New-York tribune., 1876-01-22
DISTILLERY RING TRIALS.
TILE CASE AGAINST MCKEE.


M'KFF COMES INTO COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME
HIS AGITATIoN-COI. DYER's OPENING SPEECH
TIE INTERVIEW AT NIGHT WITH THE RING, AND
THE CRrMINATING LANGUAGE OF THE PRISONER.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE tribune
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 21.-There is more excite
mont here to-day than before over the whisky trials
The papers published extra edit as late as o'clock
containing full accounts Of the trial Of Mckee up 10 the
hour Of adjournment Of the Court The defendant ap-
peared in court person for the first time nee his trial
was begun lie evidently struggled to retain ais woned
composure but his agitation painfully apparent. IL
is said when In public that he ia extremely depressed
in spirit and rapidly losing confidence In his acquitta
The in his opening speech, gave very
clear outline Of what the prosecution expected TO prove
OF Con- Megrue's relations with Mckee. He said:
We will show that this conspiracy not only in effect
during The time OF active operations OF the Ring, but
continued to prevent Information coming before ths
Grand Jury We viii show that tins combination lasted
until these pleaded guilty that soon az Megrue
came on here to appear before the Grand jury Fizroy
then having his mouth closed and Everest BENZ out OF
the country IL struck condemnation TO all these couspira
tors that this defendant himself sought other partics
T. was a; ntnt ana The place selected by the defendant
for the meeting at the corner o. seventh and St
Chares-ss place not 20 pubic as any other Nlthln
several blocks This desire for meeting at
this peculiar place was communicated TO Megruc,
meeting that street with defendant or anybody else
at that hour OF the night by the witness who aiianled
the affair, and carried the information OF the desired
Interview from Mckee sevenist and ST. Charesst to
MeRTnp Hotel.
to Mckee and reported McSiues refusal 10 meet nlln
there that Mckee then conducted the defendant along
the east side of sevenhst AT ii O'Clock at hgt u the
south side OF CErlsty-aNC ana aons 'lc e"th sIuH SUI
chrIsty-dve to SGt-st, and along bNts 10 lhe lules
entrance OF Linden Hotel. The defendant and witness
entered by the ladies' entrance and deiepdant was con
Quoted usaiis to the door OF Megiue room "heIe nc
was left by the witness. We Will show that the DEFEND
ant approached Meyrue, saying. am in your power;
am at your mercy; save Inc from Indictment VIII
ruin me in this community"
Closing remarks, Col Dyer asked for an adjourn
ment until morning The witness to be introduced i st
was suffering from Il very severe cold, but Judge Dillon
decided that the case must 80 on.
c. g. MeTue was then put on the witness stand ana
gave pretty much the evidence as was gwen by
him in the Mcdonald ana avery cases. tnat TO- the MS
tory OF the organization of tue whisky RING witness
was then withdrawn. with the understanding that lie
would De recalled latter In the trial
Joseph vi. FitlfOy who served as Deputy '"IIector
under Cha- W. Ford ani Constantine Magure, was thcn
called lie test fed: had charge of the distei1es and
knew that they made fraudulent whisky collected from
these diste1es between June 1873 and Aug 1874 from
81 900 to $1,000 per week, that II, returned thai
nnc after tkns out The sums for riager- ana store
where II divided into five parts up to the death "f
Mr.. Ford, by Col. Joyce aud myself; then tGe money
was left there for Joyce distribute met the defendant
at the office once Mckee came in | was IN the
back room when saw Mckee; The money had been di-
money packages. Mckee said, "FitzrOy is here" Nc
Donald r, ued, "FtzrOy Is all night :" then Mckee
turned 10 ia funny way and sid, fltIoy, ms ~
sacred tiin.-keep It secret" :" hc added that the
amount was moro than usual joyce explained ned
IL liy Saying that Ford was dead; tie
money had lust been divided into -four parts.
Judge Dion ruled that the witness might he crossex-
cuton could withdraw him for the present to further es
.biish McKees connection with the conspiracy.
Glover II was long and sharp but iailed to make te
change his statements Judge Glover said that
he intended impeach the witness by testimony as to
what he said helOIe tae Grand Jury.
After the crOssrxaminatiOn. the jury was placed in
charge of the United States Marshall with Instructions
from the Court to keep them secuded from AL outside
Influences.