The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-01

cials. Collector Erskine was the only revenue o.
deer OF any prominence who was Indicted. When
the October term OF court came the trials com
menced and ten cssee were DISPOSED Of seven
convictions being secured, and three OF the
Ring escaped. one by n hung jury. the other Two,
Ersltine and distiller, being acuut ed. These
ten cases were probably the most Hereby con-
tested criminal trials that ever took place In the
Northwest, aud they consumed nearly two
months OF time. IN the mean time two or three
keepers aud eaugers we're beginning to realize
That the power Of the Ring " AZ Or ken, ana that
they wcre inevitably doomed TO the penitenti ~
unless they made terms with the Government.
They saw That while Government had dead
sure thing against them II had no c, ses against
the real Ring chief-, aud II they suffered IN 81
lcncc the men who had led tuem into tenptl-
ton aud used them for their own purposes
would 90 scot free. Was this Just7 We, they
In honor bound to- be vicarious sacrinccs2 After
a little reflection they thought not. and so stgni-
One OF the men who came to this determination
held out bravelv for long time
LOUIS Mndskopd hsd no v idea 81 Se1nT
in tins wny; The supervisor Gen. Hedrick,
made a raid on hts house and seized all bis
books and papers. Among the plumber was
found q lot Of check stubs. These showed uni
form payments to persons who were Indicated
more than one check Of the same date appeared
To have been paid to der ndcher, II was very
naturally Inferred that there was more than one
der ,ndcisr, or boss, as the words signify. And
so Louis was summoned before the Supervisor,
and required to tel, to Noon tne.e payInehts
ground that In doing SO he must cfiininate him
| self. This refusal Of the witness was certified
TO the court, ana Judge Drummond held that
| the witness must answer, for although he might
thereby be compelled TO crimnate himself, still
| this eliminating evidence could not be used
AGAINST himself, while his testimony might in-
| piicate other parties aud be the means Of bring
| Ing them TO Justice. But still Louis refused to
| answer. and then he WAS committed To jail for
| contempt OF court. There WAS but one way to
| end imnrsonment for this cause, and th1t WINS
| 10 purge himself OF the contempt by making a
| clean breast OF II. THIS he did, anu the inside
| Of the Rug was laid bare. Tom ONeil initiated
Louis Rndskopfs example. aud then a half
| dozen storekeepcrs did likewise. On their tcs-
| timony Dan Mum. Conkliug, Weissert. and the
| Nunncinacher BOYS we're indicted. Conkling
gave bail and then ran away TO canada. Weis-
! scrt stood his erJund. but he IA d lily suppli-
| cant for mercy. lie h offered To inplcate
! more than one prominent politician II he Ia
! allowed to turn states evidence, and among the
! re-t GOV. Ludington. who was elected last fall
| bN tue Ring. notwithstanding II was Ia "A death
| grapplo with the Government. Could stronger
| proof of Its popular strength he givenf
The stories OF Meisasrt are being Investigated
| aud. II they are found To be suppurteo by other
| evidence, he Viii he taken la exchange for bug
ger game. Leopold With II also caudi dAte
Tor The mercy seat, aud he proposes, IN ransom
for his own liberty, - drug To the bar Ui
Justice Boss Keyes. Conkling Il even bidding
Tor the same privilege of unloading and aver
his willingness well as his ability 10 sacrifice
| C.TpeuteT