New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-18
TIE RICHMOND WAISKY FRAUDS

CHARGE by CHlEF-JUSTICE CHASE-ENEMPLARY
PUNISHMENT.
The TRIBUNE has published a summary of the
proceedings in the case Of the Government against
revenue officers and Others In Richmond who had de-
frauded the Government and whom ChiefJustce Chase
has consigned TO prison but the telegraph gave us
merely hint Of the drift OF the interesting charge TO the
Jury, which we reproduce below
GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY-You sworn 20 Try the
issue between the accused aud the United states The
son Who was collector OF the fourth districts j. H. Pater
son, who for that district; A j. Goldman
who inspector aud afterward assistant inspector
W. ElsOm who general inspector under the law OF
March p 1867 Richard Anderson who was inspector aud
specor and afterward storekeeper Vernon Shepherd,
who q storekeepor, and - , who was collector,
see that the parties accused are officers OF
the Government charged with the collection
is the United States-the Government Of the United
representing all the people whose duty 1t Is 70 see
interest OF all the people These the parties whom
have named who are defendants in this case, and the
country citizens 10 try this the duty which
you have taken upon yourselves Is solemn one IL Is
less important than II Is solemn for While i isof con
siderable Importance that the revenues Of the Govern
shall be faithfully collected, and that the officers OF
the Government shall discharge the duties cast upon
them by the laws faithfully and exactly 10 Is no less i'm
pOrtant that citizen accused OF msdemeanor before
jury OF the country shall be convicted OF
that misdemeanor except upon sufficient ev
dence. The charge rs conspiracy 70 deiraud
counts OF this indictment, which you Will have IN your
room In the judgment OF the court 10 ~ not important
consider this indictment at length III II had been
much shorter 10 would have been equally effective IL
Chargesa conspiracy defraud the Government ana
specific fact the removal of % barrels OF
whisky, without payment OF duty. The law Is very
PLAIN III two or more persons cOnspne 10 commit any
Oense against the laws of the United states, or 10 de
fraud the United States In any manner Whatever, anu
parties TO said conspiracy, shai 40 any ~
To effect the object thereof, the parties To sdlu
conspiracy shall be- deemed guilty or "a hls .i
meanor and, ON conviction shall be liable 10 the
penalty OF not less than $1,000 and not more uh SlV
line, and Imprisonment not exceeding TWO yele iho
degree OF punishment, you will see under eei .'l
ton h left the court IL Is not matter Iot you" o
sdeTatOn. III yOu convict THESE PcIs"ns' 10y
viii be liable 10 fine OF not les thah sHW"
exceeding SlO,00O,a and 10 lnpilsonheh. uot va
ceeding years That 10 matter LOT INC NVulV ""u
not YOU. The question upon when you arg 10 l"ss
the which these parties nave phoeu upo ane
record. They have. pleaded not gunty -dIe they no1
,uty Tbat ia the question for you A conspiracy eA-
iss Whenever one or persons ACT III concert Win
common intent effect an nnlaNInI oDycb la. u S
plain definition of conspiracy, but III the Judgment OF
the Court It IN sufficient one, M.S LIE tno ~,
mo an unlawful object that - conspiracy IN TINS case
has said by counsel upon the SUBJECT OF
DEFINITION of conspiracy That Is maier upon when
tbs Court IA bound instruct you We think there is but
one conspiracy In this In july 1867 some OF these
naTes Goodman, Anderson and others, ms set forth 10
Won were deaersn whisky who are charged as engaging
fogrtncr the purpose OF arranging plan by which
these dealers shall be permitted 10 snip whisky without
unvi nq the tax IL you believe that charge then and
ihers this conspiracy formed ana so long the in
Tent between these parties and any other parties
who may since have joined OF afterward joined with
them 10 permit tho shipment OF whisky without tho pay
ment Of The tax Just long the conspiracy existed lt
u matter 0t the smallest imn0rtauoa what we've tho