The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-11-18
THE BROKEN RING.

OPENING OF THE CASE AGAINST
M'DONALD AT 81 LOUIS.
sPHBOH FOR The PRosKCUTIoN BY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY PEDDRICK-THE CROOKED MoDUs
oPERANDI HELD UP FOR POPULAR CON-
TEMPTATION.
The st. Louis special to the Chicago
Tribune of yesterday morning says that
he United States Court room was literally
packed Monday morning by an immense
crowd of spectators, who had come to wit
ness the opening of the case against ex-Su-
pervis0r Mcdonald for whisky frauds. This
trial il regarded as the most momentous and
exciting which has taken place
since tho commencement OF the
war on the whisky ring. 1t
possesses an eDhanced interest from the
facs that it is the srst of the crooked cases
which affords the public an insight into the
real nature and active workings of the
ring. Both the defendant and the prOseeu-
tion were represented by strong delegs-
tions of lawyers. When the case was called
the government at once announced Its
readiness for trial. Judge Krum, counsel
for the defendant, asked that the case be laid
over for a few days until certain papers
could be received from Washington. Toe
district attorney promptly
OBJECTED TO ANY PosTPoNENENT
and, after further argument, Judge Treat
nipped in the bud this little game for fur
ther delay, by deciding that a continuance
was not warrantsble, and that the trial
must proceed. A jury was Immediately
impanneled, consisting of citizens from IN
terror counties. Toe defense rejested the
only three 81. Louis residents who were
called. The indictment charges spe-
cifcslly that on the first day of September,
1872, Mackl0t Thompson did carry on the
hTIa n a m Wit 2, ir--
tent to defraud the United States of
the imposed tax upon the spirits dis
titled by him, and that John Mcdonald
being a supervisor of internal revenue
having knowledge Of said violation OF
the internal revenue laws, failed to return
the same in writing TO his next superior off,
Ger, viz, the commissioner OF internal rev.
enue. The second count charges that, know
ing of the illegal removal of spirits by said
Thompson, he failed to put him under oath,
and 20 make an examination OF the dis
tillers' BOOKS, papers and premises. The
succeeding counts charge a failure to ex-
anime into and report similar alleged viola
tions of the internal revenue laws on the
part of Peter Curran, Alfred Bevis, Edward
b. Frazer and Rudolph Ulrici In the last
two counts Mcdonald is charged with con-
spring with Joyce and the distillers named
90 defraud the government. One charge of
cheating the government out of the tax on
1000 gallons of whisky is specifically set
forth,
PEDDRICK's PRELIMINARY STATEMENT.
After the ponderous Indictment had been
read to-day, Assistant District Attorney w.
r. Peddrick opened for the prosecution In q
speech ofgreat fervor and length. During its
delivery the jury and audience were SPELL
bound. It was a terrible arrsignment of
Mcdonald and the entire whisky ring, logi-
osl, eloquent, scathing and brimful OF most
damning charges. The following memo
randa from Peddrick's speech contain sub
stantislly the criminal acts which the prose-
eution expects TO prove. McDonald's active
connection with the ring will be established
20 the full satisfaction of the Jury. McDon-
aid was ss bad as Joyce, but more reserve In
his manner of approaching the whisky
ring question and more guarded In his
expressions. The government has in its
possession letters showing that Joyce and
Mcdonald asked Megrue to come to st.
Louis for the purpose Of organizing the
ring. Bssvis & Frazer were the first dis
tlliers, and Cirici the last, to join the ring.
1hey commenced operations in the fall of
1911. Megrue was the ring cashier until the
presidential election. He tnen left st. Louis
Dut the ring wac reorgaDizsd, and Ftzroy
was made csshier. j. w. Bradshaw a reve-
nue ohcer from Washington, came here in
she spring or 1872. He discovered the fraud
Megrue met him at the Southern Hotel, and
went with him TO the house OF MackIot
Thompson, distiller, and that night $40 900
were paid, one-third by Beavis q Frazer,