Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-19
"Col. Burgess Hunt, 1 believe ~

"Col Burgess Hunt, | believe!'
Col. Hunt Was greatly surprised. He
did not lnlpw the gentleman, and be-
lieycd himself unknown. He was pre-
pared, however, to take advantage Of
everything TINT might lead to the intor-
nation Itc desired, and sOtepfiel
"Youyhave the advantage Of me, sr''
Seating himself beside Col. Hunt, tho
gentleman introduced himself.
"lsknow you, Col. Hunt, through
mutual friends in Louisville" he con
tinned,alld added: ~ have private
parlor cur ut the rear of tho train. No
one Is there, and | have choice cham
pagne. Will you do me the honor to
share MY cur with me -"
Col. Hunt ut once thought there was
some purpose in all this. Why this ex-
traortinary courtesy should be shown
him he could only account for 1t on tho
GROUND of his official position. He de-
tcrlnincd to occept the ycntlcnan's offer,
and went with him to tho parlor car.
Seated in tho easy chars, with bot
tic Of champagne between them, the
conversation became less formal, and
ut last the gentleman opened direct
fire. .s ..
"I am said he, interested in tho
manufacture Of whisky in New Or
leans"
"Ah, indecd,' replied Col. Hunt.
owe know you, Col. Hunt he con-
tinued, cas- the new supervisor Of this
district
"Inlccd' replied Col. Hunt, without
ovincing any surprise; Chow do you
known that"
at doesn't matter, how. We know il
to be u fact,' replied the gentleman,
and then he made q proposition with
the GOODNESS and assurance that could
only have come from repeated successes
in approaches Of this kind -
awe suppose you will take the same
per ccntagc that your predecessor did :"
"And how mitch was that !"
"Twcnty-iiyc por cent Of the total
taxes"
"And how much will that produce
ne y continued Col. Hunt.
1--WE paid your predecessor twelve
thousand dollars u month";
Thus the conversation went ON, au,l
when Col. Hunt reached New Orleans he
was il, possession Of much information.
The new wciShrrs and suugrrs were
put to work. The ring was panic strick-
en-, after they found that they had men
ut last TO deal with who could not he
bought up. Tho frauds ceased from the
day the new men began to handle the
whisky, and from brbing subordinate
officials the ring turned its attention to
cl,cckulatng this efforts Of Secretary
Bnstow to bring them to justice. How
they succeeded, tho last year of Grants
administration made clear.
Col. Hunts Investigations were very
thorough, and upon the information
contained in the report which he made
to Secretary Bristow were based the
indictments which the ring, through
Hayes intervention, succeeded after
ward in getting pigcon-holcd.
When the whole history of the Rings
operations after Secretary Bristow began
his war is told, it will bo found that his
energies were transferred to other GOV
crnmcnt officials, but its methods were
the same. II has overcome the consc-
qucnces of it's frauds by the same means
that it perlHtrated thcn,-barsain and
sale.
The information which Col. Hunt put
into tho hands Of tho efficient, vigilMt
and faithful tatorncy ut Now Orleans,
James X. Bcckwith, gave to him the
papers and proofs of Collector Cascy's
convivnncc and when it was known
that Mr.. BcCkwith had these proofs
Grant removed him. Mr.. Beckwith has
these proofs to-day.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY