The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-07
PRICE TWO CENTS
CIIICAG0'S WHISKEY RING.
THE DTsTILLERS' STORY or THEIn
TEMPTA rION IND FALL.
Interestins Testimony Before the Grand Jew
Local and Nntiopni Politicians Invoives.
Threats that were Made by IIesinn e. Cc,

Interestins Testimony Before the Grsnd Jsvy
-Locai n nd National Politicians Involved
Threats that were Made by IIesinn g. Ces
CHIoAao Jan. 8-The United States
Grand Jury has devoted two days to tho whi.-
key cases and In that time three distiliers have
told the story Of their temptation ana fall. Un-
usual precautions have been taken to preserve
the secrets OF the Grand Jury room from the
prying public. but Notwithstanding all the safe
guards that the officers Of the law have bean
able to throwi around the jury, the main facts -
testified are pretty we'll known.
The two distillcrs who gave their testimony
yesterday were Miller and Frcdcfcks OF the
Lake Shore Distiety. This establishment Wa
one Of the small ones having capacity Of about
1000 gallons per dav only. To-day Junker. Of
the hrm OF Roller, Junker 4 Co., was heard.
This firm owned a large distil'ing house In Gala
met, about twenty miles from this city, and q
rectifying house Of equal capacity In the citv.
Their daily production was between 5000 and
6tOO gallons.
The gst OF tn cir story ia that thev we're Gradual
" forced Into the Illicit trade because there
so much crooked whisksy put on the market
from New Orleans and other points that II was
Impossible for honest men To remfin In bui-
ness and make living. Reucatod efforts had
to break up the Illicit trade, hut they
were not seconded by the officials In
had to choose ono of two alternatives,
either to sacrifice a greater part Of the money
tneN nNu invested IN tneif ulstllefleS ana 20 Ou1
OF business, Or 90 into the crooked business and
make money, Of course taking tho chances OF
being caught. They were assured that the dan
ger was but slight, because the Administratioa
nj Washington was not adverse to the mAnufac-
turo Of crooked whiskoy, provided the distiilers
contributed literally Of their proHts to sustain
n IN power.
They say that an effort was made In 1870 to o.
gsnize Ring here, hut that II fsiled beosuss
the higher Internal revenue officers In the dis
trct could not he corrupted. Then the polit,-
claus who were Interested had these scruDulouu
N4
This occurred some timo during 1871, OF the
early part Of lo'2: The dlsiiilers were heavt..
ly assessed for the campaign Of 1872, soA
again In 1874. having In tho meantime coz
trbuted literally in the contest Of 1873. Tnsy
these political assessments and the an cunts
they were Obliged to furnish for tho eaugcr>,
to believe that the Administration sano-
| toned the violation OF the revenue
laws laws i3,csI peSsq'e the men zen Th9 mansg.s
all powerful at Washington, and rewarded
and appointed revenue officers here at their
pleasure. The name OF the mon who shared
with the distillers were given. and tho amounts
paid them. Tho leaders of the local politicians
G. Hesing. Miller. and J. Rehn. aud the amounts
paid them az various times swell to tens Of thou
The magnitude Of the crooked business bsrs
Il shown by tho trans actions OF one rectifyinH
establishment; that Of GholSen 4 EastmAn-
neary ali the distiilers, taking All average Of 80
barrel. day, The amount OF t@n Tar
frauded through these men was. accord
ing to those figures. over t3,colOOo, per
nnnum. Gholscn Eastman raii the diSti-
lers for the hilh wines whatever the margss
| price was, less the tax aud twenty cents peg
gallon. IL IA said that these rectiders were al
| lowed a credit Of Thirty DAYS by the distiliera
aud when tue grand rid was made In May lasS
they were thirty days behind Ia .ettieinents and
| thus the distiilers who dealt With them Qua
| that mn,h.
| 1hs friends Of Hesing Miller, ond Rehm srp
| quite defiant. and declare tbat these Rontlemoa
| VIII make things lively when they come to Leu
| their side. They said their connection with the
| Nhiskey Riug was solely political, and N thsf
| arc to be prosecuted for what they did In thai
| WY they will zee that the hlchest in the land
aro IA guilty AS they. Altogether the develop
| monts promise to 10 mighty interesting before
| tho hearing Ia concluded.
| The Grand Jury now IN session In Springfield,
III hiss IL IL said, struck rich lc q in investk
| eating the doings Of the Pekin Whskey hnH.
| John ID. oom1eld, who was in 1870 ana 1871 Supor-
| visor OF Internal Revenue, Is there looking on,
| and means to have something to say before the
Grand Jury concludes its inquiries. lie will i'm
| plcate high Officials In Washington and among
| the NUMBER Senator Boutwell, aud Columbus
| DeiAno.