New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-24
WASHINGTON.
CRIMES OF THE WHISKY RING.

CRIMES OF HE w iiiSht
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION IN cMcAGo-A PROM
NENT WITNESS SHOT But NOT KiLLED-Now
PROTECTED BY GUARD or GOVERNMENT OFF,.
CERs-PROMINENT CITIZENS IMPLICATED IN Till
FRAUDS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-Thc Treasury Depart
mcnt has the most conclusive evidence to show thas
the Whisky Ring has decided to resort to murder, II
necessary to protect its members The circumstance
which points directly to this conclusion Is the at
tempted assassination Of j. +. Miller in chicago.
last Friday night. Mr.. Miller was formerly United
States gauger. lie was discharged from the service
in Nav last for violation of the rules and regula-
tons of the Internal Revenue Bureau. HIS ofense
was of a technical and not criminal character.
Subsequently he gave the Government very
valuable information of his own accord. he
implicated in the whisky frauds persons
who hold high social and civil positions
in Chicago whose names have never yet been NELL
toned in the reports on the subject His disclosures
astounded the Treasury officials and the officers OK
the Revenue and Secret Service, who had mad I'd"
most knowledge of the inside workings of the Ring,
and through whose efforts largely the plan for the
seizures had been made. The Ring fully understood
MIllers means of knowing of their operation Learn
ine through treachery, that he had IN some way
communicated his information to the Government
knowing that his evidence could be given orally
only in criminal case and could not be perpetuated
by deposition, the Ring seem to have determined 10
prevent him from ever reaching the witness stand
The information in the possession OF the treasury
indicates that the Ring sought to accomplish TINS
purpose by the hands of an ssassn Last Friday
night, while Miller was quietly looking abons
Chicago for additional evidence against the King,
he was shot by an assassin. The ball was intended
for his heart, but lodged in his left arm. lie was
badly wounded, but will recover He was taken
care of by friends, and is now understood to be III
place where hired murderers cannot reach him.
1t is the intention of the Government to protect
him from further assault and to place him on tho
stand at the proper time that he may tell the whole
truth regarding the monstrous swindlng operations
of the Ring of which he had personal knowledge.
What he knows will assist the Government mate
rally in securing convictions. His revelations arc
considered of so much importance that he Will be
constantly attended until the trial by Government
officers. who will shield him from harm. Although
the assassin was within few feet of Miller when no
fired his face was not fully exposed, and Miller IL
able to give only meager and unsatisfactory de-
scription of him. II is doubtful if his identity can
ever be established. Through the assistance ot
Miller and Others the Treasury has obtained mass
of evidence against persons in Chicago which 10
startling.
There can be no doubt of the crcdibility OF tho
evidence or of the identity of the prominent persons
whose names are involved. These names the Treas
ury will withhold until the trial of the causes at the
October term of the Court. Their publication at any
time would create profound sensation. Miller Is
the person who was the means of discovering the ioo
barrels Of illicit highwines in Chicago when had
been concealed since the seizure The Secret Service
is closely watching every movement III chicago, o'
Lonis and Milwaukee, the leading centers OF the
Whisky Ring. 1t is known that former chicago
detective recently discharged from Government ser
vice is in the employ of the Ring, and is shadowlny
the operations of the Government officers.