The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-11-18
Trial OF the Whisky Ring.

distillers were raising money for the rev.
enue officers. On one occasion Joyce told
him he must have $1,000, which was
raised. Another $4,000 was raised in
May, 1875, at the suggestion Of Joseph
NJ. Fitzroy, chief clerk in the Revenue
Collectors office and given to him by
witness, This was to prevent seizure,
but they were afterward seized. A de-
mand was made for the return Of this
money, as II had not served the purpose
for which il was raised by the distillers,
but they never got it back; never paid any
money to Mcdonald, but did to Joyce;
raised some money for revenue agent
named HOgue, who was here investigat-
ing in 1864. Joyce repeatedly told wit.
ness that everything was all right, and to
go ahead, and he would have ad-
vices from Washington Of any trouble
ahead. Mcdonald told witness that
FitzrOy should not be blamed for the
So, 700 he received, and which the distil-
lers wished returned, as 1t had given
them time to got their surplus. On cross
examination the witness reiterated the
remarks make to him about the money
paid to Fitzroy; witness plead guilty on
advice OF General Noble his attorney, and
had never had a conversation with Dis
trict Attorney Dyer about the mat
ter. Andrew MegruC, an employee in the
POstOilice ut Cincinnati, and cousin Of
G. T, Mcgrue, testified; ! ran Bevis 4
Frazer's distillery in 1871 aud 1872, and
made Illicit whisky, perhaps one-third,
Mcdonald came to the distillery two or
three times; asked me how we were get.
ting along, and II We could make more
crooked whisky. lie said, Damn it, man,
this thing ain't Ihyingi We must make
more On crOss.examinatiOn he gave an
account Of his connection at different
times with distilleries in Ohio, but said
he never made crooked whisky in them.
Came here at the instance OF his cousin,
Con Megrue, 10 talk up the matter of ILL
cit distiling with Bevis. Was 10 tell
Bevis that Con Megrue had made ar
rangements with herevenue officers here
which would protect distilers IN making
"crooked" whisky.
Rudolph W. Ulrici, one Of the most
prominent distillers here. testified that he
talked several times with Joyce in 1871
about making "crooked" whisky, but dc.
clincd to enter into the arrangement.
Subsequently, however, when he found
that several other disLillers were in the
Illicit distilIing business, he went in and
Etaid until October, 1872; had several
talks with l'ltzroy and paid him money
several times; reported the amount Of
CROOKED" whisky made to MGgruc, and
afterwards TO FitzrOy; paid 30 and 80
cents per gallon; did not know where the
money went, and didn't care; raised money
lor both Drashear and HOgue.
s. D. Thorpe testified that he was u. S.
storekeepcra atvarious distilleries,here and
when at Peter CurrAn's distillery Nc.
Donald instructed him to see that the
house was run to strict letter Of the law,
and when subsequently he was ut Chou
teau, Mcdonald told him II any attempt
at fraud was made, he would seize the
place. lie said nothing about other dis
tillerieS while witness was at ChOuteau.
Joyce told him the house had to make
crooked whisky, and the money must be
paid 10 him, Joyce also gave some instruc
lions as to the Aurora disillery,afte Jou.
ett took II; witness told Joyce he thought
such Instructions from him strange
after being instructed to the contrary
byMCDonald and Joyce told him 10 pay no
attention to what Mcdonald said. On one
occasion while witness was at Chouteaus,
he Joyce sent for him, and he went to the
office 10 see him, and
while there Mcdonald asked him
how things were running, and told him
he was going to visit Choteau's, and II
he found even u technical violation Of
the law he would Sieze the distillery.
Choteau had made payments to the ring
before that, but none were being made
then. Choteau and the officials did not
seem to agree. While at ThOmpsOn's
distillery witness lei whisky out Of the
warehouse crooked on Fitzroys orders.
When at Jouetts establishment witness
received money from him and gave II to
McFall, who subsequently gave II to Ev.
crest, and he would give It to Joyce.
About 80 barrels OF crooked whisky were
made weekly at Jouetts at 90 gallons per
barrel, that being the assessment made
at that distillery; some weeks that
amount could not be made and then
Joyce would send for witness and demand
the reasons for the delinquency; Joyce
told witness he was taking tate OF the
officers at Washington, BabcOck, Avery
and others, and the money was being
used for political purposes; witness al.
ways understood lie and others we're
working under orders from heRdquar.
ters; Joyce would come round and make
n special assessment, saying the folks Mt
Washington wanted money and must
have II; he assessed witness 800 occa.
sionally for the folks nj Washington.
The parties named by Joyce as receiving
money here were District Attorney Pat.
rick, U. y. Marshal Newcomb, General
Mcdonald, Major Gunther, J. NJ. FitzrOy,
chief clerk in the U. s. Collectors office;
VIM. Mckee, Of the Globe. Democrat, and
Constantine Mcguire, U. =. Collector.
Witness did not know how the money was
distributed; after Il left his hands he
never got sight Of II again.
Joseph NJ. Fitzroy testified that he was
chief clerk in the u. s. Assessors office in
1912, and became Deputy Collector in
Charles ". Fords office In 1873; remained
there tilt that officer died; continued with
Mcguire in the same position; he received
money from Megrue, Thorpe and others,
and had repeated conversations with
Joyce with regard TO II. lie said IL was
alIright; lie did not then know who con.
stiLuted the ring, but heard from Joyce
and Megrue; the money was paid for pO-
litical purposes; subsequently he learned
from Mcdonald and Joyce that the ring
consisted Of Megrue, Mcdonald, Joyce,
Collectors Ford and Mcguire, Wm. Nc.
Kee, Avery, Patrick, Newromb, and the
the gaugets and storekeepers. Witness
received money weekly from dislill-
era Ulrici, Bevis Il Frazer, Bnsby, Ten.
sher and others; had few conversations
with Mcdonald but the tenor Of his
instructions were 10 keep dstillers down
as low "a possible, and not let them
make the crooked whisky TO any great
extent. This was In 1871, and knew Of
The coming Of Agents Brooks, Btashear,
Yeatan and Gafritt, some days before
they came, and informed tile distlllerS;
told them to straighten up under the in.
stfuctions Of Joyce. The main part Of
the money received from the disLillers
4 T. 4 II -.