Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-25
HAVE WE COME TO THIS9
Fraud to be Covered by Assas-
siDatiOn.

whisky and GOre-DesPerate Distil-
Iers ThiFsting for the Blood OF W.T..
nesses.
Special TO the Cincinnati Commercial.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-The Treasury
Department has the most conclusive evil
| dence to show that the Whisky Ring has
| decided to resort to murder, if necessary,
to protect its members. The circumstances
which points directly to this conclusion, is
| the attempted assassination Of j. e. Miller
in Chicago, last Friday night. Miller was
formerly a United States Gauger. He was
discharged the service in May last for q
violation of the rules and regulations Of
the Internal Revenue Bureau. His ofense
was technical, and not of criminal char
acter. He subsequently voluntarily gave the
government very valuable information. He
Implicated in the whisky frauds persons who
hold high social and civil positions in Chi
cago, whose names have never yet been
mentioned in this connection. His dis
closures astOunded the Treasury officials,
the officers of the revenue and secret ser
vice, who had previously had the most
knowledge of the inside workings Of the
Ring, and through whose efforts, in great
measure, the plan for the seizures had
been made. The Ring fully understood
AIiller's means Of knowing Of their opera
tions. They, through treacheTy, learned
that he had in some way communicated
his information to the Government.
Knowing that his evidence could only be
given orally in a criminal case, and could
not be perpetuated by deposition, the Ring
seem to have determined to prevent Miller
from ever reaching the witness stand. The
information in the possession Of the Treas
ury indicates that the Ring sought to &C
complish their purpose by the hands of an
assassin. Last Friday night, while Miller
was quietly looking about Chicago for adj
dit.Onal evidence against the Ring, he was
shot by an assassin. The ball intended for
his heart, however, lodged in his left arm,
and although badly wounded, he will re-
cover. He was taken care Of by friends,
and is now understood to be in a place
where hired murderers cannot reach him.
1t is the intention of the Government to
protect him from further assault, and 10
place him on the stand at the proper time,
that he may tell the whole truth regard
ing the. mOnstrOus sWindlingl opera
tiOns Of the Ring, Of which he had personal
knowledge. What he knows will assist
the Government materially in securing con-
victions. His revelations are considered
of so much importance, that he will be
constantly attended until the trial by Gov
eminent officers, who will shield him from
harm. Although the assassin was within
a few feet Of Miller when he fired, his face
was not fully exposed, and as Miller Is
able to give only very meagre and unsat-
isfactory description Of him, it is doubtful
if his identity can ever be established.
The Treasury has, through the assistance
of Miller and others, obtained mass Ofevi-
dence against persons in Chicago, which is
startling. There can be no doubt Of the
credibility Of the evidence, or Of the iden-
tity of the prominent persons whose names
are involved. These names the Treasury
will withhold until the trial Of the causes
at the October term Of court, Their publ
cation at any time would create a pro-
found sensation. Miller is the person who
was the means Of. discovering the four hun
dred barrels Of illicit highwines in Chicago,
which had been concealed since the seiz-
ure. The Secret Service is closely watch
ing every movement IN Chicago, S., Louis
and Milwaukee, the leading cities Of the
Whisky Ring. It is known that a former
Chicago detective, recently discharged
from the government service, is in the EN-
plOy of the ring, and is shadOwing the op-
eratiOns Of the government officers.
The AssaSsins FIy-By the Advice Of
Matt Carpenter.
Special to the Cincinnati Gazette.
The Treasury Department received
dispatch from Chicago tonight stating that
$50 barrels Of illicit whisky were seized
there to-day, against which the evidence is
conclusive.
The Treasury is advised that two gov
eminent gaugers, criminally implicated in
the whisky frauds, have left for Canada, in
accordance with the advice Of their counsel,
Matt II. Carpenter. The Treasury author
tiles consider Matt a very safe counsellor.
The evidence against the gaugeIs was con-
elusive.
Kept Very Quiet.