The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-04-01
REVENUE SPIES AND 1NFoRMERs.

REVENUE SPIES AND MF0RMERS.
A few weeks ago we referred to the action
of persons who had played the part of sneak
ing spies in going through the interior OF Ore
gon, in quest of cases where dealers in mer-
chandse had through ignorance or negligence
exposed or sold certain styles of articles upon
which no revenue stamps were affixed as re-
ouired by law, and then informed upon every
delinquent or transgressor they nosed out
The only object and sole motive these sneaks
aud spies had in the villainOus occupation was
to share the Government award in such cases
-one-half of the amount of the fine recovered
against the defendant. Late Portland papers
give the result of several cases brought on
motion of these wretches in the U. S. District
Court, before Judge Deady. Only in one case
was verdict rendered against the defendant,
and that was by default, as the party COM
planned of failed to put in an appearance, and
he was fined 5000. But in every case which
went to the jury verdict in favor of the de-
PENDANTS and against the intormers was re-
turned And, after half dozen or more
cases were thus properly disposed of, the Gov
eminent Attorney entered n0lle prOsequi in
ali the remaining cases.
The names of the miserable hounds who
scented out and caused these suits, as we learn
by the OreyOnian, are Leander Quivey and
l. G. Culprpper-names which every dealer
Ill ha
sure to remember Indeed, we wish the pho
tographs of the worthless were put up in every
public place or store in the country, So they
could be recognized on sight whenever they
came TO any spot, to polute it with their
presence.
We greatly like the charge made by Judge
Deadly to the jury in one of these cases as we
find it reported in the Oregonian OF March
ed. aud We think every impartial reader will
likewise approve of il. The Judge fully up
holds the majesty OF the law, and erjons the
sanctity of the jurors oath yet he So aptly
presents all the salient features Of the case as
10 ylndicate ustice while he would enforce the
penalty of al actual violation of law.
Ia the course of the trial it was proven by
one witness that one of the informing spies
CuIpcppcr-had boastcd that in some instances
he had picked off the stamps from articles he
and then made complaint on oath that the
stamps had not been on II is fair 10 assume
that men who would be- guilty of such vile
trickrry 10 make a case, out of which them
selves We're 10 reap pccuniary benefit, would
not hesitate 10 commit perjury on ;he witness
taud for similar consideration.
4 noticeable and praiscworthy feature in
these eases is that 40 officer connected with |
the Revenue assessment or collection has had |
any completely in the disgracciul business
And in this connection we can instance the
similar praiscwor,hy conduct of the same class
Of officers in Idaho. We have known them
10 go to no small trouble to inform persons of
revenue iniract!ons-innocenily committed
and thus save them from prosecution, fines.
oriclturcs aud costs, rather than to institute
suits 10y which quite heavy fines would have
been shared equally between themselves (the
Revenue ofiiccrs) and the Government An in
stance of this kind is this week presented, in
ms paper, in which Deputy Collector Smith
'nabl's lis to present the law governing these
cry stamp duty cases, So that our dealers
nay be thoroughly informed upon the law,
md so save trouble and loss
RARE OLD BEN.-A Washington CORES.
who reported the noted scene over
onnting the votes for President in Joint Con. ..
enton of the Senate and House, says: Z
1t didn't appear in the regular report but