The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-02
WAR ON BLUF0RD WILSON.
THE FEEBLE ITTENPr TO BREIK
DOWN ms TESTTMONY.
Oniy Proving Him Friend Of Bristow and
mn Enemy OF Whiskcy Thieves The Scnn-
dai TINT Drove Williams from the Cabinet.

nm Enemy Ot w hlshtN tniFftN tNf ~fnu-
dai TINT Drove Williams from the Cabinet.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-Mr. Plaisted, Re-
publican member Of the Subcommittee on
Wniskey Frauds, has undertaken the task OF
vindcating the President, and Is now engl gcd
In an effort to impeach the testimony OF Buford
Wilson and IIo.aor r. Yaryan. At his request,
number Of witnesses were subpmnaod yestcr-
day. and among the rest are the names OF Gen
Horace Porter. A. Bird Gardner, W. A. Gavitt
Mark Bangs, Elmer washburnc, and James
Brooks. Yesterday he called and examined, f.
X. Chapman, OF the stamp division OF the Inter
nal Revenue Bureau. This Mr.. Chapman en-
deavored by his testimony to create the impress
sion that Secretary Bristow, Solicitor Wilson,
and Mr.. Yaryan had little, II anything, to do
with the discovery OF tho whiskey frauds and
the bringing to punishment OF the thieves en-
gagged therein. According to his story,
whatever credit attaches to the exposure OF
tho whlskey Ring belongs almost excu-
eivelv to himself and Supervisor IIaw-
ley He said that he was commissioned
along with Hcwloy to so to St. Louis and make
| tho seizures there; that tho department had
little, II any, evidence at the time the seizures
| were made made against tho whskey Ring, and
that It was largely due to his skin and energy
that sufficient data was obtained after the SELF
| ure to enable the Government to prosecute to
huCceSsIul issue tue uoinOers OF tne iting IN tnht
| city. On cross-examination, however, ho had
| to admit that he knew nothing whatever Of tho
| whskey Ring until he was directed to proceed
| TO ST. Louis In company with Supervisor IIaw-
| ley, and that they were simply furnished with
| list Of the establishments to be seized. when
asked by Mr.. Cochrane. Chairman OF the sub
| committee, whether ho did not know that the
| department had st the time tue seizures we're
or dered sufficient evidence In its possession not
| only to warrant its action, but to secure the
conviction Of many OF tho offenders and the CON
dsmn .tion OF a great deal OF property he replied
| IN confused way that he supposed they had
some evidence.
cuAPMAS's ASTEcEDESrs.
This Nr. Chapman has been the head OF tho
| stsmp division Of the Internal Revenue Bureau
for several years, and m anly through his agency
the pristins Of the stamps was iot a long time
| secured by . Sir. Carpenter OF Philadelphia, who
prettsd largely by the contract IL mattered
not who underbii Carpenter Tor this work, In
| the end he ALWAYS secured the contract, and
| there is sufficient evidence to warrant the belief
that Chapman was interested In some WAY
conddencs en- I Of ssStetsry sH1 Bristow and SSieItor Tor
wilson, although they were warned not
some time after tho seizures were made,
and had the fullest confidence, not only
| Of the department here, tut of District
| Attorney Over at II. Louis. lie pretended to ne
| exceedingly zeMous In the prosecution Of Dab
| Attorney Over to idenufy the famous ,lph
| despatch along twltn others To Mcdonald ana
| Joyce Us beins In tho handwriting of Gen. q, f.
| BabcOck. As long as Secretary iirs Nv md So
| hcuor wilson were ~ Office Chapman was loud
| m"utned IN his professions OF ireudship Ter
| them and hatred to all who criticised their c0n-
| duct. His sudden change can be attributed
| to but one Of two reasons. First, that he was
| playing false throughout the whi-key trials and
betfaying Bristow and Wilson to the White
| House Ring or, second. that he Is now playing
| the sycopnant and turning tail upon men VINO,
while they were In power, he professed himself
| ever ready TO serve. IN order that he may form
| one Of the rssd-and butter brigade. There arc
many good and suficieat reasons for believing
| tn.t. while he pryie.sed sincerity and mad" a
great show Of zeal, he was nevertheless nll tue
time secretly netrAying Bristow ana Wilson u
| D4bcock and the whi-ksy Ring.
