The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-11-19
THE WHISKEY FRAUDS.
Further Inrere,,iua Ter,;mony,

ST. LOUIS, Nov 1S.-Iu he McDunald trial
yesterday, Joseph M. Filzroy testified taa' be
was Chief clerk in the U S. Assessors Office
In 1871 and 1872, and became d putty Collector
IN Charles w. Fords Office in 1873 remained
until mat officer died, aud continued W tn Mr..
Mcguire in the same position. He received
money iron, Megrue, Thorpe and others, and
mad repeated conversations with Joyce with re-
gard TO It, He SAID it was all right. He did
lot then know who constituted The ring, but
heard money was paid for political purposes
Subsequently he learned from Mcdonald AID
Joyce that the ring consisted of Megrue, Nc
Donald, Joyce, Collectors Ford and Mcguire,
w. Mckee, Avery, Patrick, Newcomb and
gaugers and storekeepers. Witness received
money weekly from distilers Urici, Bevls and
few conversations with Mcdonald. The tenor
of his Instructions was to keep dis,ilrrs down
as low as possible and not let them make
crooked whiskey to any extent. This was in
1871. knew of the coming of agents Brooks
Bra.her. Yaran and Gavitt, some days before
they came informed distillers and told them
to straighten up.
Under the instructions of joyce, the main
part of the money received from distillers was
divided in seven parts, and a division made
among Mcdonald, Joyce, Mcguire, Newcomb,
Patrick, Mckee and witness. Storekeepe. s
sums and by different persons. Mr. Concan-
non, who was deputy collector 10 1873, also re-
ceived sum ranging from 500 10 $500 per
week. Dut'ng the first part of the present
year witness had conversation with McDon-
aid at the Planters House, in which McDOn.
aid said he waited $4,000 to remunerate some
parties iD Washington, for Information recelv-
ed from them. Witness raised the money and
threw it over the transom OF the door If Nc
D0nald's room, as agreed upon with him. Wit
Joyce to Mckee, at the Globe office Mckee
said to witness, "Fitzroy, this is sacred thing.
You must keep it secret" Witness replied he
would do nothing to injure himself This was
juss Def re Mcguire became collector.
LII November. 1873. when Joyce was in Cali
fornia money was divided by Mcdonald. Up
to 1873it was divided into five parts, after that
INTO seven parts. Wit0ess had conversation
With Mcdonald in regard to his ties inouy be
fore the grand jury last May Mcdonald told
him he must stand firm; that it would, not
amount to anything; that they must stand by
each other.
On cross-examinat'o witness thought he
might have $4,000 or $15, 900 as his share of
the ring fund. Said he is under Indictment Tor
conspiracy to defraud ths government, for per-
jury, AMI for violation of the revenue laws
de made up his mind to plead guilty to all the
indictments against him, excerpt the enc for
perjury, some DAYS before he did it, He had
no understanding with al one as to what will
be done with his case No promise of any kind
was made to HIM.
The first witness to-day was B. II. Engelke,
recclfer, who testified havf G talked with
Joyce at various times since 1871 about doing
business. Witness was told by him that be
could purchase crooked whiskey, and would be
protected in so doing; in fact was urged to dU
so, and several times was asked by Joyce If be
was getting all he could handle. Was always
notified III advance of agents coming from
Washington or elsewhere to investigate, and
was ordered to straighten up, get the house in
order, be prepared to receive the company, ETC.
Avery used to send the RUG information of any
movement that looked dangerous Joyce on
cock, writes me that there is hell to pay; we
are IN scrape and must get out of it -
From 1872 to 1875 the Ring was crmpos+d of
Mcdonald, Joyce, Fitzroy, Mckee, Mcclure.
Patrick, Newcomb, and Gro.venor of the
Democrat. The latter got $1,000 to let up on
nomination of mayor of the city.
Three letters from Gen. Mcdonald as SUPER
visor 10 J. W. Douglass, Commissioner of
Internal Revenue at Washington, were then
introduced 10 evidence and read. The first
one, dated jan %, 1874, is iu reply to state.
trict Attorney Patrick regarding alleged viola
tions OF the revenue laws by Bevis and Frazer
and says the allegations made oy the parties
meDrOaed in Mr.. Patrick's Letter had been
examined into on several Oc 'aSiOns and found
without foundation. 10 fact, the same charges
were made against the firm in 1872, and were
examined by Collector Ford and MIR Patrick.
who found nothing to justify action. Suisse
quenty Revenue Agents Govitt, Bgosher and
Yor,an made thorough examiGa,ion OF the
establishments of the firm. ard while they
found that a violation Of the law in the man
nsr OF keeaing th6 books form 80, no evId-Dc
OF fraud Was discovered. The General further
states That the affairs of the tirm were fire.
queoLly investigated by himself. AGENT Joyce
Colec or Ford, and others. but no evidence of
fraud was ever found.
The other letters are very SINH ar in charac-
-.