Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-24
The whisky Fraud Cases.

The trial Of VIM. Mckee, editor of the ST.
Louis Globe-Democrat for alleged compli-
eity with the whisky ring, was continued in
b. IL. Engelcke, distiller, recounted a
long conversation he bad with Mckee at the
Globe-DemocTatic office in October, 1875. OF
which the following is the substance: L went
to Mckee at the solicitation of Henry Hard
away, exhibited States storekeeper, and
told him joyce had promised Hardaway be
should be given an interest in the Busby
dlstlllery, and that the product that distil-
lery should not be subject To levies for ring
purposes. In consideration OF this, Henry
Hardaway was To take charge OF Chat. III ard
away, his brother, Magrue and other fellows
who threatened mischief Mr. Hathaway
declared he would have nothing to do with
Joyce, and threatened that If the Busby dis
Iliery arrangement was not carried ont, he
and his friends, most of whom were ex-
gaugers and storekeepers, and knew all
ao0ut the Illicit dlstiIling that had been
carried on, would expose and break up the
ring. i told Mckee that this was the ar
rangement insisted on by Hathaway aud
his friends, and that If it was not carried
out they would burst the ring. 1 also told
him that they had already brought Super
visor Mum, OF Illinois, over here, and mad
gone around with him at night and showed
him what the Busby house was doing; that
mission fTom the Secretary of the Treasury
TO go though this district, and with the
knowledge he had he knew just where to
strike the ring. Mckee asked ii this was the
only way they corld be kept quiet, and re-
piled that this was the only thing they would
accept, and furthermore, Henry Hathaway
LMckee) that he made the bullets and Chat
nred them, and that ifhe (McKee)and the ring
could stand IL they (the Hardaways) could.
Mckee told me he would see Joyce in the
morning, and for me TO tell them that he
would see that the arrangements they de-
sired would be carried out. i then left and
told the parties what Mckee had said, and
s.. s. Thorpe. ex-Unjted States storekeener
was the pext witness, and testified TO having
performed service at various distllleries,
ring and for himself. Witness continued:
Last June Mckee asked me If could not
arrange an interview with Megrue, and L
told him thought could; introduced
Mckee to Megrue at the Lindell hotel, and
left them together; i saw Mckee the day
after the interview, and talked over what
Megrue intended to do; told Mckee 1
thought they ought not indict him, as he
could be of great use 10 others who were
nnder indictment at the same time. Two or
three days after Megrue came saw Mckee,
NICK ee was very anxious to know whether
he was TO be indicted or not. He said il he
escaped Indictment he could be of great ser
vice 10 those who were indicted. told him
! thought If Megrue was taken before grand
jury he would tell all he knew. Mckee said
the distillers were ali good enough until It
came TO putting up money, and then they
weakened. Mckee said he was going to
Washington and would get the thing fixed.
Z. q. Megrue was recalled and questioned
regarding his interview with Mckee at the
Lindell hotel in June. He said when Mckee
came into my room he was considerably
excited, and said that he felt that had il
In my power TO save him, and wanted to
know II would do 1t. replied that would
have all could do to save myself; that 1
was thinking Of course to pu rsue, and did
not know whether / would tell all or not tell
anything. Mckee wanted me to help him IL
could. At the time OF this conversation
had not been before the grand jury. said
If testified to the truth would say there
was a certain amount Of money paid to me,
and disbursed II in q certain way, and that
to Mckee and Ford. After had been before
the grand jury called at McKee's house,
and told him hal told the truth before the
grand jury. He did not make any special
rornarEa vheu L told him fhia