The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-12-15
THE INDIANA WHISKY RING.
The Devious Doings of the Wicked
Worm Of the Still.

me Devious DOlng6 OF the WICKED
Worm Of the Still.
THE WAY THE PURE AND PATRIOTIC AGENTS
OF THE ADMINISTRATION WERE CORRUPTED
THE TRUE STORY OF THE CROOKED wHIsKY
RING-sTARTLING sTATEMRHTs.
The trial of James X. Hill, the United
States deputy collector at Evansville,
charged with conspiracy to defraud the gov
eminent, has been in progress in the United
States Court here during the week, but the
following testimony covers the develop
ments OF the case 30 completely that 1t is
not necessary to quote more of 1t. The re-
suit has not been reached, but 1t Is generally
believed that the defendant will be con-
victed and go to prison with the Binghams
and the government officials who have plead
guilty, a dozen in number:
The first witnes In the afternoon was the
elder of the Bingham brothers.
He is q man below the medium size in
stature but possesses closely knit figure.
Is of nervous bilious temperament and
has dark hair and whiskers slightly
sprinkled with grsy.He seemed somewhat
feeble from the fiery ordeal of
federal vengeance that has been
visited upon him for corrupting the pure
and patriotic sppointees of the administrs-
ton. His testimony was given with an air
of trankness and q familiarity with the sub
ject that betokened q painful knowledge of
tie details, which was largely verified by
the documentary evidence identified by him.
In answer to interrogatories by Col. Trus-
Ter,
RYRoN BINGHAM TEsIIFIED:
reside in Pstoks, Gibson county, Ind,
and have resided there twenty-three years;
during sixteen years Of that time was en-
gagged in the general produce and mercantile
business for q saw mill, since then i
have been merchandising and distil
ling. The firm at Maxville was Bingham,
Danaman & Co.; that at Patoka Bingham
Bros, as were also that at Evansville. Mr.. G.
A. Danaman and VIM. Nathan Stockwell
| were members of the Maxville firm. The
Bingham Bros, Evansville and Patoka,
were John w. and myself The frm az
both places was the same. Q-Do you know
the defendant, James K: Hill; If so,
how long have you known h1mr Al sm
acquainted with him, and have known
| him about two years, / think. When /
| first got acquainted with him he was an
officer under Gen. Veatch. l disremem-
Der what il was. When / became more in
| timateiy acquainted with him he was in
Gen. Veatch's employ, believe, a. deputy
collector. l will remark here that my
memory for dates is not as good as 1t ought
to be. Q-You may state to the
Jury what you know, if anything, about
1 any violation of the internal revenue laws
| during the time he was connected with the
service as deputy collector Of the first dis
trict? Al know that considered Mr..
Hill-The intuitive counsel for the defend
ant interposed an objection before the wit
ness could conclude the sentence
The court instructed the wit
ness to tell what he knew con-
Meeting him with any conspiracy to manu-
facture without paying the tax due the gov
eminent or allowing anybody else to do II.
Al became acquainted with Hill through
Mr. Danaman when we were running this
business. It necessary whenever
new officers appeared that they must take
en- interest in it or else We mus. quit. ]
told Dsnsman of HILLS appointment, but
he told me
HILL WOULDN'T BE TROUBLESOME.
Q-What occurred then? Any recollec-
ton is that Mr.. Hill came out to Pstoks
distillery. I asked two other parties to
leave the Office, and then Mr.. Hill and 1 had
a little co nversation. Q-Repeat it as near
as you can? Al told Mr.. Hill
that we were not running in
compliance with the revenue laws,
take an interest in it, would give him so
much, naming $3.50 per month. he says,
that Is all right and you can go ahead. Al
terward 1 considered Mr.. Hill our friend,
and the thing went on, as you will learn
hereafter. Estate to the jury
at that time? Al paid him 800 or $3.50.
1 paid it to him in money just after he got
out of the distillery office, somewhere be-
tween that and the depot, think. O.
Taking the time and place as they occurred.
state the amounts youipaid him? Al
learned from some friends, some time
afterward, that he was going his rounds,
and to Vincennes, and at that time
banded him 500 or Sl50 in an envelope.
The next time was when General Vestch
+ came out to investigate, and some whisky
hsd been hauled out OF the rectifying house
to prevent General Veatch seeing it. 1t
was hauled to the depot as water. Hill came
, out and investigated the matter and
made report TO General Veatch
and received 500 for it at that time. O.
report satisfactory to General Veatch. O.
State the conversation with Hill at that time
ABOUT the matter7 Ave didn't have any
, particular conversation. he came up and
= went through the routine. We didn't talk
plan to talk very much after the first con-
versstion. Estate what was said by your
self or any one else with reference to the true
, facts as they had occurred theref A-Don't
recollect any particular conversation. We
never heard anything from the office after
I ward' and we
: TOOK IT FOR GRANTED
that Gen. Veatch had looked at the
report and supposed that 1t was all
: right. Q-Do you remember whether he
) asked or said anything about the character
3 of the trans action? A-Not TO my recol-
D lection. Q-When was it that you gave
him the money; before or after he left the
: placer A-Before. Q-Wbat did you say
8 to himf Al don't know that made any
1 remark at all. 1 just handed him the
I money. Estate what recollection
1 you have OF the occurrence Of
= your introducing Mr.. Coconour to
t Mr.. Hill at the distillery7 Al don't know
s that any introduction took place. Coconoul