The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-06
ST. LOUIS WHISKY BUz.

Inc telegraph brings US accounts OF q
tremendous buz in St. Leuis In relation
to the fraudulent whisky ring in that
city. Two prominent citizens OF st.
Louis, Mckee and Mcguire, have been
! indicted tor defrauding the revenue.
This OF itself would not be matter OF
such astounding Importance as to war
rant any great conyulsion in public re-
gard. Rich and influential citizens
have, before this, been indicted for Of
fenses quite as atrocious as is dealing
in 'tcrooked whisky" But the news
mongers of st. Louis have been ON the
alert to give the matter much more
sensational aspect.
According to the dispatches emanat-
ing from St. Louis, the public would be
led to conclude that the President and
his cabinet, private secretary and all,
either had been or were about to be in
dicted tor defrauding the revenue in the
matter of whisky. These sensational
announcements have not been verified.
1t was stated in some of them that Or
vile Grant, the Presidents brother,
Gen. Babcock, his private secretary,
Ex-U. S, Marshal and Ex-Member OF
Congress, Newcombe, an Ex-Judge, and
two Ex-District Attorneys of the United
States had been indicted by the grand
jury then in session.
Now il this had been true, its truth
was matter very easily ascertained,
But it turns out to have been untrue,
and these sensational dispatches were
sent forth to the public without
any warrant of fact. The simple
truth is that nobody was indicted
but Mckee and Mcguire. But it was
supposed that the Grand Jury were de-
iberating about other cases of like kind
Inasmuch as the proceedings of the grand
jury room are kept profoundly secret, Il
argues but little for the sagacity of per-
sons making such announcements in ad
vance of any action by that body.
The whole transaction seems to have
been quite villainous enough, if what the
principal witness for the prosecution has
stated be true. And it may possibly bt
true. 1t nevertheless bears q feartu
squirting towards falsehood. The mai
Fitzroy, upon whose testimony ant
outside statements this whole thin!
rests, is plainly man of bu
little reliability. He has been himself ;
deputy collector under Mcguire; bu
had been dismissed from his position
When he was in office he swore that ht
knew nothing about any frauds al
charged upon Mckee and Mcguire. Now
he comes and swears that he knew al
about it. In one case or sthe other hi
made false statement. FAe legal rul'
is that such a witness is not to be be
lieved at all.
IfOrville Grant has been engaged il
such disreputable transactions, and h
certainly Goes not bear the cleanest 0
hands, we hope he will be punished a
the law provides. Nor do we believe tina
he would find in his brotherhood with th'
President anything to save him. Gen
Babcock would deserve the same. Blu
we can see no plausible reason for hi
being implicated with the ring. ii
could certainly be of no use to them, onl.
upon the supposition that Genera
Grant himself was involved In the in
famous transaction. And it would tax
more than the word Of such liar a
Fitzroy is proven to be, to convince tn
public that General Grant was such
fool as to risk all his great fame and dt
grade his nigh station for such q paltr
affair as revenue swindle like that.
We hope they will scorch the william
that did it. But we do not take stock /
those sensational kilograms that hav
aroNsed the attention of the nation b
connecting distinguished names with
transaction that would scarcely !
worth the consideration ofa 'curb-ston
stock-jobber.