The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-07-17


Jury--HOv Matters were Con-
ducted--More Of Megrue's story,
and What a DistilIer Has to Say.
ST.. LOUIS, July LITTLE United States
Grand Jury have brought In the first
fruits of their investigation into the
workings of the Whisky Ring. They re-
turned twenty indictments, and will 90
on with the investigation. The fact that
true bills have been found falls like q
bomb. The accused parties have actu-
ally persuaded their friends and the st.
Louis public that the whole thing would
end in smoke, and that it would never
be heard from after the Grand Jury had
done with it.
One-third of those twenty indictments
are against Gen. John Mcdonald and
Col. John A. Joyce, the EX-Supervisor
of Internal Revenue and Ex-Revenue
agent for this district, and the others
against the distillers and dismissed
Gauger. None of the parties were under
arrest when the returns were made, and
hence capiases were ordered for all OF
them.
So far, VIM. Mckee, of the Globe DEM
ocrat, and Constantine McGrue have not
been indicted. Your correspondent was
told last night that as far as the latter
was concerned, it was probable tnat no
prosecution would be undertaken, but
that II anything was done, McGrue
would he sued on his bond.
With regard to Mckee it Is said the
trouble is not yet begun. Megrue is ex-
pected back here to complete his story,
and there is another witness yet not pro-
duced, who is expected to give evidence
of the most damaging character. Me-
grue's story complete, will, 1t is said,
show that he was brought here in 1871
by Mckee, and that ring was organ
lied under the pretense Of raising an
election fund to carry the State for Gen.
Grant. G. w. Ford, now deceased, was
Collector then and was won over to the
yillainous scheme. myinformant states,
by the representation that Mckee had
the sanction OF President Grant to the
plan.
He finally acquiesced, but only with
the understanding that the whole busi-
ness should stop Immediately after the
election of 1872. Megrue fixed up things
with the distillers, Ulrich being the last
to come into the ring, and the latter
nearly broke up the whole transaction
by his astonishment at finding Ford
mixed up in the disreputable business.
The latter had been the local representa-
tive of the United States Express Com
pany, and was considered model of in
tegrity.
Before the ring was fairly in working
order, Ulrich tried to break up the ar
$4,000 and put it into the old Kern dis
tillery, aud was going to make fortune.
He threatened to blow the whole thing,
so that it could be made an election
document, IL they backed out and the
operation went on. Ulrich held out to
the last. and claims that he went in
finally, when Mcdonald. Joyce and 9th.
ers had pushed him so that it was either
the ring or bankruptcy. He says they
abused their official authority to stop his
made unnecessary examina-
tions Of his books, and all sorts ofthings,
until he was forced to join the band. |
Megrue was the disbursing agent, and
he says that during this period and up TO
he understood their disposition were
like this: Mckee, $1,000 and part Of the
time $1,S00; Ford, $500; Joyce, 5000;
Sl,5O0.
These figures were changed from time |
to time, as some OF the parties grew res
tive under the unequal division. Part |
Of the time Avery got $500 weekly. The
money credited to Ford was paid through
other hands, land there seems to be no |
direct evidence that he received it. IL |
Is said that when Megrue first came
home he was going TO swear tha> he had |
paid money into McKee's own hands, |
but after he arrived certain influences |
were brought to bear which led him TO |
eyade this point, and his amended evi-I
lence will bear upon this. True to the |
after the Presidential .elec- /
ton, Megfue wound up the affairs Of |
he ring, and left the city. Shortly after |
he ring was reorganized, aud Megrue
sent word to them that they were in q
business, and were bound TO-
Set taugttt. l