New-York tribune., 1878-05-13
CINCLNNATI JVHISKEY FRAUDS.

sEIZCRE or A DISTILLERY AND THREE RECTlFflNG
HOUsEs-HOw THE EFFORTS OF GOVERNMENT
OFFICERS HAVE BEEN BAFFLED-sTATEMENT BY
GENERAL sEWELL.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
CINCTNNATI, May 12.-ln view of the con-
dieting rumors about frauds in the whiskey business
here and the dispatch to THE TRIBUNE from General
wcltzel regarding his brother the Collector OF this Dis
trict your correspondent has obtained the following
statement from General Sewe OF the Internal Revenue
Department, who is now here:
More than a year ago frauds suspected in Cincin-
matt. Two agents were sent, and they accomplished
nothing Then Mr. Brooks the younger who is regarded
as a sharp man, was ordered to Cincinnati to make a
general inspection OF matters He left Washington one
evening and the next morning special telegram APP
peared in paper here stating that he had been sent on
to watch the dstillers Collector Weitzel in Wash
ugton tmc and there pretty good evidence
to Weitzel with the information He, however,
denied IT, Brooks accomplished nothing. From that
time forward agents sent out frequently, until the
Fall Of 1877, when it was decided TO make general
transfer OF agents. TruDbu was relieved, and Mitchell
an Old and experienced agent, was sent out
TO this district. Mitchell reported Irregularities,
and confirmed the old suspicious. lie was given force
sufficient watch the dIseries and was about to make
points, when attorney from some OF the honest dis
tilcrs went TO Washington and had an interview with
President and Secretary and reported that frauds
were being perpetrated in this city. lie was ADVISED
that matters would be looked into An agent was sent to
Cincinnati AFTER and at reported that the dis
tlers had informed and OF the visit OF
tins attorney Washington, and were on their guard
that Wezes office was fully posted, and that some OF
the subOrdnates had talked Of the matter Mitchell then
tccgraphed to the Commissioner end informed him that
all movements were watched
1t was then that the Commissioner had an interview
with the President and advised him that it would be
useless to attempt to correct irregularities in tins dis
trct without the removal OF the Collector For some
reason the matter delayed. Mitchell telcgraphed TO
the Commissioner that he Thought upon conference Win
the UsirictAttomcy, that there sufficient evidence
upon which seize certain suspected places General
SewcIl was sent Immediately to Cincinnati TO examine
the evidence and with the DisrictAtorney and
take such action as the facts might warrant. The Dis
Attorney having examined the evidence, recon-
monded the seizure OF GObrecht'E, ScherHs ana kuhe-
mans reetying establishments and the Teepn dstil-
ery. This was done. Commissioner Raum telegraphed
scwcu 10 direct Deputy Collector Taggert who In the
absence OF Colonel Wetzel in charge. TO detail
drnut y-coectors TO make the seizures. The Revenue
Agents Whitfield and Grmmson had been ordered here,
and directed 10 accompany the deputy To
ma ke the seizures and Mr. RathbOne Of the secret SER
vice and his called In. Most of the Illicit
spirits have been disposed Of TO the local trade some
has gone to country towns, but no large shipment
las been made to tho East While only disery has
been captured in tins RAID il Is pretty well known that
others have doing about the kind Of business
! but the evidence dbl not warrant seizure.
TIE seizures were made On saturday as follows:
Teciin Dstillery on the plankr0ad owned by Herman
Tcepin and Fritz Grammar Barney kuhlmans reetliy-
! Ing house on the Walker Mil Road LOUIS AchRIDys
| rcct!fyng house, No 1873 West Court-st; GOOrechrs
rcctifyng house on Wanut-st, opposite Turner Hall.
The extent Of the frauds far Is known, OF these
places, which small has been aDout zen DlrreIs per
! week il is .upposed The whiskey made at the
Tcepn Dsticry aud received by the three rcctfying
places named Teepu is charged with removing spirits
| nm which the tax mad not been paid. The manner OF
doing This il described rs follows by Mr. Mitchell:
cert u number OF barrels Of whkcy say fifty, would be
placed ont IN the yard shipment all properly stamped
! Early the day twenty-five barrels would be hauled
! away. Late in the aft rnOOn say between D ana
| o'cDck ten barrels more would be hauled away
/ That would leave fifteen barrels, but early next
morning twenty-five barrels would be found there. Ihis
meant that ten barrels had been taken away empted
and rrtIrned and recd In the night, with the original
stunl,s on them Collector Wcitzcl Il now in Washing
! Ton. Mr.. Amor Smth Will probably succeed him.