteraton the mixture
would average about half and halt; their alec.
hol was great deal better than the average,
Mr. jackson, the State Assayist, could proba-
bly, have discovered the extent of the mixture
with the spirits think he could not discover
the mixture if it should only be in proportion
of One-tenth spirits 10 nine-tenths brandy.
Durham said he had no further questions to
ask of the witness
The witness vas then asked by the chair
man of the committee whether he understood
these different liquors were all furnished to
the Agency. The bills for these liquors had
all been settled at the State Agency office in
the same way. In answer to a question from
Mr.. Durham, he stated that he was SATISFIED
In his own mind that these liquors were fur
nished to the State Agency. These transac-
tons with the Agency were nothing extra
ordinary. lie presumed that there were mix.
ed liquors sold to a considerable extent
The examination being concluded, the Com
mittee adjourned until Tuesday.
U. G. Rive learn from "official sources"
that the underground railroad, big branch of
which runs through this city, up to the Cana
dian frontier, has been doing an unusually
l,r l,.,u, Al