Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-28
BRISTOW'S RAID.
A Brand New Vein of Whisky
Frauds Struck.
OverhauIfnE the Railroad Books
Revelations that VIII Indiet Three
FOurths OF ChieagO's Wholesale

OVeEhaultuE the Railroad hooks
Revelations that VIII Indiet Three.
FOurths Of ChicaEO's Wholesale
Dealers.
Chicago Tribune, May %.
Theoficials have recently struck a new
lead, and intend examining the books
of all the railroad companies leading
from Chicago, for the purpose of learn
ing the quantity Of highwines and
spirits they have carried away within
the last four months. The books Of
the Lake Shore Railroad Company and
of the Star Line have already been
looked into, and information criminat-
ing several wholesale dealers has been
accumulated. Two or three days ago
an officer went to the Fort Wayne
depot, and, after spending a day on
the books, was notified by the agent
that he must stOp-that the making of
abstracts Of shipments would not be
permitted until an attorney had been
| consulted. Mr.. Tutten was about to
have a subpoena issued, when he learn
ed that the freight agent and his law
yer were in the collectors
Office. Going there, he had
a consultation with them, and
showed them that, under the law, the
Collector had authority to examine
| their books. They went away appar-
emily satisfied, with the understanding
that the subpoena was to be served.
The clerk called at the depot the fol-
lowing morning, but, after an hour or
two, the attorney asked him to defer
the further examination until questions
concerning the rights of officers to
look into books, now before the United
States Courts were decided. Mr.. Tut
ton again appeared, and told the at
torney that the matter before thecOurts
was an entirely different one, having
reference to books which distillers are
required TO keep for the inspection of
the revenue officers. The agent said
that the company itself had no OBJ
! jections to the examination, but that
the whisky men and their attorneys had
been to see the officers of the road and
complained of their action, saying that
the Government had no right 70 de-
mand the informttion-that 1t was I'M
| cOnstitutiOnal-and threatening, If the
officials were not excluded, they would
withdraw their trade from the line.
This, of course, the officers Of the road
wished to prevent, since whisky trans
portation was a heavy item with them,
the Fl. Wayne Road carrying more
than any other in the city. The agent
was at last satisfied by Mr.. Tutten,
who told him that the books Of all the
railroad companies were to be gone
over, and an being on an equal footing,
the whisky men could not crafty their
malice.
The work on the Fort Wayne Rail-
road books was finished yesterday af-
ternoon, and those of another road will
be examined to-day. Thus far, from
points gained from the books, about
$50 barrels Of whisky have been seized
IN different parts of the West-one lot
IN Omaha-and it is expected that other
| seizures will follow.
The evidence secured has not been
revealed, and will not be until the Uni
ted States Grand Jury meets, when it
is probable that about two-thiTds, if
not three-foUrths, Of the wholesale
liquor dealers in this city Will be in
dicted for defrauding the Government.