New-York tribune., 1874-03-13
AN INFORMER,s WORK OF RUIN.

AN INNOCENT FIRM DRIVEN TO BANKRUPTCY ny
ILLEGAL SEIZURES. AND THEN ACQUITTED WITH
OUT SATISFACTION FOR LOSS
The statements in the following communica-
ton are vOuched for by member OF The firm whose
oppression aud ruin special agents is narrated They
seryc illustrate the nfamy possible under The exist
ing law
TO the Editor Of Tbc TrtbuHe.
SIR: Your statement that many cases ~ outrage upon
merchants have occurred which are recorded In the
list of seizures which you have gwen in official form
is uDquestonably true, aud the total sum OF wmch
merchants aud acurcrs have been defrauded VIII
probably exceed any estimates you have made. desire
to call Your attention 10 case where respect.be
and its business ruined by the unprincipcd
conduct OF inioImsrs ana special ngenLS , .nch
mined by o Judge Of The U. s. Circuit Court that the
fraud The power OF the GOyernment through ltS un-
priDcipled agents TO do such harm against innocent
summon witnesses to the facts, and persons OF
eminence in the State and nation who were couyersant
In tho year I5C7 firm styled Lee & Co. established an
oil rchnery 'or The p9rEose o. rolni9s and dl,tllms
suucted largo works aud had ample means
linck ' ard Were Teearfed with aVor by te
merchants Of that city About month. after they
Inspector agent of the character Mr.. Jayne,
named LOyCiOy, that the firm were doing q very profit
able business and accumulaiing money rapidly At that
time there q revenue tax petroleum OF 20 cents
callOD and the firm mentioned had steadily paid accord
Ing what they had manufactured; tho amounts paid
the Government varying from 81 900 sjOO month
The revenue agent spoken Of Mr.. LpNtJoy, regard
work. complained to the Internal Revenue Col.
lectUr OF That district, Mr.. Woodruff. since dead,
that the firm we're Gciraudng the Govornlnent OF reye
uue taxes, and without any intimaton OF what was
about 10 occur. Mr.. LOyeioy and Deputy Collector,
early one morning appeared az the OH oi tine refinery
aud said that the works d. and they demanded
the hooks Of the concern. The head of the nrn VINO
was present at The tme at once surrendered TIE books
and asked that speedy examination might he made
in, nnd.r sr'1urs rbo seui,r ,,euI,a,' i,nned,
alely went TO the Collectors oficc, and asked
MIR. Woodruff replied that he had specific charges
To make. but that the revenue agent had suspected
irregularities existed The proprietor tEen demanded
an examination of the books, but II was three days
before an examination could be made, ana meanwhilc
the work. stopped aud the propretOrs for
bddCn 10 manufacture. Contracts 10 deliver Oil had
oyerrun the price Of the article mad fallen IN The
time, and the purchasers Informed the rctners that
they wond hold them to the di renee IN price BY the
time tho works were r'loased-no ease having been
proved against the frn-the amount Of loss for
failing to fulhl contracts the part OF the rSnners
amounted TO 80 900 which tnev were compelled 70 pay
over to the purchasers. Before the works could be
again set III motion. the rchner5 were compelled 10
90 the Collector all the expenses OF the persons who had
bceu placed charge Of the premises snd incidental
expenses OF seizure amounting 10 several hundred dol
lars. The business went ON for seven or eight mouths
AMI then without any notification, early one morning
the deputy collector aud the revenue agent, Lovcioy.
hat they had received an order from the Collector
TO again seize the works, The members OF The firm i'm
ucdately went to The Collector ana asked hun upon
what charges their place seized ana their books
again taken away. The Collector, who had natural
adherence Of improper act, said that lie
responsible the seizure. that his order simply
pro foro and that he had been directed TO make the
seizure by his superior named lie who the Chief
OF the United States Detective Bureau In the Eastern
District. having office IN Cedar-st, New.York
sought an interview with Mr.. Lewis. but he
would give no satisfaction, neither telling them
upOn their premises seized, what the
specific complaints were, nor giving them any informa
ton whatever except saving they must wait the plCas
ure of the Government. Several weeks elapsed the
works were stopped, and the propreors were eontun
Lewis and frequently appealed to the special agent
detective to permit them TO explain anything that might
to give bail. They offered to give any amount
Of bail which might be demanded, II their works
their business. The members comprising the firm
stated that they had contracts TO ulhll the time for
fallen they would have TO pay the difference, aud that
would for their business II they could not
have au examination else bo permitted to bond their
works. To all these appeals nothing was vouchsafed IN
reply. Finally the firm, by advice, sought the
services Of Henry Il. Harrison, the present Repub-
candidate for Governor of Connecticut who, having
a large amount Of business on hand st that time re-
fcrred 10 Charles r. IngersO at present Governor
OF State. His obtained in connection
with those OF Dexter II. Wright, late candidate for the
United states SeuatOrshp, and they nj Once made
effort TO relieve the retncrs from their burdens.
Finally, they explained the To Judge Shpman VINO
at that tno Judge OF the United States Circuit
Court ana who SAID tnat he not familiar with the
law Under which lhe seizure was made but In Justice 10
accused would bond the refinery in the sum OF <4onO
The amount was immediately furnished and the works,
alter many week. interruption, were permitted to 20
on. Meanwhile the purchasers. who had received
the oil they bargained for at the tne specified M their
contracts laid their claims for damages against Ie
Buers and $4,000 had paid loss which
the purchasers claimed they had suffered by nonfuhi-
ment Of the contract.
Tho OF tho Government agsInsr tnis firm charged
with defoudng the former OF $4,000 came up sofno
mOaths acrward In the United States Circuit Court,
before Judge bhpman, for trial. and after single vat
had been called on the part or the defense, The
Judge charged the jury 10 bring In verdict for the
defendants But the amount VI loss SaeL the deiend-
ants had SUSTAINED by the action OF tho Government
had crippled them 70 that they were unable To continue
business aud To add 10 their misfortune soon aiter"ard
fire occurred which destroyed their works. Ii will
thus be how the detective system operates 20
destroy the reputation and business OF honest mann
faCtuIcrs In the country. Tho eDOrmty OF such
Opprc IL not known except when. Ia this case.