The New York herald., 1875-11-17

during the wear not OF whiskey alone but Of all inn
porant articles that his object was not suspected
But the comparison 81 these shipments, from OPERATOR
in whiskey Louis with official reports al ash
ington gave conclusive proof against nearly an inc
Illicit establishments and led 10 the general exposure
OF whskey frauds all over the land. Thus lew com
merciai statistics upset the most powerful conspiracy
formed against the revenue service IN TINS county
When The long labor of tracing and comparison hau
progressed enough To insure the conviction 81 the
leading dlsters ana rectihers the Secretary sent on
from Washington special agents to make seizures but
In doing so he found necessary for the first time to
make known TO few most trusted oncals the WORK
he had ON hand and that very night the telegraph took
from Washington to General Mcdonald at 81 LOUIS lhs
LIGHTNING WILL STRIKE on MONDAY"
For about two months before Mr.. Fshback had been
Offering TO sell his controlling interest IN the Democrat
70 Mr. Mckee, OF the Globe All offers had been disfe
made efforts for amlcabe settlement, and through hm
Mr. Fishhack had been led TO name terms which he
would accept, bat for weeks those terms had been
treated As totally nadmissibe by the owners OF the
Ring organ, aud Mr.. Bowman. not imagining that any
thing could speedily TO bring tho parties together
had LETT town Tor iew days. On Monday lightning
did strike. The distilleries seized by special
officers from Washington Even then the Ring
perfectly defiant and predicted that a very few days
every establishment would be released and Secretary
Brstow removed from the Cabinet. But the next
mornings Democrat contained a despatch of several
columns from Washington stating the nature of the
evidence which had been collected Then, for the first
time, the Ring saw that 1t bad TO fight hard.
That morning there was a hurried meeting OF the
Ring, and banks were consulted That very afternoon
Mr. Fshback's proposition was accepted, with some
DeMOcrdt
control Of the Ring That same night editorials
graduating the President and Secretary upon the expo
OF the fraud being in type in the Democrat office
sent TO Mr. Mckee OF the Globe for approval and
the proofs returned by hlm with order 10
publish them From that day nothing was admitted to
the Democrat in the nature OF further exposures
comments favorable to the government SO much in
haste the Ring to complete the purchase that II
could not wait the return oil the attorney who had acted
for the Globe in the matter but others were once
employed TO draw up the necessary papers. The Ds1i
ccra was speedily consolidated with the Globe aud
ceased 10 exist
TRICKS TO AVOID CONVICTION
Unfortunately for the Ring the suppression Of the
Democrat did not stop the investigation. did the
President remove Mr. Bristow With any man less firm
and ccarheaded to push the matter the Ring might
then have conquered The disullers boldly pro-
tested their innocence The officials angry dened any
body 10 cast suspicion upon them The Globe impu-
IDENTIFY asserted editoraly that Secretary Bristow had
done great wrong in causing seizures 'mcrely on sus.
pcion. The Republican protested that II highly
improper to cast such sur upon prominent and highly
respected citizens and business men who stood rs well
any in the community Now the Collector (Magure)
intimate friend of the proprieors OF the RepuJh
and had rented from them the government offices
in their building. The Times whose editor
bondsman for some OF the distlcrs who
have since pleaded guilty, suggested that
Mr. Brstow trying TO make Presidential capital.
Merchants on Change were stirred up to Indignation,
because these seizures going damage the busI-
ness of the city. All manner OF appeals made to
the President and s plain that at first lac did not be-
lcvc the officials guilty. for one after another, they
allowed TO resign. Some OF them remained in
Office Tor months however until it concluded that
nothing could be done expose and punish the frauds
until they we're out Of the way The distIlers en-
poyed very able counsel and for long time fully be
leved doubt, that even they would escape. AS for
the officials late as the lst OF September nobody III
ST. LOUIS whc had not private knowledge of the nature
OF the evidence believed that any OF them would
even be Indicted. The new officials who were hostile
the Ring assailed with all manner of ISLANDERS
circulated by the Ring that Secretary Brisow him
self had been prompted by dislers IN Kentucky to
stop distling in other Western States. But in duo
time lightning struck again.
