The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-12
wHIsKEY wILEs.
Tx-co1LEcToR wn.KINsoN's sTATEMHNr-Hn
DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE.

Ex-CoILECToR wH.KINsoN's sTATKMRNT-H1
DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE.
SAN Francisco. April 10, 1874
Colonel A. c. Dawes had an interview to-day with
Charles B. Wilkinson, Collector OF Internal Revenue
for the Western district OF Missouri arrested hero on
the sh inst for tho embezzcnent Of stamps and con.
spiracy to dcraud tho revenue Wilkinson asserts
that he Is guilty OF no crime Az TO tho up
prevail Of United States gaugers accounts, he
says Bittcnger was elected to the Legisa.
ture and employed Boscnser to do tho gaugine
The bills approved In Bttenger's name by ORDER
from Mcdonald and Joyce. He convinced since
learning that Bittcnger pleaded guilty that the
spracy TO defraud tho governments extended through.
out Northern and Western Missouri, and that Joyce,
Mcdonald and Bittcnger shared the profits; but he
maintains that II will be shown by evidence that the
dislicrs and members Of the 'rng' were instructed
to withhold all knowledge or the conspiracy from the
Collector. From fugitive distilcrs whom he met 10
Melbourne he learned that Joyce represented to the
dssulers OF Northern Missouri that tho assessments
on crooked whiskey lowed Tor party purposes
aud RENTED 10 Babcock in Washington. II was the
custom to pay employees IS per stamp for steaming
stamps from old barrels and using them on new
He says he has information that the eleven United
States senators signed petition Bnspgers pardon
Including Mcssrs Harvey and ingalls,, Of Kansas
CockrcII, Of Missouri; Norton, OF Indiana
Paddock OF Nebraska Wilkinson says he has suffered
all the agony possible from the consequences Of his
moral and had determined before his arrest
TO and Will not ask bail on his return.
At The time Of leaving ST. Joseph, NO. he says ow-
ing to the wiskcy frauds he could not have
obtained ball under the Inactment which, without
Justice threatened him, but acted suicldzly In leaving
as he did. Wilkinson will probably 20 eastward ~
custody on Thursday next.
ANOTHER CONTRADICTION or BELLS TEsrMoxY.
CfxcIsSArr, Ohio April IL, ls7d
In an interview with Colonel Lewis welzs Revenue
Collector concerning the charges Of implication il
whiskey frauds with ono Hogue, OF xcnia, Ohio,
Colonel wcitzel statcsI have nothing to say except
that so far ~ l am concerned there 10 NOT
one grain OF truth in tho statement Of De
tective Bell Up to the time Hoguo went q
ST. LOUIS believe he honest man
but he was there made to believe that General Bah
cock and the whoe administration In the ring and
that while money was going be might ~ well have
part Of tho sway" Senator Morton Interested him.
as soon no found that Hogue mad betrayed the
trus; he, with Tom Young. Immediately dropped him.
District Attorney Batcmun denies that no refused 10
Hogus To put the before the Grand Jury
The Grand jury did not meet until AFTER the election
and that suhciently answered. the assertion lie
the opinion that Hoxuc could not be prosecuted
IN dsrict but Indiana where the body u crime
had been committed, ana with this ne put MIN.
self In communication with the District Attorney ~
indianapolis 10 ascertain what vane the teIegrama
mentioned would have.