The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-09-03
Bad for Detective Miller.
Chicag0 Tribune, Goth.

The mystery surrounding the attempt
ed assassination Of ex-Gauger Miller
seems to darken with every day. While
it is pretty generally admitted that the
man was shot, quite number are labor.
ing to create the impression that he
shot himself or got shot in a drunken
row, but that at all events no agent Of
any whisky ring inflicted the wound. An
attempt is also being made apparently to
discredit Miller's testimony, when he
comes up before the Court as a witness in
October, by showing that he has been
making efforts to blackmail distillers.
Mr.. Dickinson, Of the firm Of Dickinson,
Abel & Co., stated yesterday that
Miller used to gauge for them, and that
about four weeks after his dismissal from
government employ he went to Mr.: Bur-
rows, one of the firm, and said that he
had some facts in his possession as to
their way of doing business which, if
made known to the government. would
cost them several thousand dollars, but
that they could settle with him for few
hundreds. This proposition was reject
ed. Mr.. Dickinson says that Miller
then called upon him and made simi.
lar propositions, which were also de.
clined. Mr.. Egan, of the firm Of H. IL.
Shufeldt & Co., says that Miller called
upon his brother, W. c. Egan, and said
that he wanted $500 raised for him by
the distillcrs, and that, if they did not
help him, he should notify the govern
ment Of certain facts. Mr.. Lynch of the
same firm, few days afterwards received
letter from lawyer asking him to call
at his Office. lie went, and demand for
money was made in such way asSto
leave no doubt in Lynch's mind that
Miller was trying to blackmail him.
Lynch went to District Attorney Ward
and notified him Of these facts, and asked
him if he would prosecute Miller for this
attempted blackmailing. The District
Attorney said he had no particular objec.
tion to doing so if proper case was made
out, but that it seemed to him that the
suit was one which should be brought in
the State courts. The officers of the
Northwestern Distilling Company also
have an unfavorable idea Of Miller, Re.
mcmbering him as lazy and careless
gauger, who appeared to be always neg
fecting his work. The statements which
are made as to Miller's rather dissolute
habits are too general to be disbelieved
and there seems to be no doubt that he il
rather a loose fish. The Government
officers, however, seem to have full faitt
in his ability to make valuable disclos
ures touching distilleries which have no
yet been implicated in whisky frauds
Possibly he has made to them statement
regarding Shufeld, Dickinson, etc., ant
the Government officers put faith il
them.
As regards Miller's having been shot
the testimony of Or. 1ngraham and Mr.
Dodd, ofthe Rock Island House, is as ye
unimpeached. The only inaccuracy j.
the reports hitherto published has bee
in reference to the place where Miller
stopping: 1t WAS stated that he had bee,
sent to Pennsylvania, where his famil,
live, but the story was invented in orde
to throw Investigators off the track. II
is known to be yet in this county, and
believed to be at the Marine Hospita
where he can be more conveniently s,
cluded from the public than in any sim
lar institution. ..