The New York herald., 1875-12-29
THE WHISKEY FRAUDS.
J. D. WOODWARD ON THE wARPATH FOR
PROPER RECOGNITION FROM THE GOVERN
MENT-A STRANGE sTopy IN TRur

J. D. WOODWARD ON THE wARPATH FOR
PROPER RECOGNITION FROM THE GOVERN
MENT-A STRANGE STORY III TRUE.
ST.. LOUIS, Dec. 2s, 1875.
statement has been made to-day by J. B. Wood
ward, attorney Of this city, which, il true shows
that he mas been badly treated by the authorities at
Washington. II will be remembered that fully SIX
months before any seizures for whiskey frauds were
made in this city, Woodward sent letter to Commis-
sioner Douglass, in which he charged that whisxey
ring existed which cheating the government OF
thousands OF dollars OF revenue annually. Woodward
says that at the time he began his inquiries whis
Key matters here he applicant for the position
Of United States District Attorney and his object in
exposing the fraud was TO establish a claim the
otee and also TO obtain reasonable fee for his
vices He inaugurated work by appointing number
OF detectives 70 examine into the manner
In which the ST. Louis distilleries were being
conducted. The result Of these examinations
was to expose every crooked establishments in st.
Louis When the Investigations were finished he pre-
pared the evidence in due shape and forwarded it
through the hands OF Erastus Wells, Congressman
from this district, to COMMISSIONED Douglass. Wood
ward says the papers which Congressman Wells left
with Douglass comprised all the material and important
evidence which has since been made public during the
progress Of the whiskey trials.
AN EDITORS sAGAcITY.
Douglass Jailed 20 utilize the valuable material and II
was returned to Woodward. Woodward then carried
the returned papers to J. w. Fishback proprietor of
the ST. Louis Democrat, who at glance recognized
their Importance and without delay hurried TO Wash
ngton lay tho matter before Secretary Brstow
That official seized upon the opportunity chcckmate
tho revenue robbers, and almost Immediately there
after war was opened by the seizure Of the
dlsteries The singular part Of the story is that al
though Woodward furnished the only evidence upon
which Bristow acted that he Immediately dropped
out OF notice. and the entire credit of the performance
assigned to Fishback and his commercial editor Myron
Coloney. All Of Woodward's efforts to have his i'm
portant services recognized proved unavaling and he
wrote 70 commissioner Douglass, his lawyers claiming
compensation Of from $5 600 TO $40 000 and author
zing and empowering Douglass to receive that amount
from the government his compensation Douglass
returned the authority with the Information that the
Treasury Department refused pay anything Subse-
quently Woodward empowered Mr. Wells to collect and
receive the amount claimed by him, but Wells could
nothing.
AN APPEAL TO CONGRESS-
Woodward complains bitterly at what he deems the
injustice with which he has been treated, and will lay
his claim before Congress during the month OF January
mere httie doubt that ne IS entitled to more credit
than any one else for the exposures in the St Louis
whiskey frauds
AN IMPORTANT STIPULATION WITH CHICAGO
wHIsKEY DIsrrLLERs-A PROMISE OF START
LING REvELATIoNs-THE wHITED sEPUL-
cHREs OF POLITICS TO DE EXPOSED.
CHICAGO, Dec. 2S, 1875
The propositions reported to-day to have been re-
ceived from Washington, whereby the indicted whs-
key men to be granted immunity from criminal
prosecution, has occasioned considerable stir, and
many who are interested In the crooked business
phaticay deny any such condition Of affairs yet this
does not disprove the developments which have been
made The conditions of the proposition appear. under
the circumstances, TO cmbody much justice, and to
contribute to the interests of the government many
ways. The result oft, however will abomi-
nation of desolaton in the hearts OF many people in
high places who deem themselves secure from
harm There will be such a rafting of dry
bones befOre
land IL the programme Is carried out. There
is depth and breadth and incisiveness about it
calculated to accomplish the object the Secretary of
the Treasury has been long struggling for under such
ovsrmastcring difficulties
TERMS or THE TREATY.
Tho details as far as known (and the intelligence
comes from legal gentleman who sustans official re-
lations with the government foows:-The Sec
retary of the Treasury proposes grant the disers
of Chicago and possibly OF the entire country immunity
from mprisonment In consideration for this they are
to into Court and plead guilty. they are pay up
all revenue which may be found due from them
to the government they are to pay GER
.sem he Court IN e shane U o Ss bsy
then to be requred Y go into the witness stand and be-
Know concerning those whky a and IS O. g ss
who have been standing In the background but con-
game. Politicians will suffer. This is blow those
In high places who have been using their positions to
extort money from these distllers unlawfuly. The
very outmost rim Of this stupeLduous ring will prob
ably be reached by this means, and the really guilty
parties will be brought to justice The origin of the
campaign funds will thus be revealed, and the system
of official stealing which has corrupted the political
body Of the nation will thereby be exposed.
SLY RASCALS
This is a flank movement on sly rascals who have
stood in the background which they doubtless have not
anticipated. The full scope and significance hardly
be comprehenied at the first glance There are, per-
haps five politicians who reside in Chicago, who have
enjoyed high political honors, who will read this
startling proposition with dsmay and alarm. That the
dstillers will accept the there to
doubt Their condition Is precarious the evidence
against them Is almost conclusive.
PESITENTTARY PROSPECTS
To refuse these terms Is to go to the Penitentiary,
where several Of them would be in less than month II
this proposition had been offered them. There is
to hope that they will accept the which
the government about offer them and throw them
selves upon the mercy OF the Court. Those who
their friends believe and expect that they will adopt
this the wisest and best to be pursued The
result OF their evidence, II fully and honestly given
will be a revelation TO the country and many willy
politician will ignoby bite the dust.
DENIAL by TIE GOVERNMENT THAT THE IN
DIcTFD WuIgKEY DIsTIIIERS AT CHICAGO ARE