Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-12
The stacey 1IuddIe.

- a..4
The stacey MIDDLE.
On Friday evening we learned that >.
Edward Stacey, who has been connected
with many improvements in the city, al d
who has also been q Revenue Detective,
had been arrested and brought be-
fore Supervisor Emery for alleged
abuses of the revenue as re-
CARDS distilleries, and being accused Of
leyying illegitimate contributions upon the
same. We refrained from mentioning the
circumstance till this morning, hoping, as
we still hope, that the accused may be in
nocent of the charges. The subject was
one Of much comment yesterday, and as
various reports have gained publicity con-
corning the transaction, there is no longer
cause for withholding the facts Of the
legal proceedings instituted in the
premises. In order that the accurate in
formation may be furnished without doing
injustice to any one, we publish the depo-
sitions just as they have been sworn and
subscribed to. Mr.. Stacey will have a
hearing in few days, and we will be re-
joiced if he vindicates himself of the
charges. The following are the deposi-
tons
NASHVILLE, Nov. 90, 1S69.-Mr. Larkin
Bradley, of Montgomery county, Tenn, be-
ing sworn, deposes and says that some time
in the latter part of the summer or early in
the fall of 1867, was running distillery
on the Cumberland river, in Montgomery
county, Tenn. had run my distillery as
honestly, and fully intended to continue
doing so, as any man in the world could
While was sick at home Capt. ]. Edward
Stacey, revenue detective, visited my dis
tillery and ordered it to stop running,
which it did for several days. He also came
to see me at my house and told me what
he had done. asked him upon what au-
thority he had stopped the distillery. He
told me he was a revenue officer and showed
me his papers. then asked him why he
| stopped the distillery from running. He
said was not running it according to law.
1 asked him in what way was offending.
| He replied that lacked two Government
| locks, one on the low and one on the high
wines tubs. l remarked to him that I did
not think that sufficient cause; that had
| applied to the Collector several times
4 for such locks, but had failed to
get any; that at the request and
knowledge of the Collector got these,
| the best ones 1 could find, and the
Collector saw them. His (Stacey's) reply
to me was that he Stacey did not make
the laws, but that it was his (Stacey's) duty
to see that the law was enforced. Up to
that time there was not Government lock
in the district to my knowledge; nor is
there now in the district but one to my
knowledge, and that one is on my cistern
room. asked Stacey what 1 was to do.
We had already been stopped three days
and we're feeding from 600 to 1000 head of
stock, which would suffer unless the distil-
lery could run. His reply was that would
have to go to Washington and see Commits
sioner Rollins l said to him that to make
the trip there would take three days and
three days to return, and that it would
probably take a week in Washington, and
then, perhaps, not get anything definite
done, and that had rather pay one thous-
and dollars and let the distillery start up.
After talking awhile, he said he would take
the thousand dollars and give me an or
der to start up again. / paid him the
thousand dollars, and he gave me a written
order to start up again.
Subsequently Stacey made proposition
to me to let my distillery run as 1 saw fit
for five hundred dollars a month. paid
him that amount per month until it
amounted to three thousand dollars. I
think it was more than that. l could tell
by referring to my books. L. BRADLEY.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Nov. %, 1SG9.-Sub-
scribed and sworn to before me.
GEO. W. EMERY,
Supervisor Int. Rev. Dist. Tennessee.
Also sworn to and subscribed before me,
Dec 8. 1863 r. Mop. SMITH.
u S. Circuit Court Commissioner
I, E. R. Campbell, Commissioner of the
Circuit Court of the United States for Mid
die District Of Tennessee, do certify that
the foregoing is a true copy of an affidavit
on file in my Office E. r. CAMPBELL,
Commissioner
The subjoined is the
DEPOSITION OF GEO. R. HARRIS.
NASHVILLE. Nov. %, 1869.-Mr. G. r.
Harris, of Montgomery county, Ten
nessee, being duly sworn, deposes
and says: / am a distiller of the
firm of Dick & Co. am acquainted with
J. Edward Stacey, late Internal Revenue
Detective. first made his acquaintance
some time in the year Of 1867. At that time
had partner by the name of r. H. vii
liams The first time Stacey saw my part
ner, Mr.. Williams about our distillery he
gave Mr. Williams, to understand that he,
Stacey, must have some money. First Mr..
Williams offered Stacey a gold watch worth
about $3.50, but this Stacey would not take
and secuted at the idea. Mr. Williams
uext offered Stacey a check for 800, but
ne would not take it. Mr.. Williams then
gave Stacey $500 Stacey would not have
a check. but wanted Williams should draw
the money, and give it to him. Mr.. vii
liams also gave Stacey money of and on
until some time in May, 1868, when VII
iams went out of the firm. Our old books
will show the above transactions.
After R. H. Williams left the firm l did
not run until February, 1869. then took
in as partner David Dick.
In December or January previous to that
Stacey came and surveyed our distillery
Several days after surveying our distillery
he said that must give him some money,
and l gave him 800. He said that was
very little, and would do no good that be
and Supervisor Noah had to have some
money l told him after we started our
distillery l should be able to do better by
him After we started, he Stacey bought
sixty or seventy barrels Of whisky, full
proof and well coppered, which he said he
must have at $l.25 per gallon, while our
regular price was S1.5O per gallon.
shipped to him in lots of ten and twelve
barrels at a time the last lot think was
fifteen barrels. l drew on him for the
money, but the draft was protested, and
came to Nashville to see Stacey about it.
and he made me deduct $500 from the
draft he gave me his note at sixty days for
the balance, payable in bank. l gave him
at one time 500; it was on the cars going
to Springfield He came to me and
said he must have some money
l gave him 800 in his own Office, in Nash
vile, two weeks ago last Friday evening
Whom l gave him this he said he had
bought the old Stacey House, and 1 must
give him $500 more by the 1st of Decem-
Der, and to tell Jim Carter it was time he
was doing something for him Stacey
cannot tell the full amount have paid him
now, but l can tell by referring to my
books GEORGE X. HARRIS.
NASHVILLE, Nov 29, 1S69.-Subscribed
and sworn to before me.
GEORGE w. EMERY,
Supervisor District Tennessee.