The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-09
ILLICIT wHIsKEY.

The letter in yesterdays HERALD from Chicago CIV
ing account Of the latest testimony adduced before
the Grand Jury the subject Of very general com
ment among those Interested in the wholesale liquor
trade in New York and Brooklyn H. as there stated
revenue officers have been sent to investigate I'M
plicated firms here the authorities in New York pro-
iess to know nothing Of the fact Whether, as stated
by the government informer Golsen in Chicago there
are firms New York and Brooklyn that have pronted
by the Western Illicit whskey .rafc not cannot be
determined until after investigation by the Revenue
Department Meanwhile Mr. Boyd, one Of the part
OF the firm of r O Boyd 4 Co., makes an inter-
esng statement In defence of his firm, and charges
Golsen with improper motives in accusing them. This
statement is contained IN the following interview
REPoRrER-Mr. Boyd, you have doubtless read IN
the HERALD the charges OF the government nformer,
Golsen, in Chicago, that you had purchased Illicit
whiskey through himi
Mr.. BoYD-These accusations are utterly false
REroRrER-win you state how you happen TO be thus
accusedP
Mr.. BoYD-This Golsen has made the statement
that he had an understanding with Y. 0. Boyd Co.,
by which they agreed to buy his ''crooked whskey
at twerty cents a gallon less than market price That
is false We bought any whskey from him.
He states here lin the HRRALDl that he sent $50
He shipped highwines whatever last spring, and
we had no transaction with him such as he
states at that time, and know OF none
Of his goods having been put on board or
a transport in the harbor" He states here
that we have bought vast deal or CROOKED"
whiskey, knowing that Il crooked, from other
dealers in ST Louis Chicago and other cities This is
true. We have had no transactions whatever in
ST. Louis for past three years We do purchase
whskey ALL business being exclusively that Of
receiv,ns distilled spirits on commission and selling IL
al no ais And in
the HERALD that firm and several others Of nearly
equal standing have kept two sets Of books for the
revenue officers and the other for their customers.
This Is not true in our case has often been proved
through the government officers, who have
made frequent examinations during the past
year The law requires that transcript
OF the government book required TO be kept by all
wholesale dealers, and in which they obliged TO
make entries OF their daily receipts and deliveries shall
be taken once a month by revenue officers By COM
parison with the distillers books any discrepancy
would readily be detected. The officers come usually
from the LIST TO the 10th Of the month but they
sonsv In other times. II would be N impos-
soity 70 keep second book OF this sort without de-
lection
RKroRrER-Do you believe any leading firms keep,
as stated, double set OF these oooksS
Mr.. BOYD-No; because such attempt would GER
tainly be detected.
RSAsoNs FoR eoLsES's STATEMENTS
REPoRrRR-Can you explain Gosen's for
making such assertions about your
Mr. BoYD-Goisen was a member OF the firm OF Col
sen Eastman IN Chicago up 70 last May, when he was
seized for fraud the revenue. We have done bust
ness with the Arm during Ihe past two years. mainly
alcohol winch received from them consign-
ment and sold this market for their account When
closed business with them in June 1876 they
owed balance OF 81 200 which they
stated they were unable TO pay in conse-
quence of the seizure OF their property by the
government We threatened TO them, and also
tried to get possession Of notes of theirs held by
Chicago bank, but were unable 70 do the bank
curing all the property they held to indemnify them
selves Golsen learned Of application the bank
from the cashier and was very angry at what he
pleased TO consider attack upon his credit and said
he would have his revenge
Now Tor another reason. During the past ten years
my business has been with the West largely.
have received from Illinois and Ohio from
$4,000 10 $4,000 barrels OF distilled
spirits every year For the past three
years our business has been very much nerfercd with
by Illicit whiskey This we'll known the Illicit
dstillers to myself and they naturally suspected
that had something 10 do with the efforts that were
being made TO break up the contraband trade Here is
letter signed by this same William Gosen, written
in the spring OF 1874 10 dealer this city showing the
writer the letter signed William Golscn) in which he
directly charges with having reported him 10 the
Treasury Department at Washington dealing Illicit
spirits IN consequence OF which, he adds the depart
ment had ordered investigation of his books. Col
was Ia error. | did not report him; others did,
and consequence was that his books were examined
and found he claimed they would be, but
wholly incorrect and the result OF the Investigation
the seizure OF his establishment IN the spring OF 1870
After the he wrote another letter which have
seem IN which he states that he had positive informa
ton that the cause OF this SEIZURE and that he
was bound 10 have his revenge before he died Hence
his statements about me and his evidence before the
Grand Jury
We have teegraphed to-day the District Attorney
at Chicago asking that officer be sent here TO
investigate Golsen IS alleged transactions with us, and
ready TO place our books and clerks at his dis
posal Such an investigation will show that Golsens
assertions utterly false and that all transactions
with hts firm have been IN strict accord with the law
In conclusion, may tell you that entirely agree
with the general opinion expressed of him in tho
Chicago papers. They say he Is "a great liar, con-
summatc rascal and plant tool Of the Ring"
REPoRrER-In your opinion, Mr.. Boyd, has any
siderable quantity Of Illicit whskey come TO New
York and Brooklyn from the wet stated in this
letter.
Mr. BoYD-Tve no doubt good deal OF Illicit
whiskey here but in such a way 70 place II
beyond the power OF the governments seize IT, for II
bore all the stamps and brands required Dy the law
RKPoRrBR-How could this have occurredf
Mr.. BoYD-It could only have occurred by collusion
with the government officers ut the dstilerics out
West This been shown In the recent trials In ST.
LOUIS. The brands AMI stamp the only evidences
We have that whskey has paid Its tax.