Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-06-13
The YVhisE5ey Ring---Ofllciai Corrup-
~ fiOn EXPOSED. ~,

y Ia the u. s. Circuit Court, sitting in Rich.
mond, Chief Justice Chase presiding, on.
Thursday, the parties on trial were j. E. Ans
derson, collector of internal revenue, j. ID.
Patterson, assessor, and Goldman, Shepherd,
Richard Anderson, Horatio Anderson, Nc
Creary, Manson and Elsom, subordinates.
COL Clarkson, one of the largest distlllers IN
this section, testified that an agreement had
been entered into by the dstillers on the South
side of the James, and John Il. Anderson and /
John II. Patterson, internal revenue othcers Oh
the Fourth District, by which more than ten
thousand dollars had been paid them Tor grant
ing said dstilers the privilege of shipping large
| quantities of spirits distilled by them, without
the payment of the revenue tax. The aggre-
| gate loss to the government by this arrange
| ment was over $250,000. 1t was further agreed
that these revenue officers should realize $50, Z.
600 annually for these privileges. Many OF
their subordinate officers were parties to the
agreement and profted by their connection
with it.
Dr. Clendenin, the next witness, before tes-
tifying, desired to know whether an Indictment
could be found against him upon any testimony
he might give in the case?
Mr.. Chandler, United States District Attor-
ney, replied, not upon any evidence he
himself might give. !,
In June or July Mr.. Goldman came to wit
ness and said he thought he would not be dong
Justice to himself in the Office he held unless he
made some money above his salary. lie then
offered WITNESSES firm certain privileges IN eva
ding the United States tax on whiskey it 1t
would give him $500 Witness referred him
to his partner (Mr. Parrish) with whom the
arrangement proposed was consummatcd. :
Under it good deal of whiSkey was shipped,
aod the money promised the Government Ola
Ger paid. A second contract was made, MI.
Parrish representing the Hewlett distlilery, In
which witness also had an interest; Mr.. Rich
ard E. Walker, the Roxdale distillery, and Mr..
Denmead the Denmead distillery. The four
distilleries were to pay 1000 per annum, to
be divided between them for the privilege OF
shipping fye-sixths of all the whiskey they
might distill, free of Government tax-the rev
enue officers to make the arrangements by
which this could be effected. Under the agree
ment, witness recolected that the Roxdale dis
tillery shipped 50 barrels, the Denmead 60
barrels, and the Hewlett IS barrels; the store
keeper representing the Government was to get
So, 500. The whiskey was branded by MIR.
Elsom
Goldman agreed to exempt sixteen tubs Of beer
for his firm, which he understood to mean
whiskey which has only taken the first degree.
This was subsequently, distilled and only, ten
barrels returned Tor taxation. He went back
on him on one occasion, however, because he
did mt ike the appointment of Elsom by AD,
derson, and returned fifty barrels, the full
amount sent from the distillcry. Witness com
planned to Anderson Of this violation Of plight
ed faith, who said the only way to remedy 1T
was to claim that it was mistake, which was
done. Most OF the clerks and subordinate iii
GERS the witness believed were in the arrange
ment, Mr.. McCreary he knew only as 4 toDac
co man, bat be supposed that branch OF the
revenue was managed like all Of the Others -
The evidence, n synopsis Of which is given
above, consumed hours, and eac expression Of
each witness, both in the examination IN chle
and upon the cross examination, showed dc
gree OF official corruption that we never sup
posed existed even in "the ring" The trial
! will be concluded to ,day.-Rich Wing.