The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-20
RETURN OF THE SUPPOSED
CROOKED" WHISKY RING.
The Milan Distillery Straight"

On Monday evening last Col. Burgh, Capt.
George Dodge, M. 7. Wiser, j. r. Corker,
and Jacob and Ben. Frysinger lett tor
Chicago, having been summoned to appear
before the U. s. grand jury there. The
report was soon in circulation that the
Milan distillery had been running crook
ed"
On the above parry arriving at Chicago
they Immediately went to the Office of Mr..
Bangs, the prosecuting attorney in the
crooked whisky suits, and inquired of that
gentleman what was wanted of them. MIR.
Bangs didn't know, but supposed Mr.,
Olson, his frst assistant, could tell them.
After considerable trouble they found the
first assistant. He didn't know anything
about the matter, and sent them to the
second assistant. After tramping around
several hours in search of some one who
had their matter in hand they were at last
informed that they had been sent for at
the instance of Col. A. G. Mathews,
supervisor of internal revenue for the
states of Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigau.
but that that gentleman was then in Mil
waukee and would not return until eve
ming. Wednesday morning the Rock Is
land party called on MIR, Mathews. Fol!
lowing is about the conversation between
MIR. Mathews aud one of the Rock Island
party:
! r. IL am----7of Rock island.
and have called tc learn for what Reason
| was s1mmoned here.
j Mr.. MI want to ask you about Wm.
Somersville, my first assistant,
! r. I-Well, what is it.
Mr.. M.-Did you ever hear Or know Of
Mr. Somersyille being connected with any
Of these crooked whisky transactions
| Ii you did | want you to tell me, for | eau
/ rot afford to keep him if the reports which
! | hear are correct.
! r. IL never heard anything about
Mr.. s. being connected with these matters.
always considered Mr.. s. perfectly
honest, and think it he is otherwise there
! is not an honest man in the service,
Mr., My Cd, that's what think
Well, that s all at present. Good morn.
ing.
In the afternoon Col Burgh, Wiser and
Corker were brought before the grand
jury. They were asked if they knew any
thing about the Sagetowu tHenderson
CO unty) dis,iilery; whether they ever
heard anything about fraud there; if they
knew of any crooked" whisky ever having
been shipped from Rock Island, Milan, oil
any other place, to all of which thes,
gentlemen answered no Neither
George Dodge, MIR, Jacob ,Frysin
ger nor his son Ben were examined
and the whole party was discharged We'd
nssday evening, and arrived home thi:
morning. The cost to the government: 10
: witness fees by this foolish action Wa
$la7.5O.
1t has been learned that the Rock Isl
and party was summoned before the gram
Jury on information obtained from Tu rue
the Sagetown distiler, and Charles D
tillery, but late gauger at Sagetown, and
who was recently indicted, with Turner
for fraaa. These two bea uties at;cmpie
to gain sympathy by concocting crooked
D whisky scheme Oh the Milan distillery an
the revenue Ulcers connected with it.
The distillery at Milan was shut dow
when the Erysingers went to Chicago, a
D it was not known how long they would b
absent. Some repairs will be made beior
= work will be resumed there.