Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-03
the WHISKY FRAUDS INVESTIGATION.
The Testimony Last Eceain0,
Some Interesting Developme nfs.

The Testimony Last Erenfng.
Some Interesting Developments.
After our report OF the proceedings before
the House special committee investigating
the st. Louis whisky frauds closed yester.
day, Alexander P. Tuition, collector of Paila-
delpbta and formerly supervisor OF Internal
reven ne, testified that he was satisfied ID 9t
Baocock had nothing to do with causing the
freSldent 10 cOuntermand the order chang
Ing the localities of supervisors. He also
testified as to the matter OF
IMMUNITY TO GUILTY WITNESSES
he SAID mat he was infor med by Mr. Dexter
one or me special counsel in the Wills XIV
trials, VINO said that the government ha 1
granted Immunity" to those implic sted
retary BristOw, Solicitor Wilson, and Com
missioner Pratt. Witness believing from
previous conversation with Bristow that
there must be come mistake, tsleyraphet
him. Secretary Bristow's reply to mis- tale
gram was as follows: 'As we nave not d.
recleo any arrangement with the Indie ed
THAT has been entered Into by toe
district attorney with the approval OF his
associates and the local revenue Off GERS
having confidence in their Judgment we
ieave the prosecution in their hands, not
doubling they will do what will best sub
serve the interests OF the government"
When witness returned to Washington ne
asked wilson II he had agreed to comprO-
mise or bargain. and Wilson denied that ne
had authorized it. Witness stated to the
President the substance OF what had taken
place with regard TO those engaged in whisky
frauds, includis large mum Der of gaugers
and storekeepers, as well as distillers and
said to the President IL the policy of immu-
nifty we've carried out allowing thieves TO
steal by hundreds of thousands OF dollars,
and then allowed to turn round aud give in
formation against others and them ,e, YES
escape punishment, there would be no safety
In the revenue business. Toe interview with
the President was about the 10Th of January
The President said something ought to be
done to stop such wholesale bargaining with
offenders, and witness Informed the Presi-
dent that Solicitor Wilson had denied that
he assented TO such agreement.
BLUFORD WILSON AGAIN-THE CHARGES
AGAINST HENDERSON.
The examination of Buford Wilson, ex-
solicitor OF the treasury, was continued asst
evening. He read letter received from
Gen; Henderson prior to his dismissal as ore
OF the counsel Tor the government at st.
Louis, wbtcn letter he showed TO the Presi-
dent In his interview ON the Sth of Decem Der
In the letter Gen. Henderson referred to the
appointment OF Benz +. Bonner as marshal
for the st. Louis district on the recommen-
dalton OF himself (Henderson) and Colonel
Dyer; and further said that certain persons
In st. Louis having found out that he aud
Dyer had so recommended proceeded to
Washington and informo the President that
ne (HendersOn) was most bitter ard relent.
less enemy of his, and that the appointment
OF Bonner was scheme ID aid III the pur-
pose OF his maleyolence. They urged the
President to believe that the developments
as 10 Baocock were put up job to strike
tinued the letter, were said TO defeat Bonner
and effect the appointment of their favorite
MIR. WILSON REPLIES TO THE CHARGE
ABOUT ABSTRACrING CERTAIN PAPERs
had sought to abstract certain papers be-
longing to the Treasury department, ex-
planned that Mr.. F. w. Winslow, and after
wards young Mr.. Dixon, cted as his amanu-
yCa s-rt.Ixx INo~
the papers. On the 30th OF June he vacated
his office, and instructed Winslow and Dixon
70 pack his papers, taking only his private
see paper that went into the boxes, relying
entirely upon the familiarity OF those gentle
men with them. Dixon nailed them up and
marked 10, !, them "Bluford Wilson. Springfield,
III" They were left In charge OF the janitor,
to be shipped as soon as he (Wilson) hai
home In Springf Before establishing
himself In Springfield he was summoned
be 1nconvenient to get Immediately at the
different parts of the records In the depart
ment ne asked Robinson to have his boxes
containing his private memoranda, rec ords
son said he would. William B. Moore was
present. but whether he heard what passed
witness does not know. Next morning K 10
tnson asked witness II he knew where the
Barnard letter was containing the Presi-
dents Endorsement. Witness answered he
did not. Winslow and Dixon both subSe-
Der packing 1t in either OF the boxes, bat
thought II was at the Sacretaiy's Office.
Robinson expressed some considerable en-
esIrsssment about giving up the boxes,
and Dixon and let him 60 through them.
That was the situation last Friday Night
when he was taken sick. Tuesday mornlng
he had conversation with the President,
and asked him for an order on the Secret lry
for the boxes, saying Ii he found the Barnard
letter he would promptly hand 1t over, but
the Secretary. subsequently, wrote a note
and Gen. Jas. Wilson (brother OF witness, TO
that he had no objection to Gen. Wilson be.
ing present, but that the party for the treas
urer should be the new solicitor, or some
one DESIGNATED by him: Called on the
not accept the Presidents suggestion,
the adoption Of which he would re-
The Secretary said he had understood he
(Wilson) admitted there were public papers
in the boxes. Robinson was his authority.
made any such statement. Witness subse-
quently sent mutual friend to the Presi-
Dent and obtained an order on the Secretary
son for examination. They were examined
and they contained, he had said, his own
original drafts of his operations against the
whisky ring and safe burglary. The Barnard
letter was also found by himself. 1t was
marked, "Private and confidential" aud had
been overlooked by the other gentlemen. and
was doubtless overlooked by the young man
who did the packing on account of the In.
dOrsement. Mr.. Wilson added affiiavits of
Messrs. Winslow and Dixon sustaining him
in his statement. In reference to certain
private letters and papers to which he had
reft rred, witness declined TO state their char.
acter, but admitted that they bore on the
whisky FRAUDS, while some related TO another
subject, q Cabinet officer.
BLACK FRIDAY.
@. understand you to say the President
OF the United States had IN his possession
papers proving that General Babcock was
connected with the Black Friday gold spe;u-
lation?
Mr.. Plaisted objected to the word "prov.
ing"
The witness.-I have said that have sat-
1sfactory Information that the papers are
ur deIstOod to establish that fact. Whatever
papers exist In the premises were delivered
Into the hands of the President on the m D, IL
ing of the 2lst, 22d or 23d OF February.
Mr.. Plaisted.-D Do you not know that Gen.
Babcock was In San Domingo during the
Black FRIDAY gold speculation?
Witness.-NO, do not know anything
about where he was.
WHY ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAMS WAS
REMOVED.
Mr.. Cocbrane.-In the Cincinnati Daily