GAvITTs STORY.
| wa. Gavitt a revenue agent who was asso-
| ciated with Brszier and iaryan in the ex iuina-
| tion Of tue distilleries and rectfying houses In
St Louis in ls72, was examined to-day 10y MIR
PlaIsted. lie was apparently very anxious 90
tell something that would DO Injurious to Soli-
aa sir had bees ns sn1rs r
several months breyous to his rssisnation In
Presidency. lie / ID long story about being
telegr,phed TO meet Mr. Wilson IA Cincinnati
sometime nefore the Convention was was held
| ia that city. and that he went there from MiChi-
= n and haI an interview with the solicitor at
the Grand Hotel; that while tncre Mr. Wilson
perfect accord with the Secretary and himself
in prosecuting the whiskey thieves. and that
therefore he (ths wltncss) need have no fear
about attacking any office. whom he had r, ason
to suspect OF unfaithfulness to the Government.
Al nc same time NJ swaars that Mr.. " ilsOn IN
structed him 70 work for Ms. Bristow, and to
10 all he could to have him nominated at Gin
cinnatl that he peremitoriiN decnued and
pressed oy the Chairman to give as ne,r as he
could the language useo by Mr WILSON, lie said
tuat he could not recall IT, but the substance OF
It was that Mr.. Bristow w.s to DO the next Presl-
dent: that I'VE are going 70 make MN Presi
cent" This he repeated htlf dozen times, and
whenever asked "a question to which he could
ty any means bring TINS in A. ali answer he did
ssrel, repIltnAnteu him. lie also testified that
faryan urged nitn TO 60 for liIi-tow, aud warned
him In "a threatening manner to discontinue Lls
advocacy or Mr. Blaine.
IMPORTANT FACTS DROUGHT oUr
He brought out, however, an important fact
10 regard 70 his mission 10 st. Louis In lst2. He
produced the Joint report Of himself Yaryan,
| sufficient evidence Of irregularities on the part
OF Beyis & Frazier aud Clhc to warrai.t the
revenue agents, he said, discovered almost im-
meli.tely after tney Gommenced com the elr invest; ;
Rins, because Mcdonald forbid them making
examinations OF dlstillerles AS he had not been
notified IN advance, and said moreover tnat
ne was supervisor oi that district aud
this kind. witness further testified that
hc and Yaryan Iolned in confidential lot
ter to tho Commissioner OF Internal keyenuo. IN
which thev advsed him Of the facts In regard
to tho conduct Of McDonad and Joyce, and
tneir eonvctl.n that both were Interested with
tht-iiing, and tn great frauds were being per
| potrated upon the Government. Now, 1t Is =
fact known TO all men, That though these faCts
we're reported To the Commissioners Of Internal
Reyenue ns far back az ls72, no action was ever
taken TO institute an inquiry Into the conduct
Of Me Donald or joyce, or 10 iuTther prosecute
| tho iuyestisattun OF The Whlskey Ring at 81.
Louis. The impression this witness tried To
create WAS that Mr.. Wilson was more intere ted
In BHstow's nomination for the Presi-
doncv tnan he was In the prosecution Of
the Whskey Ring. He was constantly
repeating that he was Instructed by " iisun to
| 60 for Bristow and DO all he could To secure III
| nomination, hut he admitted that he told Mr..
wilson that he was afr ~ Of Blaine, and was do
| tngwhat he could t. secure his nomination. lie
| even let OUT IN he was In virginia working IN
| the interest OF blaine, ana that n attended the
| Republican State Convention at l.N.chbutz aud
helped 10 set up the delegation Of that ~ ite for
blaine, oil OF which, as ue sad, was known 10
both YarYan and wilson, nei.hsr of wnOm
called hin 10 account Tor II.
TIE PROSECUTIONS IN CHICAGO.
| The next witness examined Mark Bangs,
| tie present ID rlct Attorney for the Northern
| Di.tuct Of llnnuis Mi Pl~lsted, IN his exam
ination OF thls Witness lahOred NeTy hard 10
show that the coui 20 purs ned hy the secretary
Of tha Treasury ana the solicitor IN oinl aG-
| clmpaces as witnesses resulted IN great damage
to the Governme. L. tlr Dings testified H. a
cautious, hesitating manner, and evidently FELT
tnat he was treading on DANGEROUS ground. llo
admitted, however that lhe conduct OF
tho pr secutiuus In Ills district against
tho Whlskcy RING Vas left entirely