New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-20

business early 1863 by demanding the appointment
Of his confidential friend, Constantine Mcguire, had
quarreled with Grant because his friend had not and
Col Ford had been appointed and afterward one OF
Ford's bondsmen. Mckee native OF New-YoIk
city, and entered the Office OF The Courier and Enquirer az
printer in $780, but moved TO ST. Louis about ten
later. He Is large and powerful man.. lie Is now sup
posed 70 be worth 5000 000 Associated originally with
the Blairs and Gratz Brown, he managed to get
rid OF their joint ownership IN a manner which made
the generous Frank Blair it, his bitter enemy He
secured control OF the paper during the II was
then the only Union organ, and made some money In
1866, when the swndling purchase Of a railroad from
the State under investigation, 1t appeared IN evil
dence that the leader Of the ring had announced TO his
conederates "There e Mckee; he must be paid" and
the phrase has stuck to him since This is the man,
it is alleged who first persuaded Col Ford, then the Col
ecor that some assessment money from the dstlers
necessary in order to raise fund for campaign pur
poses. Testimony will be given 1t is alleged that about
81 GOO paid weekly by the Ring TO Mckee for de-
livery Ford his share Of the spos besides another
share, equally large paid to Mckee for himself Col
Ford, who died two years generally respected
here an honorable man. and believe that he toll
Grated OF dsters supposng that they were
for party purposes only and received any OF the
money But II so, Mckee win have 10 answer not only
for deudng Ford and pocketlng share of the plumber
for that seryceoenses FOR which he is now indicted
but for pocketng FOrd's share also.
After FOrds death, Mckee demanded and at last
secured the appointment of bis friend Mcguire as
Collector OF all the said 10 be concerned In the
Ring, Col Constantine Mcguire was personally the
most popular For many years he had been successful
druggist he leading member of many irish or
Catholic associations; he was director in one OF the
leading banks, and held good reputation among bust
men, and genial and generous man. who made
friends everywhere, Whether he imposed upon by
Mckee, his most intimate friend received share OF
the money, VIII doubtless appear from the evidence
Mcguire had been Collector for the State and St. Louis
County, but it charged that he had taken fees 10
which, though they had been collected by previous
officials he had legal right and he had aerward re-
funded to the county about $4,000 thus taken 30 little
did this affect his reputation that he nominated for
Sheriff after the disclosure and barely missed eee-
tion the Republican ticket though the county gave
majority of several thousand at the same election us72l
for the Democratic State and Presidential candidates
single year in the Office Of Collector made great
change in his popularity. He was candidate Tor
Mayor in April 1875, and though regularly nominated
by the Republican party which has poed about 20Ooo
in St. Louis received less than 1000, more than
two-trds the Republicans voting for independent
candidate. This largely because OF the general I'M
popularity Of Grants Administration, with which, as
leading official, Mcguire identified, but public feel
ing respecting the Whisky Ring had great deal to 90
with the result
The subordinaes who served the Ring numerous,
aud when it considered that oil Of them had more or
less knowledge of its criIpnaty the wonder is that II
escaped so long Concannon Chief Clerk for Ford. got
Of Office in good season. but has since been compelled
10 testify MegTue the Revenue agent from Cincinnati
who states that he sent for in 1871 by Mcdonald 10
organize the Ring and for time made its collections
and payments is a witness. FitzrOy, the Deputy
Collector who has recently turned States evidence was
altogether the most quiet massuming, and gentemany
man in town-"the mildest hammered man that ever
sclttled ship" He both cool and efficient, ana
made collections and disbursements for the Ring
down TO the final discovery. Simeon Ray
nephew OF Mckee and partner with him in The Gtot,
time gauger and is yet 10 be tried hcfall
active politician and several other subordinate 9TH
cas have confessed their share in The business and the
disters and reotifers generally Will state what sums
they paid to whom and for what pretended objects 1t
win undoubtedly appear that they were led To believe
that the President himself would sustain the officials at
St. Louis in any emergency, and that they
were told that o part of the money must
20 10 Gen. Babcock. Letters and kilograms
were shown 10 Gistlers 10 sustain these state
ments but must be remembered that unless the orig
nals are produced that the authorship be proved
the assertions of Joyce Mcdonald TO disers ought
not TO be regarded proof against any 1t was the
manifest interest of tie conspirators to represent that
they were in league with higher power and men who
would take any part in such fraud would not have hes
itated to fabricate letters kilograms But some per
son or persons in high station al Washington certainly
acted as confidential agent for the Ring Whether was
Avery or somebody else probably the evidence VIII
show Here il is almost universally believed that Avery
not alone
OF the more active members 10 whom little envelopes
were delivered every week containing neat salaries av-
eragng $50 year. Joyce has been convicted though
not Louis for participation in frauds IN hs dis
tct Fitzroy has confessed, and Mcdonald, Mckee ana
Maguire remain be tried or course they have many
friends But public opinion on the whole slstains the
Government very strongly. Those who have especial
liking for either of the victims try 10 believe that he was
merely tool or dupe "mOre sinned against than sin
ming" But this Ring was dlctatOrial, impudcnt, and
fond of ording It over others with Its igOtcn wealth
well remember the in one day. when the in
dietment OF Mcdonald and Joyce announced Satis-
faction was shown almost every face. and lady,
the wife OF wealthy merchant expressed the feeling Of
MANY when che said fired Of seeing men, who
had smaller salaries than Of her hsbands clerks.
buying for their wives diamonds such she
had never been able TO afford" Then "A politician
marked that The Globe Ring had been so Dsolent and
had assaed and blackguared many better men, that
he could shed N that clique should he fully
posed But Q sturdy workinsman told the whole story
in sentence: These aristocratc thieves teach chill
dren TO steal"
ST. Louis, Nov 49, 1873
A LETTER FROM COL. WM. NJ GRoSVENOR.
ne CONIRADICTs TIE ST. LOUIS DISPATCHES AND
EXPLAINS HIS SINGLE BUSINESS TRANSACTION
WITH JOYCB--NOT BNBED BY THE WHISKY