PROGRESS TOWARD COMPLETE EXPOSURE
Exactly how il came about perhaps nobody can tell,
except the District Attorney. Colonel b. 7. Dyer
who has pushed these cases with singular energy and
ability. with the assistance of ex-senator Hender-
and the constant and OF the officers selected by
Secretary Brisow to work up the matter But some
steps IN the proceeding are clear
FrstThe President did not interfere but steadfastly
sustained the Secretary and showed that he deter
mined y let no guilty person escape" This was
rghtul revelation to dstilers who had been drawn
forced into the Ring in the full belief that for any yio
atons OF the law there would be absolute protection at
Washington.
Secoad-The cases against some OF them were made so
clear and strong that they advised that II would
be folly 10 resist.
Taird-Meanwhile some OF the officials and others,
who had been very willing take money from dstil.
ers inclined to contribute literally 10 pay
fees Tor those distieTs Every one suppose,
willing, Artemus Ward said, to sacrifice all his
wiies relations in this present war. !"
Fourtt-Between the disters who could not defend
themselves those who thought they could and the Ring
managers, who were willing TO any diser in the
country nailed to the cross, but not willing spend
dollar IN getting hn down, codness arose, principally
about counsel fees
FIfh-Then some OF the dlsters said eve will make
a clean breast Of 1t, and the government replied s'It
won't hurt you +"
Si5-Then the that they could not afford to
be backward in coming forward, and the distillers
and recners generally offered to plead guilty and tes
tify.
Seeenh-Mcanwhle proofs had been obtained from
Washington and elsewhere making IT unpleasant Tor
some OF the officials. Mcdonald Joyce, Fitzroy and
some minor officers had been indicted. Though they
proesscd the most absolute confidence of acqutta the
fact that the President still refused to do anything
TO protect with whom he had been personally mti-
mate convinced aistillers aud members OF the
Ring that they had no hope but IN full disclosure The
dstillers first came forward and threw themselves
the mercy OF the government They were told frankly
that their sentences would depend upon the sort OF
dence they should give
Eightt-Then Fitzroy that it would surely be
proved that money had been paid him BY dstilers
and that 1t would hard with HIM II he refused to tell
what he had done with it. Hence he pleaded guilty
and testified before the Grand Jury Then came the
Indictment oi Mckee and Mcguire. Joyce, mcanwh he,
had been indicted also in the Western district
actions at ST. Joseph and had been anxious to have
that case tried irs believing that acquittal there was
certain and would help him in the more doubtful
Louis But during the trial his counsel Governor
Fletcher-the same who was chairman OF the commis-
sion TO Investigate the Indian RngnCautiously placed
too much stress upon certain proof Tor the defence
afforded by Joyces letter book; the counsel for the
government led to that book keeny
than beforc was discovered that the book had been
.doctored at the very date necessary 10 exculpate
him. and the book itself secured his conviction. Then
CONSERVATION seized the Ring, and MINOR officials
made haste 10 plead guilty and oner testi-
Z fn0ny. Al present the only persons OF importance
known to have been indicted who have not pleaded
guilty been convicted Mcdonald, Mckee Ma
guire and Avery, while the Grand Jury Is examining
kilograms and other documents ana trying 10 deter
mine who ''the man IN the country, /" and what
other persons at Washington elsewhere received
part OF the plumber. IL is reported that Mum,
the Supervisor in Illinois and "rce other persons
not residents Of st. LOUIS have been indicted. The
disclosure Of the names daily expected
PUNISHMENT THIEVES.
Thus far it Is claimed, person has been indicted
without such proof as 10 insure conviction Every
Ifefn uh has4 ertaI
has either been convicted entered plea o guilty
Those who know the situation say with great conu.
that the same fate awaits Mckee, Mcdonald, Ma
guire and Avery but that have been made to
prevent the publication of testimony and
OF clcmency Tor those already convicted
condition that they also plead guilty But it Ii de.
clared that such proposition will be entertained.
Indeed, 1t Is evident that the President himself
whose good name the consprators have long
boasts OF boundlcss influence ut Washington, cannot
tolerate anything that looks like suppression OF evi-