Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-01-24
The Harrison Whisky Frauds

Considerable interest having been man
ifested in regard to the recent develop
meDts of frauds at our neiehboring town
of Harrison, in the manufacture and sale
of illicit spirits, We have obtained the ma
terial facts in the case. and herewith pre-
sent them to our readers.
"A short time before the Dstillery of j
NJ. Dair resumed operations last Autumn,
the preliminary steps were taken looking
before giving the details in relation to the
same, it may be proper to explain to our
readers, in brief, the general arrangements
of distillery running in conformity with
the rules and regulations of the Treasury
Department. Let it be understood, then,
tina, the distiller has no access whatever to
the high wines or spirits, until they are
withdrawn from the bonded warehouse on
the payment of the tax. As the whisk y
is distilled, il passes into the High Wine
Tub, tightly closed vessel, from which it
is pumped through a continuous pipe into
the cistern room. the keys of which are
held By revenue officer. From this the
spirits are Withdrawn at stated periods
aud placed in barrels in the presence and
under the supervision of a revenue officer.
and after being inspected and branded,
are placed in bonded warehouse, Glass
A, the keys of which are also in the Gus :
tody of government official. The dis
tillery is also in the general charge Of an
Assistant Assessor, specially detailed to
supervise the same.
Such being the arrangements. it would
seem we'll nigh impossible for the distiller
to obtain whisky fraudulontly without the
connivanee Of some one in the service Of
the United States.
As before remarked, the arrangeme nts
preliminary to the commission of frauds
at Dair's Distillery were begun prior to
the commencement OF operations at said
Disiillery last Fall. A pipe or tube. com
posed Of Indil rubber, was obtained. one
end of which was, by means of metallic
fastening, screwed into the bottom Of the
High Wine Tub. This tub rested on the
floor, through whish the pipe passed, and
under which II was conducted until il
reached the Beer House. From this poiut
IL was conducted along aud under the
beer trough TO the north end Of the Beer
House. Some forty feet north OF the
Beer House stands the Malt House. This
is brick building, with largo cellar, os-
tensibly used for the storage Of empty
barrels. From tha, Beer House to the
Malt House narrow trench was dug, in
which the pipe was laid, aud protected by
a covering Of wood The soil was then
replaced, aud evidence Of its re.
moyal obli,eraied. IN aperture was made
in the wall Of the Malt House cellar.
through which the pipe was conducted,
and terminated in large tub or receiver,
placed on the floor Of the cellar.
These arrangements having been per.
iecied, as soon as the still commenced
whisky was discharged through
aud from said pipe into the tub in the
Malt House cellar, in quantities varyiog
from two to four barrels daily. To COM
pensaio for this amount, material sufficient
10 produce the same was placed in tho
mash tub clandcstinely, and Of which no
re port was made.
As the tub in tho Malt House cellar
vas filed. its contents were placed in bar.
'els, which, at night. were removed and
concealed under the house Of one Of Dir.
)air's employees. Oao hundred and
eur,een barrels having thus been stored
ONE twenty 1--WE or thirty barrels were
subsequently, concealed In the dissillery
table.
Having chained this amount Of whisk ,