Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-06-17

Saturday, was examined before United
States Commissioner Holiday, aud com
mitted to jail, without bail, on a charge Of
treason. From the testimony Of e. T. Car
son, Collector, and John Pollock, Inspector,
Skiff has been in the habit Of getting
permits almost daily, to send butter and
cheese TO Louisville, generally consigned to
TAFT Anderson q Co, The large quantities
forwarded created suspicion on the part Of
the officials, and by some means these sus-
picions became known to SkiGf, who went
into the Custom, house and inquired if ale
was contraband, stating that he had received
an order for a considerable quantity from q
Louisville firm. On being answered in the
negative, he obtained permit to send what
purported to be considerable quantity,
consigned to Collier g., and for two or
three days managed to elude suspicion. Day
before yesterday morning he shipped eleven
casks Of what appeared to be ale, but upon
search, was discovered to be butter.
When the fraud was discovered, both Mr..
Skiff, and Mr.. Collier, of the firm already
alluded to- were on the boat, which was pre-
pairing to leave the wharf. Mr.. Carson imme.
diately asked Collier if he had bought the
butter for home sale, or was only acting as
a commission merchant. He endeavored to
evade this for some time, but as the collector
demanded direct reply, he admitted that it
was only consigned to him, to be shipped
South.
On cross. examination, Mr.. Carson was
asked if he did not allow butter to be ship
ped to Louisville to which he replied that
be did, in small quantities when he had
the proper vouchers that the parties to whom
they were consigned were bona fde purcha-
sers, and good Union men, and the articles
were intended for retail, for home consump-
ton; bacon and other provisions were per-
mitted to pass in the same way, and even
powder, but never more than keg of the
latter at time. These permits, however,
were only granted to Kentucky, Missouri
and Western Virginia, and one or two points
in Tennessee. H..
Mr.. Craig, agent of the Madison packet
identified the goods seized, as those shipped
by Skif. Until the discovery, he had sup
posed the casks to contain ale.
Charles Grosvenor, Deputy United States
Marshal, arrested the prisoner and as soon
as he had taken him into custody, he
(Skif) attempted to excuse himself by say
that, although he expected the butter was
shipped to Charleston and New Orleans, yet
he did not knoac it, and said he ought not be
punished unless his knowledge was positive
He regretted that this lot had not escaped
the officers, as it would no doubt have been
the last, as connection South of Louisville
would henceforth be cut off. He said he
could not see what difference the sale of his
butter would make, as the Southerners would
either get butter or do without it.
At the time of his arrest his correspondence
was seized, but the District Attorney declines
to allow any of it to be published until the
trial.
Several of the letters were read, however,
and we are enabled to give a synopsis of q
few of them, and Vsrbatim extracts from one
or two others.
One Of his correspondents was Mr.. H. s..
Seward, of New Orleans, to whom he writes,
under date of May l, that he had forwarded
one hundred boxes of cheese, consigned to
him, the shipment having been made on
the boat Fdirchild On the 18th of the same
month, be tells his correspondent that he
| can send butter by express for four and a
half cents per pound, the time employed
being but three days from Louisville. He
| says "If you will send me funds will buy
all you want. Direct your letters, by express,
to Covington, KY" .i. ..
On the following day he writes to the same
party that the chances for shipping are not
good, but said he would try what he could
do. He said be could ship butter in few
days by way of Louisville.
On the 23d of May he writes that he had
on the day previous forwarded to his CORE
| spondent eleven frkins of butter. He said he
had heard that butter was forty and fifty cents
per pound in New Orleans, and offered to
send all that they wanted, making his ship.
ments daily or tri-weekly, as was most con-
venient. He added: ~ think now there is
chance to make some money, as we under
stand each other"
His correspondent acknowledged the re-
ceipt of forty boxes of cheese on the 9th OF
May.
In letter to E B. Bartlett, of Memphis,
Skiff expresses considerable indignation that
he should withhold funds in his hands from
a citizen of Kentucky;" and adds: "Did you
get the hams and butter sent your Bart
lett replies that he did get the butter and
hams, but be won't pay his Indebtedness fol-
the present. at any rate-which, in our
opinion, is not a very honorable way of re.
munerating men who run such risks as Skif
did but it is tie reward traitors usually
get. .lf.
In letter to TAFT, Anderson & Co., o
Louisville, Skiff informs that firm that th'
Custom house officers were growing sus
picious of his movements, and wanted let
ter from them to be assured that all wa
right. He told them that he supposed they
could not tell where the went, as they solC
TO whoever desired to purchase.
In reply, the correspondents ask if he car
not ship one hundred firkins of butter in
flatboat below Millcreek. TO this, no an
swer was found among the seized papers.
InwritiDg to a Mr.. Cooper, of Louisville
who was formerly his clerk in this city
Skiff says:
Estate what it (the butter) brought, ant
the prospect about closing your road. | viii
bay and send you more to morrow, or Mon
day, provided you report all things right"
This letter bears date June 10, and appear
10 be unanswered.
The prosecution was conducted by Nj
Ball, the District Attorney, and the defens
by Mr.. Mitchell, whose gentlemanly conduC
presented pleasing contrast to the vulgal
staggering, bullying course pursued b
George z Pugh, in the Young case.