Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-09
THE WESTERN WHISKY RING.

An Ex-AssessOr's Crooked Opera
tiOns-Sf. Louis Newspaper Men I'M
sIIcated.
Washington Special lJuly . TO the Cincinnati
Commercial.
There are rumors tonight that the
RESIGNATION Of Va Q. Avery. Chief
Clerk of the Treasury Department, has
been requested by Secretary BrIstow.
These rumors are Unf0unded. Secre-
Earv Bristow has not requested Avery S
RESIGNATION, and Avery has not re-
signed. and does not intend To. The
basis Of the rum0rs seems 10 be this:
One Mai. Con. McGrew, who was once
Assessor Of Internal Revenue at Gin
ciuuati. once attempted to corrupt
Avery. while the latter was Chief Clerk
IF Internal Revenue Bureau, and
failed. From that day McGrew EwOrs
vaDgeance. and has, at different
intervals endeavOred TO make good his
threats. He has chosen 70 appear be-
fore the grand Jury, at St, Louis, for
the purpose Of attempting 20 secure
the Indictment Of Avery on the charge
IF comulcity IN the whisky frauds.
The CHARGE which McGrew makes IS
that Ayerv was paid 500 per week
5v the Whisky Ring for very long
perioH. on account of services rem
dered to the leaders Of the ring. The
services which Avery rendered appear
u have consisted IN acts IF friend
shin. indiscrcetlv performed FOR an old
acquaintance. When Avery was Chief
Clerk Of Internal Revenue. he-answcred
several letters from JOyc at st.
Louis. who is connected with
the recent Whisky Ring, giving
J0yce answers TO questions relative 70
affairs N the Internal Revenue Bureau.
1t is maintained that these answers
were such as might be properly given
10 any person. 1t was not known at
the time that Joyce, who held high
Government position, and had the con-
Gdence Of the Republican leaders. was
IN any way connected with the Whisky
Ring. These letters there IS reason to
believe, were subsequently used by
some persons for the purpose Of black
mailing distilleTs. 1t Is these letters.
with the oath of McGrew, which, it is
supposed, constitute the evidence upon
which 1he Indictment OF Avery. at ST.
Louis, is attempted.
Avery says tonight that his friends
need have no fear as t. his ability to
entirely defend himself against what he
terms a malicious attack. He says that
he can trace to a proper source every
dollar Of money he has ever received or
expended.
The District Attorney at St.
Iouis has written here, stating that
an Indictment IN AveTy's case viii
probably be found. The Secretary Of
the Treasury has long been advised of
all the facts in the case, and has re-
peatedlv stated that he considers Avery
the victim Of malicious, rcveHgful per-
secuu5n. If Avery should beindICted,
however, il Is quite possible that he
might be suspended pending the trial
A letter has been received here from
sources friendly to hc'Trew, which says
that not only Avery, but the St Louis
journalists, Mckee, Hauser and Fish
hack are also To be indicted on account
If alleged connections v.itL the Whisky
PING The statement that the evidence
-,ro5 which the indictments Of Avery
IA others are 10 be found Is based mp
o. ineormat ;on received from McGrew
- - Social Agent, In tact, McGrew
I'o- r. commission from the Govern
I me- and no connection with the Gov
eminent.