The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-12
THE WHISKEY TRIALS.

SUPERVISOR MATTHEWS ON THE QUESTION or
INMUNITY-How TIN wHIsKEY RING WAS
BROKEN UP THROUGH STATES EVIDENCE
THE PRESIDENTS OPPOSITION.
WASHINGTON, August II, 1874
Asa G. Matthews, Supervisor OF Internal Rev
cnuo at Chicago examined this after
noon by the subcommittee whiskcy
Frauds He gave q history Of the immunity
feature OF the whiskcy prosecutions and said when
he came TO Washington on the 2lst OF December on
business connected with this subject hc Secretary
Brisiow who was inclined to reject tho terms of I'm
munity proposed to those who should plead guilty
,he terms too brond and rs they paying too
much for the Information and the Secretary further
said he would the matter to the discretion OF the
District Attorney and special counsel. Solicitor Wilson
said about the thing The terms OF immunity as
finally agreed on had the effect OF entirely breaking up
the Whiskey Ring.
Mr. Matthews road the following letter written to
him by Collector Webster and which brought to
Wash ngton and handed to Secretary Bristow who
formed him It had been read to the Cabinet
COLLECTOR WEBSTER TO MR.. MATTHEW'S
DEAR response to YOU. ,sans, to hays my
shat any price Is too high 70 pay Tor the nor
,ons arise he aud the parties he proposes bring
rs .n s can y. get saa ina" help
the orma,on in other way; that is. II the decision
ers did no, feel like assuming great esponscty
AS tho probability Of getting a. she information BY the
You. lawyer. can judge better than It's highly
Than We were tho The inquiries will be pushed
spcrss.:say Su. have an In PRES on that do our
We might probably get mos, OF BY taking in
OF sres, importance We don't very long beating
Ii get help from inside Of tue enemy, will
spon.sy Of paying it, II we :sko Russell and nnken in
win that be enough to make panic and ",tampede among
prsy es. to Russell and Junien to
price appear. large but .soa the 9iC inform
would tell ali ihsy knew 80 pcnitenary
be likely TO DO horred a, tho pro.pecs prison
in favor OF separate conference win e,cn before any hna
that We might begin Russell and Junksn leave
ing to the greater or less With which get Inform
alton in the earlier stages OF the procccdns; before The
goingto fall 10 pieces without iur.hsr effort
anything have arrived At In my mind SIN the
70 ss hes, n.e,s . OF The Of
at the bottom Of THO building. me same v'!e innu
rs nov. s .ns
on" ao 10 msss pe Da ssns At
F Isssn ~ .se s n' Very ,r"y yours ID WEBSTER
Colonel MATHEWS, Supervisor
THE PRESIDENTS orrgIoX.
In reply 10 the question what the President said
iu relation that letter the witness SAD he had no
In ndcd tho letter TO Secretary Brstow, who took II
the Cabinet Attorney General Pcrrepont being absent
and when hc again tho Secretary the latter IN.
formed him The President after reading the letter.
said that Inc price was TOO great THIS was gwen 10
hun Az The language OF the President
In response further questions the witness said IL
would have utterly impossible TO reach HcsiDg
and Kchin in any other way than by granting immu-
pi,y aud the result was the whiskey Ring effect
uay broken up
Tic witness was asked whether no know anything
about the truth OF the report mentioned by senator
rAaG hats nltgtf Wtl-nn had et
District Attorney Ward TO indict Logan without
dence, and witness replied that no never knew any
Thing that KIND He also sau that Wilson never adj
yised suggested To- him at time that he should
procure indrctm.at against any man without sum
ccnt evidence had he ever heard that Mr. Wilson
suggested to any one, directly or indirectly
Mr. Cochranc said that, az 1t was possible that Con-
gross would adjourn next Monday, lac content to
let tho investigation over TO the next session but
1t now to go on hc would summon Mr.. storrs and
General Porter
Mr. Pia,scd said he had half dozen witnesses to
anime and he preferred to continue the investigation
To- morrow md Monday.
Mr. Cochrsnc expressed himself MS satisfied, and tho
committee adjourned until to- morrow morning