The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-13
ANOTHER WHISKET RING.
Stupcndous Conspiracy Jncnrihed IN Iiii-
nois- Babcock md Otherr In II.


nois- Babcock md Others I'm Il.
sPRiNoFIELD, ILL.,. Feb. 12.-staitiing as
has been the revelations since the raid On the
Ring conspirators nrst began, facts have Just
come to Hight from the most reliable source
OF the most stupendous development
vet made concerning whiskey frauds
Not only have revelations been made affecting
Baocock. but the existence Of whiskey Ring
separate and distinct from the one heretofore
brought 70 judgment has been established. For
the past month or two 1t has been known that
the Grand Jury In this city has been finding IN any
indictments. and that Collector Merriam of the
Eighth Illinois District, has been most success.
ful 10 unearthing frauds in bis territory. To
explain the course Of the Government laci,Is
up to tho climax, which has just come. It Is
Necessary 10 fellow the history of but enc
among numerous cases.
On jar. - Capt. Sonierylllc, special revenue
omcer, took out United st4tes search
wsrsaut at at Pekln, ILL.,, and going to tie
boarding house OF Kirt Loech in that
town, found and took INTO custody All
t,e papers, kilograms nd accounts Il me oh
fekln AicuAoi Manufacturing Company. There
were six le-go boxes of tho =, ana somer, ile
shipped them to tlis ,ity. TIE e. { was tcl.-
graphed u once to one We-termnn. VINO
was President Of the company durlng its
'1.ss'ineei io ne was 10 tlnnsqeld' ana we9t at
be put n custody OF the United states Mars6eI,
lnd the order was served. We-tefmon
alarm over tho situation, and tremendous cf-
forts were az once mace 70 again secure the pa
pers. The question Cl pOgscsel IN was argued In
court On Wtstefmau'5 AFFIDAVIT 70 the eject
that the papers were strictly private, and
that they were seized without legal warrant.
The point was argued by counsel on both sides,
and the result WIS that the Judge heid that while
the search Of Lcech's house in Pekin was legal,
inc seizure ot tie papers Wa illegal. lie gave an
order to the Marshall that tire papers should lie
put IN Westnans possession. This order was
Oh yed but as soon a. Wos.man was fully ip
possession Of the papers, the mar5bsi
70 appcar before the Jrand Jury at once, nee,
was this served than Cart SJmervile appesfei
IN ihe scene VII warrant from the Hon: L. ID.
Aduins, United states Comm i.siorer, authortz-
i0g hln 10 seize and search tho boxes.
on thr next day tie matter again came up for
col 5. r. Merrism. United state ColicctSr. was
presented by Assistant United states Attorney
noe 4 sets forth th.t the distiieiy
had been seized 10y BIN on behalf u the GOV.
eminent, anu that certain books and napers
necessary TO fun understanding u the
/. at there was reason to believe that they
t"dy and he therefore prayed an order 4
the Court authorizing him to ex miue into
tpe s.iq b1Xes. The Vetti0n was opposed
lhe Court then -uggoa ed that au order Sd ull
be made thai Unitcd States Collector Merriam
ana United states Attorney Van Dor-ter, on the
part q! the Government. ana EN Gov. P.lftcr
and the Hon. A. L. Knapp for Wcstcrinnn,
should rAtriue Ire paDefs tecetAer, anl that n
clearly llNatr p1pers should oe pui AZ once IN
Mcsielu,ai's possession, and that ull which the
Government Clhccrs are entitled 20 uip should
lie held by them, and that ia case Of any doubt
or disp re, the matter should be reported to tie
Court for decaiou.
he order Was made, and the pers were loft
day wl cu the cA %. nation took uiaCr. The ex-
animation vas made on the 4th Cf the pros
eul month, lut tue examination W ~ kept a
lioIyund secret II leaked ont Oh Friday that
among Tine payers were one " more documents
hearPg on tho Babcock case and that wa an.
On the same day Collector Merriam tele-
lraphed 10 the District Attorney H. 81
9uis stating that there had been discoveries
Z NccilNs BatcJcl, ana asking II the Information
ths same iln.e despatch WIS sent TO solicitor
f+Dl'il Wilson, IN hAshihgton, detailing tue
Wn1t was discovered among tho wostorman
p p Il Aa4 bo how stated, save with regard 10
'luI - tilera Dud o.hcrs,neir Oers Of % gigantic
lth& district from The one heretofore pursued,
,iiu "Nt i"iiul ih dlNcraut manner TIC new
tt',- D. a. confuse oI ulstilers and reCtihers
~. ~ ne, al, Hough distiiirrs seem 70 have formed a
,ra-i(us Ioi Sne ,or9aulz"tlqn. About p5kn aud
great quantities ot whiskeY are ulanufactired.
ana here was tho Rings stronghold, though il
operated ~ various ciles. The list slow ed
tho existence cf great quantity Of whisloy,
some OF IL purchased prcNous 10 March 3, ls,j
aud much OF II illioitly distilled before and
aiter that date Furthermore, the papers
showed that large suns Of money had
teen iai-el for purpose. That purpose was
- raise the tax on liquor, aud memoranda
showed thlt Jl-t previous 70 March 3. lo,j
lhtse sun s had been refunded to influence Con-
gfesel p.al legislation. TIE method Of the Ring
was thus not only to manufacture illcltly, but
70 make commission on whiskey by operations
preceding such legislation.
On March 3, the tax Was raised from 20 to 80
cents ucr gallon as the Ring had arranged.
Among iho mcmor.nda of payments made was
one telling Of 5000 appropriated to Bob"
NJ NJ shiugtoni and another mentioning
p,ynent TO ~ AZ Washington. Hence |
uS cespatcAes to Dyer & Wilson.
. me Qualifications OF this Ring extend outside |
y hs iflct IA which the discoveries are made,
""mH u s asserted, include parties Of high |
:, "a, Lay ,tthd'u ue, some idea Of the gigantic |
II ,t.'c ~ the euterpfse appears IRON the fact
iinAt ohe single individual on the list |
in iis S's,ea ,el as A4ylng l70 barrels OF spirits
!, h9yo been stored ali over tRs''c tRss Country
Wherever ne commissions were maze or where |
nllclt uSNllation could DO carried on The tea
tinony secured agtinst bahoock canDol nrob.
ubl} Dc made available on lis present trial INT
mere IS reason to believe that a new Indictment
WIN DO iound against him hy tho Grand jury In |
session In this city. Already, n is said no less
"a n nfiy indictments rave been found here
ppmnhneT startling detail are about " Do made |