The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-17
STATES EVIDENCE.

Now and then We hear Of disclosures that
are promised on the part Of convicted swind-
lers, or those under indictment for swindling
the revenue. These promises are made in
consideration of q pardon, OF partial release
from the penalty Of their crime, or, where
trial has not been had, an agreement on the
part of the Government not to prosecute A
special telegram to the Times. dated March
18th, mentions the latest instance Of such
proposal. as follows:
The bombshell which exploded to-day came
from Chicago, in the shape of telegram to
the Secretary Of the Treasury. stating that
Rehm, of Chicago, the richest of Western dis
tillsrs, and who, along with Hesiog and
others, was convicted of whisky frauds not
long ago. had promised to open up big
bonanza Of crooked whisky developments,
provided that he can make certain terms with
the Government
The terms proposed by him are that upon
shall pay q fine of So, 600 and go to Jail for
only 9 short time, he will pledge himself to
furnish the government sufficient evidence to
convict four internal revenue collectors, and
Ward, An ex-United States District Attorney
at Chicago.
It is presumable that members Of any class
Of malefactors know more Of what Is going on
in their own branch of business than courts,
lawyers and juries can find out from any
other source. A thief long accustomed to ply
his profession in any city will become &C.
quainted with all the fraternity with whom he
has been in active competition. He knows
newcomers in the ring by instinct. He has
the entire guild classified according to talents
and disposition. He soon learns to distin-
guish between those who can be talked with
confdentially and others who are treacherous.
BE can toll at glance who is Q captain in the
army making war on society and law, who
are in the ranks, who are the suffers that
manipulate their spoils and who are the camp
followers who live by stealing or begging
from the regulars.
Among the higher grades Of culprits who
own stores, warehouses, banks, elegant
mansions, diamonds and stock farms,
there exists the same intimate know
ledge Of the individual members Of
their ring as among the lower order of
thieves. They form q society among them
selves and keep one another in countenance.
They have no occasion to use the rogue's
vocabulary. but may speak with freedom
to one another about their transactions.
They carry on their complex and fruitful
traffic almost without disguise SO far
as their association is concerned. A
splendid operation in whisky. mine-stock,
watered shares, or crooked railways is the
theme of applause. The boldest and most in
ventive dealer in frauds is held in esteem pro-
portioned to his talents and his success. The
ring brotherhood, in fact, form kind of
mutual admiration society, with about such a
mutual attachment as may be supposed to
prevail in the crew Of pirate ship.
1t is idle to expect much evidence from any
member Of steal ring. Even after convic-
ton, he will not, for the sake Of pardon,
betray his comrades. Sealed already with
the seal Of infamy, he has but little motive to
buy . transient enlargement ct the cost of
hatred Of all his late associates. They con.