The Portland daily press., 1876-08-11
THE WHISKY PROSECUTIONS.
Senator Logan Denies Some of So
licitOr Wilson's Testimony.
Wilson Urged His Indictment as a
Political Necessity.

WASHINGTON, August Ex-senator Logan
appeared before the subcommittee on whisky
frauds by request, when Representative Plas-
ted read to him letter addressed by Solicitor
Wilson to Secretary Bristow, dated Dec Sd
1875, abiding to him as frightened into sick
room by dread of exposure. The Senator said
any insinuation, directly or indirectly, remotely
or otherwise, made by Wilson or others charg-
ing him with being connected directly or indi-
rectly with the whisky ring in Chicago or
elsewhere, was a falsehood from beginning to
end. He never had any connection directly or
indirectly with distillers or rectifiers and no
business with them whatever, nor had he
knowledge of any frauds except as they were
developed in trials and published in the news.
papers. In response to the charge of Wilson
that Senator Logan thwarted him in his efforts
to remove certain officers, District Attorney
Ward included, Senator Logan said Ward
was removed while he Logan) was lying on
his bed sick. The only knowledge he had of
his removal was d telegram from Senator Og-
lesby, his colleague, asking him to concur in a
Wilson visited his sick room at Chicago in
company with Supervisor Matthews, Logan
brought his attention to the fact that some at
tacks had been made upon him in the news
papers in connection with the whisky frauds.
Wilson said to him and to his wife that he
(Logan) had nothing to with them and that
the publications were slanderous. While there
Wilson was interviewed by a reporter, to whom
Wilson said that Senator Logan had nothing
more to do with the whisky ring tnan he (Wil-
SOM had.
Col. Matthews was present before the COM
mittee and confirmed the truth of these state
ments.
Mr.. Logan further said he never, as has been
charged by Wilson, interfered directly or indi-
rectly with the prosecution of the whisky
frauds in Chicago or elsewhere. He did how
euer 60 the President and recommend Wilson's
removal for the reason that District
Attorney Ward at Chicago told him Wilson
had said to him that Logan would have to be
indicted as political necessity, to which the
District Attorney said there was no testimony
to this end, when Wilson replied: cit makes
afterwards" He had learned something to
that effect from others.
Representative Cochrane asked Senator Lo-
gan whether he ever recommended to the Pres
ident the removal of Secretary Bristow. which
question the Senator answered by saying he
never interferred in matter of the Presidents
cabinet. He had no recollection of speaking
to the President on the subject of his cabinet
He may, however, have c0nverSed with the
President about Secretary Bristow, and may
have said that he thought Bristow was not in
harmony with him on political subjects, and
may have said that if he was President he
would not want him as a cabinet officer. If il
had then occurred to him to say so he would
have said it, but he did not remember whether
he said it or not.
w. Scott Smith, newspaper correspondent
was called and testified, that last fall he had q
conversation with Bluford Wilson, who told
him he expected to secure the indictment oil
Senator Logan and Jasper d. Ward, District
Attorney. Wilson further informedahim that he
was gathering evidence-ot their completely in
the whisky frauds.