New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-04
PETE scHW4Bs WHISKY RING.
\ STRANGE STORY OF REVENUE FRAUDS-CAN 7
ALL BIZ TRUE

CIScrySATI, May PA day or two ago a
dispatch from this city announced with elegraphc brey-
y the arrest u three persons charged with whisky and
revenue frauds extending over two years and acgre
eating 100000. To New-Yorkers this dispatch con-
yeyed nothing Of than passing interest but to the
knowing few il the sequel 70 story % marvellous
success ana ingenious triumph. OF having
r,e in nothing su, Of triumph the persistent
eats Of revenue officials FOR the detection OF fraud
One u the persons named was Peter sfhWao' citizen
Of Hamilton Butler County fourishing manufacturing
CITY . miles north OF Cincinnati Seven years ago
SChwIb was a poor and industrious mechanic
earning Oily wages with a growing family, and
little prospect in life beyond hard work and the
ordinary competence Of artisan. The county was,
and is still Democratic -tronghOd, and schWab one Of
the rluest adhereuts OF uuterrtrd faith. II lC3 he
was rewarded FOR his party devotion by election to the
Office Of Constable, and the Of Lis prosperity rose.
lie organized Ring and, by shrewd twisting OF the law
relative 10 Criminal Costs, made his Office pay him at the
rate OF So year whereas II had scarcely been worth
"a many cents TO his stupid predecessors who had
served warrants and chased horse thieves ever since the
days Of symmess purchase, in ignorance Of the rich
mine they negectng In short, Peter managed 20
save about $1,000 and his success was only checked by
the passage OF law expressly framed by the Il ature
at its next session the prOpeusiles OF Ike i'll
geniOuic 0nstables.
sehwab had by nature, plenty OF nerve and having
acquired by $1,000 capital he determined 10 back hs
natural with his artful capital He put hi money
In his pocket and went into Northern Ohio Indiana, and
Illinois. In short time he wa back home with no
which h. had paid 10 cents gallon margin with his
gTess capped on the adqltohai TAX OF 81 Per
gallon. and Peter found himself the winner 81
snug $1,000 on ne t9oo ga.ns ne Le era
t. b the Of the greatest whisky Ring ia the country
Nh iA ve 10 ~ b I he lives Il famed as one OF the
fares in the West and the County OF Butter stands IN
the returns among The richest rural counties IN
Miami Canal connecting the lakes al Toledo with the
Ohio at Cincinnati and 2Dl miles in is entire length.
To work quietly. He showed great discern
trayed him r.d he always stood by them In they
got into any snarl with the revenue officials Indeed II
ming the revenue department in that section himself.
He also had the gift ~ talking great deal and
shHb5y Gould turn to his serious disadvantaee de-
tectiye trial before Judge Leaytt thar schwab
once told him that he wished % he could sit on pile
81 Five TWenties and cut the coupons That was al
the detective had 10 show for some weeks OF hard trial to
trap Peter and he could Mt what that expression
Ie.y t1 ,II ,it,li N cor1rrtfal ont on him
But to return the dstillerles. one by one con-
trolling those along the line OF the canal was
boucht up until this individual Ring conducted the ope
rat1ns OK most OF them between Troy and Cincinnati.
by the old managers OF those dlstierles Ntrc
won over, removed and replaced by new men The
locktenders and other officials whose duty II was 10
scrutinize the manifest Of passing Irat. Ntre taken
from their posts and others substituted through some
unseen aud mysterious recommendation. The dis
tiery Vatehmen and inspectors were either personal
friends or who could be trusted In one instance
the brother Of a Collector Of Revenue appointed
distery Waterman az q a day. This brother was n0to-
rOusly ds-ipated-hsd been for yearsand az the tine
Of ms appointment couldn't have bought Illothouse
with steamboats, only cent dozen IN the market
Yet he eoutriyed In six months TO save money enough
out OF g. a day buy snug property costing eUOo-a
| pretty financial problem worth study.
During Gil this time Of preparation our hero had few
cOnndAnt- He worked alOne-in the dark IL j. doubt
iu II the very he employed knew each other 10 be
| In his employ. There ~ betray operations.
when ali In readiness, the dstilery fires blazed
night and day. The dstilery watchmen OF course saw
nothing. They for purposes OF justice ana uAtc.
II bud-sO how could they The inspectors branded
the barrels night. The whisky put on board me
hoat- az night The boats made their trips ~ night
The ock-tenders and canal officials were al justice
! men. and Of cOurs blind a. owls IN daytime. Ihe
whisky into Cincinnati AT night ana from inc
boats had quick transit 10 the spacious Nest var
house In eight months his sales were W. ooDo-tho
largest OF any establishment IN any line OF IN
the city. In year, from beginning Olt ne wac
worth al the lowest estimate r,Dos., ana was Known
As the greatest whisky magnate III me hest, wine MS
Influence In the politics Of Southern ono II iet ana re
cOgnized His story u almost romance OF success.
In the choice Of his agents, the secrecy OF MS oefa
tious the depth of his plans, tho magnitude OF MS
shelufs The audacity and prudence denanded ana us
uIav.t there are qualities developed sometimes waning
in the G.uerar ~ armies. or the many narNeh OF the
W7-kv Ring his career ha- been the most marvellous
n V fy le expected that The present invest l-atoh
Df HI- efiuu- s M amount 90 much. Wen pad abclt7
alc AIIuUat UVUE as dead men al te.44Ds IA.eS'