The daily gazette., 1876-02-05
IN THEIR new QUARTERS.
Revenue Robbers in Another Role.
Carr ing Ont the Sentences Against the
Whtskey Conspirators-Social PO-
sition of the Prisoners.
Donning the Penitentiary CARDS.

LOUISVILLE, fcDruary 5.-Ine In
dianians recently tried, convicted and
sentenced at Indianapolis for compiled
ty in whiskey frauds, were placed in
the State prison at Jeffersonville last
evening The prisoners previous to
their preseHt trouble occupied high po,
sitions and were numbered among the
best citizens of Evansville. The SEN
tences read for hard labor for the
terms specified for violation of the
revenue laws. A Courier Journal re-
porter succeeded in having talk with
| the prisoners after they arrived at
prison. Albert McGriff was sitting on
smoking lounge, with his face in his
hands, the picture of griefand despair.
| The reporter touched him lightly on
the shoulder, when he started and
raised his head. His face looked care
worn and haggard and his eyes were
suffuscd with tears. He is nerrly go
years old. He said, "My God to think
that l would evar come to place like
this; 1t will kill me; my heart is
crushed now" lie spoke in voice
deep with emotion, and was greatly
lagitated 'If it were not for my poor
lwife aud son, believe l could stand
it; but to think of the disgrace brought
upon them is more than can bear
1t will kill my wife; she is sick now
and this will kill her; but there is one
Iconsolation, she knows l am innocent
of the charge, and swear to you that
am an innocent man." He said that
his wife was fifty eight years old, and
that he had been married thirty years.
Mr.. McGriff was we'll known and
highly respected at Evansville, being
for seven years the city clerk of that
place, and a leading member in the
Presbyterian Church. He has the
heart disease, and it is the general
opinion among his friends that he will
not long survive his Imprisonment
Jas. X. Hill seemed cheerful and said
that he had made up his mind to stand
it, and that he could stand as much as
any other living man. Hill has an ex-
tensive acquaintance in Indiana, and
is well known in this city. He was
deputy revenue collector at Evansville.
He asserted his innocence yesterday,
and, before he was sentenced at In
annapolis on Tuesday, through his
counsel, w. p. Fjshback, presented
the following note to Judge Gresham:
"With due reference to your honor
and the jury that found me guilty, l
saw now, in the presence of God and
the world, that | am not guilty. Dur
liDg my connection with the revenue
department, | have worked faithfully
in the interests of the government. l
ask, for the sake of my family that
your honor will be as merciful as the
circumstances will permit.
| j. X. Hill"
He is43 years old and has wife and
eight children.
Philip G. Eberwine was sad aud ST.
lent, having nothing TO say to any one,
but gazing vacantly upon those In the
room. In a note to Judge Gresham
before sentence was pronounced, he
said:
withheld nothing from the United
States attorneys when called upon, but
gave them the evidence upon which
my own indictment was found and
that of others, | am unfortunately a
pensioner upon the government. [
bear three severe and honorable
wounds as a reward for three years
good service as a private soldier, | am
manned for life and unable to do any
manual labor. 1t was my helpless
condition and poverty, coupled with
desire to save my little home from
being sold from us, that caused me to
listen to the willy words Of the Sc
duccr
Miller says that his punishment is
out of all proportion to his offense.-
lie said that he never would have
been in the ring, only that all the Off
GERS were in, and if he kept out he
would have them all to fight, and that
to save his position, he went in. He is
a married man, but has no children.-
His health is delicate.
John f. Phillips was in the army
four years and was badly wounded.--
He said the distillers got him into it
by stating that they would have to
shut down or run crooked; that he
was trying to provide home for his
family, and did not want to lose his
position. Pnillipsi is about so years of
lage. He has a wife and four children
in Strengthened circumstances. He
takes his sentence hard.