The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-11-30
The Whisky Frauds.

The trial Of ex-Supervisor Gen. Nc.
Donald at St. Louis was concluded, last
week, and resulted in verdict Of guilty
on oil the counts fthe indictment. The
jury were out about three hours
The career Of this man Mcdonald has
been a somewhat remarkable one. Pre-.
vious to the war he was nobody run.
ner for steamboats, and hotels in st. Louis
in the palmy days Of steamboatiDg. Pos.
sessed of degree Of energy and boldness,
though illiterate and rough, he acquired
certain prominence among men of his
class, and became an intimate friend Of
Gen. Morgan l.. Smith, who became sub.
sequently famous as commander of the
9Th Missouri regiment, regiment com.
posed chiefly of levec characters, and
equally noted during the rebellion for its
bad quality morally, and its undeniable
pluck in action Mcdonald followed the
fortunes of Smith when the war began,
and when it ended came out with the rank
of major. and with a standing politically,
if not socially, improved. Then followed
period Of comparative inactivity, and
then came the appointment to the super
visorship of internal revenue-a surprise
to everybody. How that appointment
came, why it came, is not even yet pub
lcly understood, That he acquired large
wealth is well known His country place
at Green Lake, Wis, is said to be mag.
uifcent place, and there, during the past
summer, he has entertained 10 sumptuous
style, while 10 money matters generally
he has shown an astonishing profuseness
A droll incident is related of him in this
connection. Some friend whom he was
entertaining, struck with the display of
wealth. asked Mcdonald "How is it
that a man with salary no greater than
yours can possibly afford to spend so much
money 2" Mcdonald did not reply di-
rectly, but, with queer look on his face,
answered "Wcll, my wife is very eco
nomica woman" Joyce is supposed to
have been the right hand Of Mcdonald 10
everything. Joyce supplied the kpowl-
edge which his illiterate superior lacked.
Joyce planned the course to which Nc
Donald gave sanction and support. Joyce
was the brains, the energetic, active
agent, Mcdonald the figure head posses.
sing final influence. How the combina.
ton prospered is already known. That
Mcdonald is nagrantly guilty as
charged, the jury in his case have
determined. In person Mcdonald is
rather portly, of middle height, and with
an air ungracefully imposing. He weighs,
perhaps, 100 pounds ard adopts the
semi military style in his dress aud gait,
wearing his coat usually buttoned tightly
about the waist, sporting military hat
and walking with chest well out Upon
his sbirt.front huge diamond cross gilt
tiers, in the display of which he takes
special pride His face is rather inclined
to coarseness, but with a certain air Of
shrowdness which by no means bellies him
as evinced by the fact that SO few of those
engaged in the ring frauds testify to &C
tual conversation and dealing with him it
regard to the acts of the combination
He is model of animal health, and no,
easily affected mentally. The nerve he
has shown since the beginning Of the
campaign against the ring indicates that
Since his trial began, however, he hal
visibly lost q portion Of his confidence
and, as the testimony of the various
apparently closed about him his delncan.
or has changed, He sat in court with
little OF jauntiness in his air, following
intensely every effort Of his shrewd coun
sci in his behalf, and watching anxiously
their effect upon judge and jury.