The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-07
From tie chicago Josrnat. ca.
ROCK ISLAND WHISKY.
frysinger and Seaverns on
Trial To-Day.
SEVERAL RAILROAD AGENTS
MIXED UP IN THE CROOK
EDNESS---AN INTER-
ESTING CASE.

ELM 6SS---AM xMI6h-
EsTING CASE.
More DistiIery Property Condemned
by the Court.
At the opening of the United States
District Court, this morning, Sidney Smith,
attorney for the Lake Shore Distilling
Company, withdrew his answer to the in
formation in the suit of the United States
for the condemnation of the property. A
default was thereupon taken, and decree
of condemnation of the distillery and its
appurtenances was entered. This is the
distillery situated at the foot of Twenty
seventh street, ia which E. q. Leach and
the two Fredericks were officers of the
company.
A similar course was taken in the pro-
ceedings against the still and other proper
ty of Ford, Oliver & Co.
The same course was taken in the case
against fifty barrels of distilled spirits
claimed by Ford, Oliver & Co.
FRYsINGER AND sEAvERNs.
The trial Of George P. Frysinger, of
Rock Island, and Frederick A. Seaverns,
of Chicago, on an indictment for whisky
frauds, being the case set for to day, was
next proceeded with. Messrs. l.. III. Bou.
tell and J. E. Burke appeared for tie
government. Mr.. Frysinger was rep
resented by General Hawley, of Rock
Island, and Mr.. E. a. Storrs, of Chicago,
and MIR. SeaveIns by Judge j. HI. Murphy,
of Davenport The case not being one OF
the local cases, did not excite SO much
interest as some of the others. The court
room, however, was we'll filled.
The names of the government witnesses
we're then called, and Mr.. Burke took
an attachment for three who did not an.
swer.
was then called and examined by Mr..
Burke in behalf Of the government. He
excused three. Robert Porter, R. .Bayland
and Jerome Clark.
Mr.. Storrs conducted the examination
for the defense. Mr.. NJ, b. Lloyd was ex
cused for cause, be having formed an
opinion on the case. Mr.. Storrs excused
Isaac Rice and Mr.. Barber peremptorily
The jury as accepted by both sides was
as follows: f. III. Porter, K. p. Treadweil
Williamson Durley, Wesley Beaver, A. 81
Dole, NJ. j. Braiden, Sinclair Hill, Samue
n. Condit, William G. Tiffany, W. Nj
Byers, Edwin Bradley, D. R. Gregory.
Mr.. BURKE
opened the case for the government. ii,
explained that the indictment against tn,
defendants charged that they, during tn,
year 1872, removed from the Milan distill
cry, located near Rock Island, larg,
quantity of distilled spirits without tn
payment of the tax thereon; also that the,
conspired with each other. and with othe
persons unknown, during the same year, t
remove spirits as aforesaid from the distill
cry, and to defraud the United States on
of its revenue. He then proceeded t
state
THE EVIDENCE.
which would be introduced in support O
the charges. The defendant, Frysinger
at the time laid in the indictment, was tn
proprietor of the Milan distillery. In tn
spring of that year, in order to carry on
his scheme Of fraud, he entered into an al
rangement with the agent of the Rock Is
and Road, at Rock Island. whereby
could ship spirits over that route, no recor
being kent of the transaction. 1t was neC
essary to have some one at this end of til
line in the scheme. Consequently, FRI
singer made the acquaintance of the agel
of the road at Englewood, under an a
sumed name. 1t was then arranged tn;
the goods should be shipped to John Wa
lace, hog driver at the stock yards. tt
first shipment was made as
FLOUR,
but subsequently Wallace, at the instant
of the defendant, Seayerns. took out
licenss as wholesale liquor dealer. III
goods shipped were to be transferred
Englewopd to the Red Line on the Mict
gan Southern Road, and then shipp,
east, The money paid Wallace. Il
agents of the road, and other parties in Il
conspiracy, Amounted to a large SUI
and the only conclusion that can arse o
of the transaction is that the goods shipp
we're illicit At one tizne Wallace destlo
, ed his book at the instance of Seaverr
The latter paid Wallace's license as
wholesale dealer.
The defense desired to reserve the
statement until the olher side had put
their evidence,
GENERAL JOHN TILLSON
9 was the first witness called He testif
{ that he is collector ofinternal revenue 1
o the Fourth district Of Illinois; resides
Quincy. He produced the distillers' I
: tees of Frysinger for the years 1871 a
l 1872, which were introduced in evident
He testified to the capacity of the distille
, and also introduced the books showing t
amounts manufactured in 1912 as 2l2, 0
gallons also the amounts in the bond
e warehouse at different times.
? Cross-examiped: Had no account
, stamps issued for rectifed spirits; witne
had the monthly returns of the rectifyi
house for 1872; the returns do not sht
8 the amount on hand the 1st of January.
d A. g. TUCKER
, came in with pile of books, and testife
Y Am the agent of Rock Island Railro
, at Iowa City: have the books of the 70;
for 1872 showing the shipment of hig
wines by Frysinger.
Mr.. Storrs objected to the books, unle
t the witness kept them. 1t appeared th
he did not, though he knew they were t
regular books kept at the station.
The court thought they had been shoy
to be the regular books OF the station, a
! were therefore admissible.
Witness continued; Frysinger shipp
FROM Rock Island, in the year 1872. IL
8 barrels of hlghwines and 720 barrels
D alcohol. The shipping directions sign,
h.y "a,