New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-20
EXTRAORDINARY FRAUDS SOUTH.
WHISKY pIsTnLERs AND TOBACCO MANUFACTURERS
so NUMEROUS AND LAwLEsS THAT THE ARMY
HAS BEEN CALLED on FOR HELP.

WHISKY pISTIILERS AND TOBACCO hANUfACIohEho
so NUMEROUS AND LAwLEss THAT THE ARMY
HAS BEEN CALLED on FOR HELP.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATcHl
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-The Commissioner
OF Internal Revenue called the attention of the Sec
Rotary OF the Treasury TO the increase OF frauds upon the
revenue by the Illicit disatiOn Of spirits and to the
dincuty of enforcing the internal revenue laws sew
era of the Southern States From recent reports OF OF
cers and agents the Bureau stationed IN North Caro-
lima Georgia. and Northern Alabama 1t appears that the
Illicit distilIation and Illegal sale OF spirits
are carried on to en- extent unknown al
anv time during the existence Of the present
laws The frauds in the production and sale OF manu-
featured tobacco in the State of North Carolina alone
are believed to amount TO nearly 100000 annually
Tn the States above named together with southwestern
Virginia and East Tennessee, there are operated at
time not less than 1000 Illicit disneries, producing on
an average IS gallons per day the'ta upon which Is
days during the month, and some OF them 1
for four months this this ysaT loss 10 inc
These stills located In the mountain gorges ana
spsey settled districts aud can only be discovered ana
the offenders arrested by extraordinary efforts on the
mart of the officers During the last year Revenue Agent
wagner with mounted and armed eivil force
in breaking up 1873 such stills and alrestng 131 Offend
ers nearly all of whom were convicted ana are now
ing out their sentences in State penitentary. In NORTH
CaroIina South Carolina aud Georgia IA considerable
nnher 81 persons were arrested. These active opera
tons arrests seem not to have al al deferred te
liant tan especially in North Carolina south Caro-
lima and Georgia They have combined together 10
resist the execution Of the laws, and boast that they VIII
rsst Ia the end and meet force with force Few weeks
agn n marty under charge OF Revenue Agent Wagner,
Searching for Illicit stills attacked about daylght
by SOrce OF 20 armed men aud fired upon ON the I'm
i deputy Collector Barton of the South Carolina Dis
tric and his assistant Hendricks, were Doth wounded
py distler they attempting " arrest Hendricks
was fatally shot 49,, ,---,.,o A.. oo.,..
Conmisslouer Raum says IL il impossible to execute
the laws In these with the force now at MS con-
mand or with any force that he can employ under the
present appropriation. He recommends that tue com
handing officer OF military division or department.
nhrcg the States named be instructed ~ furnish
ndcent force OF troops 10 assist the civil ocers 10 exc
cut. the laws and offenders The letter OF the
was made subject of consideration ut the
Cabinet meeting to-day having been presented by the
Secretary the Treasury and has received the following
Referred TO the Secretary Of War; who will please have
the of the troops In the states referred TO IN
trcI 10 give a the aid necessary 10 enable tue rev
snue officials to perform their duties aud ~ arrest the
yiolators Of the revenue laws u o. UkASf.
Jau. ~, 1877. -. -, -
Respectly referred ~ the General Of the Army, who
will issue such instructions 10 the Commander OF the Dc
parnent OF the south will carry out the purposs OF
The Presidents Endorsement. j. d. CAMERON,
War department, Jan. 10, 1877. SECRETARY VI War;