Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-07-29
LFor The Ohio Statesman,l
The Mode of Enforcing the United
Stafes Revenue Laws.
FoRr JENNINGS, July "a IS

FoRT JENNINGS, July "a, 1866.
MEssRs. EDITORS; The Toledo Record
tells its readers In one of its late issues, that
a Government detective came to that place,
examined the books of some of their most
prominent business men, and upon detect
ing violations of the revenue law, arrested
the parties and declared their property
confscated, but in each case proposed TO
compromise with the party if he was will
ing to pay fine fixed by the detective; and
Mrs. Rumor says that the detective, the
famous Mr.. Mcdonnell, made the nice little
sum of $4,000 by the operation. This The
Record calls a remarkable proceeding, and
thinks it is blow at the very principles
which underlie the foundation OF our Gov
ernment, and should be sternly resisted
by every one as an encroachment upon the
rights of our citizens. am glad to see
that several of our best newspapers are
giving the alarm; and believing that moth
ing is better calculated to open the eyes of
the people and show them where we are
drifting to, than to call their attention to
outrages daily committed among us, l con-
cluded to give you brief statement Of the
worse than Russian proceedings of that
same officer above referred toand his aids, a
few weeks ago, in our own county.
On the 22d of May last past Mr.. Gillaspee,
S. Taylor, United States Collector In the
10th District .(our own collector in the 9Th
District probably not being considered fit
for the job), seized Mr.. Erch's distillery in
Putnam county, with its contents and
everything connected with 1t, during his
absence in New York, without notice to
any of his folks or hands connected with
the business. A day or so after, said Gill
laspee came back again, took Erch's books
and locked his Office, also without notice to
any one connected with Mr.. Els business.
On the 9th Mr.. e. returned, came down
to Fort Jennings the next day, and request
ed me TO accompany him and advise, with
him in his difficulties; and on the 10Th, not
believing in the policy of forsaking friend
in time of adversity and distress, finding
that his health was poor and that he was
pretty well broke down mentally and phys
ically, / accompanied him back to his home
at Delphos, as requested. Shortly after our
arrival, Mr.. Gillaspee appeared, talked very
smoothly'to E., and told him that Mr.. Nc
Donnel was In town, who wished to see
him, and the whole matter could be easily
compromised; whereupon Il. replied, that
he would be very glad to see Med. come to
his house, and he would do anything he
could, to settle the difficulty. About one
o'clock in the afternoon, three gentlemen,
sMessrs. Mcdonnell, Gillaspee and S. Taylor,
made their appearance, ordered me to leave
the room, and then commenced taking E.
through an inquisitorial examination, and
after that went together to the distillery,
T.. inviting me to 90 along. Here they
looked at the machinery, tubs, grain and
other articles in the building-the whisky
already being moved to Delphos-and then
went into the Office. inquiring and hunting
for some of Mr.. Els books, which they
claimed they had not found yet. Not find
ing the books, and Mr.. Z. stating that he
left them, when going to New York, as
usual, in the office, Mr.. Taylor LETT us in a
hurry and went back to Delphos, probably
telegraphing for the U. S. Deputy Marshal,
Mr.. j. M. Brown; and shortly after we all
returned to Delphos. Mr.. i. went to the
railroad depot, looking for Mr.. Raymond,
the collector of the proper district, and
Mr.. Reed, the Revenue Agent, who had
promised to come that day; but instead of
meeting these gentlemen, he met Mr.. j. NJ.
Brown, from Lima, who arrested him. This
being done, the above named gentlemen
met again at Mr.. Els house, requested me
- TO leave the room, and another inquisi-
tion commenced. Mr.. Med. ordered E. to
stand up and be sworn, to which +. re-
piled, that he was not swearing yet. First,
I'd he wanted to know his authority; and next,
he desired counsel before he could 60 into
such examination. Counsel being refused,
and L. told that he was a criminal, and had
: to answer the propounded questions under
p heavy. penalty, Med. called me into the
room again, showed a parchment, from
whichit appeared that he was aGovernment
= detective, and then went on with his exam
ination. The main and leading questions
were to Erch: What has become of your
n. IL. lahA aIyaQ
know il; yourself, or your friends, or per-
sons interested, must have taken them
away. Mr.. Z. answered, that he had not
known that his property would be taken
from him during his absence, and that since
his return he had not been in nor near the
distillery, and he was not responsible for
what was done in his absence. At this time
-Gillaspee roared out: "Will you say took
the books? You know where they are
you got them!" This made Erch rise from
his seat, and made him reply, ''That is lie;
/ have not the books, and never said that
you had them" Here McD., Taylor and
myself interfered, and Med. finding that
bullying would not bring out of Il. what
was not In him, closed his inquisition, and
left f. in the care of Mr.. Brown, U. S. Dep
uty Marshal. Seeing that e. was exhaust
ed and much chagrned by being left un-
der arrest and every step watched, but still
more annoyed, If possible, by the distress
CT his wife and children, and knowing him
to be prisoner, stepped up to Mr.. Brown
and requested him, in behalf of E., to show
the warrant for his arrest, as both of us
were anxious to know the cause, in order
to prepare for a. defense and take wit
nesses along if needed. To this B. re-
piled, walking round in the room very
importantly, II have warrant" smack
ing his hand Oh the sidepocket of his
overcoat, "but you cannot get to see
it." then rem arked that that was a very
novel and singular proceeding, unknown
and unheard of heretofore, of an officer re-
flsing TO show his authority for an arrest,
and leaving the prisoner unadvised of the
charges made againsthim; andI again beg
ged of Brown, asa favor, Ii neither E. nor me
could ask it as right, to show the warrant,
but to the best of my recollection, no an
swer was given, and, as if he gloated in the
distress of. Mr.. Erch and his family, he
stepped and stood on the porch, giving us
no satisfaction. Failing in this, made
another effort, and requested b. to takebail
for Erch's appearance to any amount he
saw proper--if five thousand dollars would |
not answer, to take ten thousand or more |
and would bring the best men in Delphos |
for his surety, with the assurance that e. |
should and would be on hand at the very
minute, when and where he was required
to be-. But that was likewise refused, and
Brown answered, that he was not authorized
to take bail; he understood his business and
knew his duty srT The answers of ME-. Band
his manner were naughty and eontemptu-
ous. After this no furthereftort was made.
Erch was guarded either by, Brown, Gill