The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-11
THE REVENUE RAID:
About Seven Hundred Barrels Of
Whisky Seized.


been sent here by COMMISSIONS: Doug ass
to inspect the distilleries, has created quite
a sensation in distillng circles and in the
mercantile community generally. 1t APP
pears that the coming of Agents Brooks
and Mitchell was entirely unexpected, even
nue. officials here; and as the distillers
were, of course, taken completely unawares
it is fair to presume that whatever irregu-
larities existed were discovered.
The agent Brooks was dispatched very
secretly by the Commissioner, with instruc-
tions to ferret ont any violation of the reve-
nue. law Oh the part of the distilers, and in
advance OF them was sent a cypher dispatch
to Gen. Emory to furnish all Necessary men
and aid that the agent might require. Some
of Brooks spies had been sent on before to
see how the land lay, SO that when he and
his aids arrived there was no time lost in
ferreting out the locality of the distilleries,
and all that had to be done was to perfect
arrangements for the midnight raid. Ac-
cOrdngly, night before last, one squad
under Brooks and another unoer Mitchell
started out, the former for over the river
and up town, and the latter for Hammond's
distillery down town.
Both squads were accompanied by mill
tary, and both moved with great circum-
specticn and caution. The first distillery
visited by Brooks was that Of Fahrenbach's,
over the river. Here, after considerable diff
ficulty, they finally succeeded in breaking
open the doors, and found in an adjoining
shed or cOoper-shop, tiftytwo barrels Of
whisky unstamped, as is claimed, in viola
ton of the revenue law. There was no night
officer on duty, as re luired by law, and so
the place was seized and left in charge of
several soldiers and an officer.
The next place visited was Washes dis
tllery, which is located further up the
river, but there they found everything all
right, with no indications of fraud Cross
ing the river the party then visited the dis
tillery of O'Brien, on Napoleon Avenue, and
there they were rewarded by finding forty
two barrels of whisky, stored in shed, I'M
stamped. These were also seized, and
guards, with loaded muskets and fixed
bayonets, placed over the premises.
In the meantime, the squad under Mitch
ell had visited Hammond's distillery, in
the Third District ; but, after a close search,
found no whisky. 1t is claimed, however,
thai there were evidences of fraud, but
what they were it was impossible to ascer-
tain, as Mr.. Brooks declined to reveal.
1t is estimated that the amount of whisky
realized by this midnight haul will aggre-
gate about 700 barrels, which, calculating
it as worth 81 per gallon, amounts to about
5000.
The penalties, however, are seizure of the
apparatus and whisky, fine not exceeding
$1,000, and Imprisonment not exceeding three
years.
We are inclined to believe that the rregu-
larites are only such as would be discov
cred in any district and are by no means
satisfied that it was the intention of the dis
tllers to evade or violate the law. These
midnight spies of the General Government
generally manage to make things appear
worse than they are, in order to magnify
their services.
The use of the troops we regard as entirely
unnecessary and offensive, and they could
only have been required to brighten and
overawe the dlstllers, who would have re-
spected and obeyed the authority of the
agent, even though he had not been backed
by bullets and bayonets.