The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-03
WHISKY ITEMS.
Interviews With the Implicated
Parties and the Govern
ment Agents.
What They Know About Whisky
Frauds.

| axeS on distilled spirits, and some O
the Government agents, and ELECTED
from them their respective views on the
subject.
THE INDICTED PARTIES
are unanimous in denying that there has
ever been in this city any combination
or ring for the purpose of defrauding
the Government. They say that IL the
Government has been defrauded, it has
not been done through the instrumen-
tality OF any organization perfected for
that purpose, but in individual cases.
They affirm thatthe principal offenses
against the revenue laws have been COM
mitted In the Western cities, and that
merchants and dealers i'm this city
should not be held to answer for the sins
and offenses Of others, since the whisky
purchased by them was bought In good
faith, and without any collusion with
violators of the law or connivance at
fraud. They declare that the indict-
ments already found rest upon frivolous
charges, which, in many instances, the
Government would fail to substantiate.
Most OF the parties interviewed were of
the opinion that this movement on the
part Of the Government was instituted
for party purposes, with the view of
making political capital for certain Gov
ernment officials at Washington.
In regard to the charge against them
OF failure to produce their books, they
declare that In most Of the cases un-
avoidable and entirely fortuitous cir
cumstances preoluded the possibility of
their producing these books for the in
spection Of the special agents Of the
Government, since many OF them had
been mislaid, stolen or lost, withoutthe
knowledge, procuratiOn or consent of
their owners. They say that the i'm.
pending Investigations and the recent
indictments will result In nothing but
a good deal of absurd gossip and specu-
lation, without much detriment or harm
to the victims beyond an amount of no
toriety which they would like to avoid,
and the expense to which they will be
put In preparing for their defense.
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Ia OF the opinion that under the law the
parties accused can be taken for trial to
any point, at the discretion OF the gov
where the offense was either
continued or ended. II
this view be sustained and the gov
ernment should remove the cases be-
yond the limits Of the State, no small
Of embarrassment will over
whelm the accused parties.
THE SPECIAL AGENTS
of the government say that they are as
yet only at the threshold of their work
The only indictments thus far found have
been based upon the failure Of the indict-
ed parties to produce their books but
many very startling developments will,
hey say, soon be brought TO light. They
'efer mystcriously to instances in which
,he parties who are yet to be indicted
,an be proven to have committed actual
rauds,
The whole matter now begins to as
'ume a very grave and serious aspect
The deep interest felt in it is growing
stronger and stronger every day.
The Federal Grand Jury found only
,ne indictment yesterday, and will not
it again until tomorrow. 1t is ex-
remely difficult to procure much reli-
lble information; the special agents are
taciturn, the District Attor-
icy is strictly -commital, and the
'arious liquor dealers already indicted
lesitate to express their views openly
or fear of an attack from black mailers,
# whom there Is host, they say, ready
nd eager to victimize them.
What with the recent conviction Of
dcKee, the editor of the st. Louis Globe
Democrat "a staunch administration
ournaD, and the approaching trial of
,abcock at st. Lonis, and Of some of {
ur prominent citizens, either here or in
he West, whisky matters are decidedly ,,
he sensation Of the times. 6