The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-23

oplnlon was prepared by one u the subutdi- |
II, tes of that nicer demonstrating its real char
actcf but before this decision was made the |
pefs In the case were Withdrawn and the cliim
was passed by the First Auditor and Comms- !
soner of Customs ON the written order OF As-
sstent Secretary SAWYER as acting Secretary. IL
" found that Rodly In his effort to put the
claim through had used letter from the Presi-
dent. The result of the inquiry ordered by
Brstow was the Indictment Of Brook, Hoddy
sawyer, Haynes the Commissloner Of Customs
and one or two subordlnates; yet from that
day to this no effort has been made to tring
them to trial. and the CLERK who had told of
the use Roddy made Of tho Presidents letters
was discharsed soon after Bristow resigned.
BnIsrow MOVES oN THE wHIsKEY RtNd.
The Jlf'iculties he mad encountered had now
satisfied Secretary Bristow that no could only
depend upon the negative support OF the Prosi-
dent In his contests with official rlunderer' ana
he WIS only sure of II when lie was fortified
with conclusive proofs. Therefore he deter
mined that the President should know nothing
OF his operations against the Whlskey Ring un-
I'll he had obtained the evidence TO prove the
cons piracy and was ready to strike lie did not
suspect until long after tue commencement OF
the investigation that any member OF the Prest-
dents official household would be implc ted.
lie was aware of tho intim CIV between SUPER
visor Mcdonald and the President. but atirto-
uted IL to old-time acquaintance. He doubtless
knew that Dnbcock also was intimate with Nc
Donald. but very naturally thought this was
the result OF the latters cordial relations with
the President. OF the intimacy between Joyce
and Baocock he had no knowledge Whatever
His determination. therefore. TO withhold all in
| formation OF his operations against the Whis-
key Ring from the President until the culmina-
/ H., raarhpd u urOmptpd either ly
suspicion or ambition. lie had experienced
| trouble heretofore in regard to internal revenue
| matters. for when he had got the President to
| consent to change OF supervisors, Mcdonald
| came forthwith to Washington and rallied suf-
| nclent political influence to have the order re-
| yoked. BInied In his first move on the encmy's
| works. the Secretary was determined to take no
| one into his confidence in the second campaign
whom he could not personally trust. and then
| II any secrets were betrayed he would have
none but his own subordinates to blame.
All the details OF the invesi cation were left to
Solicitor Wilson, and by the nrst week IN March
last the work Of fertetlng out the frauds was
| fairly commenced. For six weeks but little pro-
| gress was made, and the hnal result was often
problematic; but about the middle Of April the
| idea OF comparing the returns OF the gaugers
| with the records OF the wholesale dealers re-
ceipts and sales were suggested, and then the
dificut problem was speedily solved. The serial
numbers on the stamps enabled each barrel to
| -, h,.,ta a., ., No.. .re,cI.n, ..,,ta,.a h =,
| 49,, ....i,,a 90 ,,arr,,, ,h. r,td ,.btch tool
| nj 90, IN Nonds, MAY IN rnto,hc 18Th or l6t n
| Of Apr,l the Secretary had not Informed the
| President Of the inycst cations he was prosecut-
| ing At or about this time. however, the ey-
dence obtained blythe comparison above alluded
| 10 OF the gaugefs returns with the wholesale
| dealers, bonk. in .be va,,ous Eastern CITIES was
| annie sun.ie,, 70 convict IN. aistiliars and
| minor revenue ofrce-s I'm St Loul. OF conspira-
cy. and then for the nrst time the President was
made Acquainted with some of the facts Ac.
corilnc TO the testimony Of solicitor Wi. n this
occurred about the time the President left
| Washington TO attend the Centenni Al annlver
sarl ceremonies at Lexington, M4ss.
u,nox.n Avn ou,xr
M, ,..ho,, nm. had ai,ns.d and hat,r, tho
p,,.,,,a,,, r,,,,r,,,, ,n.,, s,,orvi.o, N.n,,,,d
,,r,sd ~, An Wasntu,,,,n Ia MAT ,ntsrvi.ws
,.,.n ,h. S.c,e,,r, a,I th. s,uclt,r and ,drutt
,.a ,,,, ho ,,., ,,.. f,.,,,. mad nesn d.,oct-
a. .I,h,nch be ~ = nor IN ro..ess,on ~ any
90 ,,s d.,,t Tho inform tinn which the
Secretar, had given tho President few days
previous was general. save as TO one particular
case. that of shipments Of Illicit spirits by De-
Wis Il Fraser distllers Of -. Lpui4. t. Wilmipg-
|
particulars. Mr. Dristow had I'D that sufficient
evidence had been accumulated TO convict the
revenue officers and distilers OF conspiracy
There was no other source from watch McDon,l
could have received his Information than
through the White House, and more 1yer, wlat
he knew tailed 50 exactly with what the Secro-
tary had told the President, that the suspl ions
OF thu former were excited thereby. Ho quss-
toned Mcdonald closely "a to the source u his
Information, but could not draw him out. Nc
Donald was satisfied that he had been caught
and proposed to make the dlsiillers pay tbs tax
on all the Illicit spirit. disposed Of, and more
over to pay any reasonable penalties. He
begged for mercy. and promised nlelity here
after II left undisturoed In his ONCE. and spo ke
Of his ability to render great service t. the party
and Administration. But these appeals and
representations fell on deaf ears.
ON May :, being the Friday before May /.
when tn. seizures were TO be made according tC
preooncert Il in ST. Loui.. Chicago, and Milwaukee
the Secretary and Solicitor called upon the
President ana iol 'ue n'st '''he p''oeu VI" u
possession OF all the details OF the WoIh accou
| ulisheJ