New Orleans Republican., 1875-11-19
MISCELLANEOUS,
The Whisky Ring Trial nj 81, Louis


ST. LOUIS, November lis D. Thorpe
testified that he was United States store
keeper at Warrens dishllerles here and at
Peter Curran's distillery. Mcdonald in
structed MIN TO see that the house was run
to the strict letter OF the law, and when
subsequently ne was at Choteaus, McDon-
aid told HIM if any attempt at fraud was
made there ha would seize the place. He
said nothing about other distilleries. While
witness was at Choteaus, joyce told
him the house had to make crooked whisky,
and the money must be paid to him,
Joyce also gave the same instructions as to
the Aurora distillery after Joyce took it.
Witness told Joyce he thought such instruc-
tions from him strange after being directed
contrarily by Mcdonald, and Joyce told
him to pay 10 attention To what Mcdonald
said. On one occasion, while witness was
at Choteau's. he Joyce had sent for him,
and he went to the SUPERVISOR 5 Office to see
him. While there Mcdonald asked him
how things were running, and told him he
was going to visit ChoteauS :, anu if he found
even technical violation OF law ne would
seize that distillery.
Choteaa 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 ThOmson's distillery wit
ness let whisky out of warehouse crooked
on Fitzroy's orders. When at JoIett's wit
ness received money from him and gave it
to McFall; subsequently gave 1t to Everest
and he would give it to Joyce. About fifty
barrels crooked whisky was made weekly at
Jouett's, at sixty gallons per barrel, that
being the assessment made on the distilery
Some weeks that amount could not be
made, and then Joyce would send for wit
ness and demand the reasons for the delin-
quency. Joyce told witness he was taking
rare of the officials at Washington, viz:
nd ntka
and the money was being used for poiti
cal purposes. Witness always understood
he and the others were woIking under Or
ders from headquarters. Joyce would come
around and make special assessments, saw
ing the folks at Washington wanted money,
and must have it. He assessed witness
800 accordingly for the "folks at Wash
ington." Parties named by Joyce as re-
celving money here were District Attorney
Patrick, United States Marshal Newcomb,
General Mcdonald. Major j. NJ. Fitzroy,
chief clerk in the United States collectors
office; William Mckee, of the Globs-Dcmo-
crai, and Constantine Mcguire, United
States collector. Witness did not know
how the money was distributed; after it
lett his hands be never got a 'sip" at it
again.
James Fitzroy, chief clerk assessors of
fcs-l knew of the coming of Agents Brooks,
Brasher, Yaryan aud Gaytt some days be-
fore their arrival. informed the distillers;
told them to strengthen up. Under orders
of Joyce witness had q conversation with
Mcdonald at the Planters House, in which
Mcdonald said he wanted $4,000 to remune.
rate some parties in Washington for infor-
nation received. From this witness raised
the money and threw it over the transom of
the door of MeDonaid's room, as agreed
upon with him. Witness was present when
$4,000 was given by Joyce to Mckee at the
OIalo Max aa,1 t,x
roy, this is sacred thing; you must keep it
secret" Witness replied that he would do
nothing to iDjnre himself.
ST. LOUIS, November l8.-The Mcdonald
trial is still progressing, There is great
excitement. The first witness, B. H. En-.
gelke, rectifier, testified that he was urged
by Joyce to purchase crooked whisky, and
always received advance notice Of the
agents coming from Washington, and that
Avery used to send the ring information of
any danger. Witness testified to paying
money for what was called the campaign
fund from 1872 to 1875. The ring was com
posed of Mcdonald, Joyce, Fitzroy,
Mckee, Mcclure, Patrick, Newcomb, and
'GIosvsnOr, nor of the Democrat. The latter
when the latter was seeking the nomination
for mayor Of the city. Joyce once said to
witness: my friend Bsbcock writes me
there is hell to pay; We are in scrape, and
must get out OF it," Witness admitted to
being party to several indictments here,
and had not considered and did not know
what effect his testimony to-day would have
upon the indictments still pending.
Another witness testified to Joyce's indus
try in collecting money for the ring.
Letters from Mcdonald, as supervisor, to
Douglass, a. revenue commissioner, were
The first is in reply to state
ment sent to Douglass by Attorney Patrick
regarding the alleged violations of the
revenue law by Bevis & Fraser, and says
that the allegations made by the parties
mentioned in Mr.. Patrick's letter, have
been examined into ON several occasions
and found without foundation.
A letter, dated March 6, 1874, inclosed q
clipping from the New York Sam, intimate
ing that General Mcdonald is 1t the head |
pf the whisky frauds IN Illinois and other /
places. This, the General says, he would |
not notice were it not that the St. Louis |
papers make wild and unfounded changes /
against taxpayers and officers in this dis
tSict, but when called upon for facts to sid |
him IN prosecuting violations of law, they /
have utterly failed to substantiate their a. |