The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-11
A Candid Conversation.

situation on yesterday. Mr.. StHinloru
represents ono or two OF the 1nd1cted
distillers, and no has decided conv1c-
tions on the subject ofthe present pros
ecutions.
II will tell you Us matter OF fact,
Mr.. Hangs. the distillers of Chicago
have been willing and anxious to manu-
fncture straight goods, but they have
| not been able to do So" remarked Mr..
Stamford, by way Of q fceler:.
$50 I understand" replied the eau
tious district attorney, determined not
| to be led too far by any imprudent I'D
| missions.
"And vet, scontinued Mr.. Stamford,
with earnestness, 'tthcse manufacturers
| Of distilled spirits are saddled with u
prent burden. There was an organiza-
| tion effected something over % year ago
to resist these black-mailing thieves
from the Government who were con
stantly harassing them. go,
| on his guard.
"Now what are you going TO do?" en-
ergetically inquired Mr.. Stamford, evil
| IDENTIFY endeavoring to get the legal rep
regentative Of the United States Gov
ornment to commit himself.
81 would carry on the revenue depart
mcnt the same as any other department
Of the Government, replied Mr.. Bangs,
Will " UiOIG GAbJld1u tVAAoIohn ChOt"
| than he had made before.
"My opinion Is" continued the vocif-
erous and aggressive Stamford, from
| the investigations ] have mede, that the
distillers themselves have
| NOT BAvED 10 PER CENT OF THEIR PROFITS.
| Their share did not amount to that.
| These Government officials bled them
| tremendously"
81 presume they did not" remarked
Mr.. Bangs, now in danger OF being
drawn into deep water. Gin the first
place these sharks had the inside track"
"They won it, remarked Mr.. STAN
ford, with decisive emphasis Of voice"
| 81 will tell you what Is q fact" CON
tin1ed the district attorney now taking
% forward step in the conversation,
''there seems to have been two or three
men here In, Chicago who welded all the
power. They directed things according
| TO their own wishes"
Mr.. Stamford did not for moment
lose sight Of the objective point he had
in view i'm tho conversation. Instead Of
following up the idea Of the district
attorney, he struck out In q now direc-
| "Assessments have been made against
| these fellows which, II carried out will
take oil they have In the world and yet
leave them largely In debt to the gov
ernment." Mr.. Stamford's voice be-
came sympathetic and husky. II know
% man. he continued, recovering his
self possession with IN effort, "who Is
stated as having stolen 100000 worth
of crooked whisky, yet / know he Is
not worth 100000 to-day, and never
| was"
"rhe difficulty with them was, /" broke
| in Mr.. Bangs, becoming interested In
the conversation, that the thing was SO
situated that the inside circle took the
lions share, and the outside got moth
in s!ir' 49, oeaa,. l., ,,,,a,,o,
Mr.. Stamford, determined not to leave %
grease spot to indicate the presence OF
this unfortunate class Of people, "these
government officials annoyed these dis
tillers until they were compelled to go
into bankruptcy, and sink their fortunes
or accept the situation. They took 80
per cent Of the profits will warrant.
''There Is no doubt In the world"
to help in this demolition OF the govern
eminent crew there Is no doubt In the
world but they did all they could to drive
these men into this business
Mr. Stamford began to get animated,
and to gesticulate vigorously. Il have
not q particle of patience with these
prosecutions, said he, with great frank
ness. "If they" (meaning the govern
ment counseD twill just unearth the
York, from Cincinnati to st. Louis, and
from Chicago to Milwaukee, and all
along the line If they will uncover the
whole thing" continued Mr. Stamford,
stopping to take breath, mot only In
the whisky business but In all other
branches Of the service, you will find |
more fellows guilty than innocent"
Mr.. Stamford began to get heated. He |
paused in his remarks, took off his hat, /
handkerchief, while he eyed the district |
attorney for tho purpose Of determining
what effect this comprehensive PROPOSE |
ton would have upon his legal mind.
ut is a prima facie CASE" commenced |
Mr.. Bangs, with q scmi-judicial tone of |
voice, that IL a man comes into pub |
lie office poor, and he is scarcely able to |
pay the expenses incident to taking pos
session OF his office, and he stays there /
u few years and
GOES OUT RICH,
that the man has stolen it. ] don't care1
who he is" There was vehemence
and fire about the utterance Of the dis
trict attorney which the reporter
thought he had never observed before.
The wind shook the window and q cloud
passed over the sun.
That's sol" exclaimed Mr.. LAWYER
Stamford, shifting his thigh with the
broad palm OF his hand. The district
attorney appeared encouraged by this
emphatic approval, to proceed
There Is official stealing In this State
that has eliminated In this great bust
ness of defrauding the revenue. It Is a
common thing, l am sorry to say. /
could count fifteen or twenty men on my
fingers here, and call their names, IL /
were so disposed, who have been in our
State Legislature, who hadn't money
enough to pay their hotel bills when
they went there, who have made from
$4,000 to S25, 900 In one session. could
give a man, and call his name, who came
to the Legislature without cent, who
sent home $4,000 by express the first
week."
This Was such l.
STARTLING PROPOSITION
that a solemn silence fell on the group
for some minutes. Then some one came
into the office to consult the District At
torney, and the subject OF official cor
ifr