The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-11-25
Crooked Officials and Crooked Whis-
KEY.


of Internal Revenue for the st. Louis dis
trict is developing great many interest
ing facts concerning the manner in which
that average specimen of the radical off
cial conducted his cheating operations
Mcdonald, it will be remembered, is be-
ing tried on an Indictment for fraudulent
ly and corruptly conniving at evasions of
the whiskey duty-Dy taking brides from
distillers, sc. Associated with Mcdonald
was an official named Joyce, also pair of
go-betweens, Leavenworth and Megrue
AS showing how these worthless operated,
the testimony of some of the distllers
who were permitted to take the stand for
the government may be quoted. Maclott
Thompson, distiller from 1868 to 1871,
testified as follows In August, 1871, he
was introduced by John Leavenworth to
Maj. G. c. Megrue. Knew Mcdonald and
Joyce. In November, 1871, joyce urged
him to begin manufacturing illicit whs-
key, and Thompson began cautiously, in
creasing the quantity made till in the sum-
mer of 1872, when he ran e-half "crook-
ed" Of his whole manufacture. The COY
eminent store-keepers and gaugers knew
OF what was going on. Paid Megruc, or
sometimes Leayenworth, from $1,000 to
81 900 per week contributions. being one
half the value of the +" crooked. . Had
helped raise a fund of $4,000 to hush
Brazier, q special agent of the govern
ment.
Megruc testified that in June, 1871,
he went to St. Louis from Cincinnati at
the request of Joyce, remaining till No.
vember, 1872. Had repeated CONVERSE
tions with Mcdonald and Joyce about
making money by illicit distilling, the
distllers to be protected by giving up
part Of the taxes s'saved" lie collected
the money from the distillers from Sep
TENDER, 1871. to November, 1872, having
previously assured them they could run in
violation of law. Witness collected about
$500 per week during the period named
After taking out certain sum for Leaven-
worth to pay gaugers, store-keepers and
assistant assessors and collectors, the bal
ance was divided into five parts, one Of
which he retained, one Mcdonald got, one
Joyce got and two were given to Leaven-
worth, with the understanding that they
were for Mckee and Ford Joyce was
generally at the supervisors Office when
he took the money in, but Mcdonald was
there but seldom. Gave Mcdonald the
money only few times. The latter once
complained that Joyce ought not to get
as much as the rest, and SO one time he
gave Mcdonald $4,000 more than the
others, without giving Joyce his full fifth.
Gaugers and tore-keepers were to re-
ceive from 81 to $3.50 per barrel, but
Leavenworth generally paid them more.
Never saw Leavenworth pay tie two-tfths
to the parties for whom he had collected
Had set aside a portion Of the money
(part of the time 800 and part of the
time $500 per week. for w. o. Avery, at
Washington. Mcdonald had charged the
witness with making unfair divisions.
Witness, in cross-eXamination, mentioned
several occasions in which he had given
money to Mcdonald, and stated he real
lied $50, 900 or $50, 900 from his connec-
ton with the ring.
The testimony of Alfred Bevis of Bevis
n Fraser revealed some startling points
in the nl0Ilus opera7lN of the ring. He had
been engaged in the distiling and rectiiy
ing business since September, 1871. His
distlllery had been shut up several times
In 1871, made an arrangement with Meg
rue to manufacture a certain amount of
Illicit whiskey, the taxes to be used for
political purposes. Had few conversations
with Mcdonald, but Joyce had full knowl-
edge of what was going on. Was sure
Mcdonald knew also. Paid from $500 to
$4,000 per week to Megrue. Had heard
Megrue state how he divided the mo-
ney Witness confirmed the testimony of
Thompson as to the fund of $40 900 to
Brazier, and he Bevis) and Leavcnworth
had paid over the money at the Southern
hotel. Talking aiterward with Mcdonald,
he said it was all right. Had paid money
in 1873 to Joyce in his room for the ring,
once 4 week in the fall and winter of that
year to Joyce OF Fitzroy. In the fall and
winter of 1874 had paid sometimes as high
as 5000 per week. At one time his part
ner and himself had called on Mcdonald
at the Planters house, and some remarks
were made about the distilers paying
s., 900 to Fitzroy for Mcdonald to take to
Washington to stop raid Understood
that the money paid to N1cgruc was for
the benefit of the supervisors, collectors,
store-keepers, guagers, &c, to be used rs
\ campaign fund, at first The witness
then proceeded to tell of the destruction
in the collectors office of the records of
his rectifying establishment, the arrange
ment for which was made between joyce
and Concannon to prevent any disclosure.
Of this. however, he thought Mcdonald
knew nothing. Had seen letters, shown
by Joyce, purporting to be from Babcock
and Avery at Washington giving assur-
ance of protection. Thought his firm may
have paid S1Oo,o 600 to the ring previous to
the close of the presidential campaign
So it will be seen that these precious
scamps, representing the virtuous admin
istration at Washington, were engaged in
feathering their nests by this bold rob-
berry; and that when they relaxed their
efforts in their own behalf for brief time,
it was to steal for the benefit of the Re-
publican party, for contributions to its