Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-20
The Georgetown Distilrery Case.

This morning the examination of the ease of
Timothy j. Hurley, charged with a violation
of the internal Revenue laws, was resumed
before U. :. Commissioner L. r, Brown, AT his
Office, on + street, near eth street Mr. N VIII
sen appearing for the Uaited States. and Mr. :
l.. Phillips for the defence.
Mr.. Jas. CuaBai1gs was sworn. Testified that
he filled the position of General inspector of
Liquors in tins District, under the revenue SER
vice. up to the 18th of October last Last sum-
mer branded IS or IL barrels of liquor at the
Potomac Distillery in Georgetown; could not
RENE Der the month without referring 10 his
books. The marks had been defac.d. and he
was ordered to brand them by Mr.. Clephane:
dId not at that time inspect the contents; tested
or barrels; they contained reetified whi key,
colored: he tested the liquor with Mr.. Maui.
Assistant Assessor, and it was below proof:
could not say how many barrels.
BY Mr.. Phillips-There might have been four
or five barrels in the lot of high wines: couId
not swear TO the proof; thought Mr.. Hurley
said there We're four or five barrels of high
wines which We're liable TO confiscation He
told Mr.. Clephane that he had ordered the
wagon boy TO take back some barrels of high
wines 10 the warehouse in Georgetown rs being
liable to confiscation. Recolects that there
were l5l barrels belonging 10 Gloss and LYNCH
there which he stamped, and after they were
removed from the warehouse he was notified
that number of barrels containing he be-
lleved nigh wines, were left in the cellar. which
he restamped, the old ones being defaced.
jam y. Slater, Assistant Assessor, sworn
witness was present and had the kew of the els
tern room and bonded warehouse and il was
his duty TO visit the distiliery every day. On
he 10Th OF August, a rainy day, and the distil-
lery having been reported as not working wit
ness did not go over: went over on the 10th
early In the morning. and went through and
down in the room in which the cistern room
opens; saw four barrels on the floor, and found
hem 10 be filled; knocked out the bung OF one
with stick OF wood; put his finger IN and
asted II; found the spirits strong 1t being
liable TO seizure being on the premises, witness
no PISfp roll h. g.
rels in, and locked them up: they were IRON
bound; came back, reported the seizure. and
about Y O'Clock went there again: went i'm the
same room; found II, Is, IA, or more barrels
not positive as to number; went up stairs
and got hands and rolled them up also
The spirits were tasted The wooden barrels
Were rolled out first-depended mostly on the
judgment OF MesSrs. Cummings and Maull-
and they were pronounced below proof: part
supposed TO be wasted. Those of the iron
barrels were found to be colored and supposed
10 be rectlfied. The fourth one was found TO
be high wines without color. Mr.. Cummings
branded all but this one which was left
to be branded when whiskey was
drawn ara n from the still again. This was done
hauled away. Some time after this went 10 the
bonded warehouse building, and found thirteen
or more barrels of spirits on second or third
toor, and examined them. They Were wooden
bound; had on them Mr. Cummings brand
witness put on them the letter "C'' i'm red
Witness has examined the five barrels at Mr.
Ce pnahe :. ana KNOWS they are not the same
as those he had seen at the bonded warehouse
Lmts Gephane was recalled, but no new facts
were developed.
II. c. addison, Deputy Collector of Internal
Revenue, was sworn, and his testimony cor
roborated that OF the witnesses who testified as
10 the SEIZURE of the distiilery on Christmas
day. Witness seized the place and locked the
TWO office doors; went in cistern room and
found two and a half barrels of liQuor which
he tasted and asked for a bottle; brought a
phial full to Washington; met Mr.. Hurley in
coming down and informed him of the seizure
MT Hurley asked what for, and witness said
1t was for a violation of the revenue laws
When witness went back the three barrels had
disappeared. Met Mr.. Hurley at the Girard
House, in Georgetown, and asked what about
the whisky which had been thrown into the
r1yer. He threw his hat down and said nv
God, and was excited; he said nothing else AT
mat time. He walked IN a small room and sat
down, but came ont again and asked witness to
make it as light as he could. He appeared m
great distress.
Thomas b. Aarche, assistant assessor, was on
The stand when our report closed.