Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-03-16
French Brandy and Other Pure'' Liquors.

A highly interesting case was tried by
Judge Smally, in the United States District
Court, in Albany, last week. In October
last. some nine or ten-ss eighths" Of brandy
were sized in the Champlain district as hav-
ing been smuggled-it having all the appear
ance of the imported article. The owner
contended that it was not an imported article,
but was manufactured in this country. The
District Attorney on the trial attempted to
prove that the liquor, a cask Of which was
produced, was genuine article of French
brandy, and for this purpose called an expe-
rienced hotel-keeper and a druggist, both of
whom, after tasting, pronounced it fine i'm
ported brandy, such as they had often paid
from twelve to fifteen dollars per gallon for.
The defendants counsel then produced sever
al small bottles, containing liquor Of the same
outward appearance, and, pouring some into
wine glasses, asked the witnesses to taste
thereof and say what it was. They declared
each and all Of this miserable stuff, not fit to
be drank, except one bottle, which they con-
sidered gerry poor brandy.
The counsel thercupon proved that all but
the one bottle was taken from the Identical
cask which had been SO highly extolled, and
that the one was a common Bourbon whisky
manufactured in Albany The cooper who
made the casks was called, and testified that
they were manufactured in Brooklyn-the
willows around the hoops being imported
that they were intended for a perfect imitation
Of the French casks; that to give them the
appearance Of a sea voyage, they were wash
ed in solution Of copperas, which rusted the
hoops and discolored the wood that there
were several such manufactures in Brooklyn
and New York, and thousands of casks made
every year One extensive dealer swore to
the manufacture of the article, which was
neutral spirits, favored with an article known
to the trade as the g oil Of cologne" and col
ored with burnt sugar; the imported " oil Of
cologne" costing one hundred dollars and up
ward per pound; that mandatory of this
oil existed in Cincinnati that he did not
know the value Of imported brandy, as he had
neither bought nor sold gallon in ten years
that thousands of gallons Of this spurious ar
ticle we're sold yearly by his house, and that
many similar establishments were in New
York-that many experts were SO deceived
that frequently they declared the spurious
superior to the genuine article-that gin was
also manufactured to a large extent as well
as other liquors-that in short, very little
genuine liquor was sold in this country
Other witnesses were called who tasted and
testified that the article seized was very
good imitation, but without drop Of real
brandy in it. The jury, without leaving
their seats, found verdict for the defendant.
After the verdict, Judge Smalley said that
in the whole course of his legal experience
he had never heard more extraordinary
case than this, and referred with much en-
phasis to the testimony, showing the extent
to which the community was imposed upon
by this base system Of counterfeiting which,
unfortunately, there was no law to punish.