Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-09
McDONALD,S STORY.
WHAT EX-CoMMIssIONER DOUGLASS AND MR.
RODGERS SAY.

RODGERS SAY.
Ex-Commissioner OF Internal Revenue Doug
lass, who still resides In this city practicing
law was interviewed by a reporter of THE STAR
to-day touching the Mcdonald whisky ring dis
closure. Mr.. Douglass had not read the same.
The abstract, however, published In the New
York Herald OF yesterday was shown MI. Doug
lass. which he read carefully. After SO doing he
said: "Well. all have to say is this Touching
all and singular the allegations concerning my
self they are batch Of lies from to lizard.
IL IS d ne Sea St ina aaa ne
good deal like gambler. | once spoke to Co
lumbus Delano about Mcdonald, and told him
frankly that while had no reason to believe
that he was dishonest, l did not like his looks
or his flash STYLE 'Oh" said Delano, 4 knew
he dressed rather loud, but that is the custom
In the vest
IL do not believe" added Douglass, THAT ex-
President Grant knows anything about the
whisky ring. / do know that Mcdonald was an
officer In the army, and as such Grant met him.
army acquaintance. 1 know that Mcdonald
had Grants confidence but only from the fact
that he was an old army friend. and not be
cause of any connection he tGranD had. di-
rectly or Indirectly, with the whisky ring.
Had l for moment entertained a suspicion
that Mcdonald was dishonest should have dis
missed him at once, and / know Gen. Grant
would have stood by me-
Deputy Commissioner Of Internal Revenue
Rodgers, who is likewise described in McDon-
AIDS book as having guilty knowledge OF the
the allegation. II do know this, however"
said he, that had organized corps OF reve-
nue. agents to go to st. Louis to look after sup
posed frauds. Mcdonald found it out in some
way before the expedition started, and for this
reason it was abandoned. / testified 20 this fact
in ST. Louis at McDOnald's trial, and after had
done SO Mcdonald said to me, | don't think
you treated me far in your testimony today
To this replied Il have told the truth and dis
charged my duty as public oeea and as
Witness" Mr.. Rodgers Is satisfied that Nc
Donald had sources OF information which kept
him advised Of the inside movements OF the
revenue of1ce, but just who furnished the in
formation he does not know.
WHAT COL JOYCE SAYS.
Col. Joyce, who is mentioned In McDonald's
work, was revenue agent in Missouri, and is
now and has been for several years a quiet cit
izeh of Georgetown. He is as much surprised
as any body at McDonald's ''Sta rtling facts.
Col Joyce jocularly remarked too ~ that under
the circumstances 1t would be a great comfort
to him to have the $3.50 900 which Mcdonald
says he got He would feel easy with regard 10
hnancial matters then AS he did not get that
or any other sum- the colonel did not seem TO
attach any great amount OF credit or import
ance TO the Mcdonald book.
WHO MDoNALD Is
Gen. McDonald's exposure OF the st. Louis
whisky ring involves a number of names well
known in Washington. The history OF that ring
with its ramitications through several states,
was made public several years ago through the
trials OF the managers and chief conSpiratorS in
st. Louis. Gen. John Mcdonald was the SUPER
visor OF The revenue district which included st.
Louis. He was, before the war, steamboat
man, as it is known In western parlance. When
but boy Mcdonald was turned adrift for HIM
self and he began earning his living on the levee
at st. Louis. Ee pushed ahead until he
became the captain and part owner OF a
Mississippi steamer, which was commanding
position In those days in the west. AT the out
break OF the war he eSpOused the Union cause,
and during the seige Of Vicksburg he became
acquainted With Gen. Grant. Mcdonald had
fought his way single-handed through life and
he was man of courage and determination
though without education During the memor-
able Nicksburg campaign he managed In some
manner to commend himself to Gen. Grant,
After the war Mcdonald was appointed reve-
nue. supervisor, much to the surprise and dis
gust OF the people OF ST. Louis, who knew more
OF his reaf character and weaknesses than
Gen. Grant could possibly have known from
his acquaintance with the man. The re-
publicans OF the district joined in recon-
mending a a. man an, for the appointment, but
remin ded the latter OF the services he (McDon-
ald) had rendered, and procured the appoint
ment., Gen Mcdonald was genial, social and
liberal man, and he was not long in the Office
until he had surrounded himself with circle
Of Substantial friends. Long before the ex-
posu1e OF the whisky ring, brought about by
secretary BrlStoW, runorS OF its existence were
common upon the streets Of st. Louis. After
short but sharp struggle, the ring collapsed,
ard the accused parties were under Indictment
revenue Officials. such as guager5, storekeepers,
etc. all turned states evidence, and escaped
punishment. Gen. Mcdonald was found guilty
and sentenced to a term In the peniten-
,iary. AfIer his conviction came the trial OF
Gen. Babcock, with which the public is fami-
lar. The jury In the Babcock case returned
verdict Of not guilty about O'Clock one AFTER
noon, ard that night the friends OF Babcock
got up a reception for him at the Lindel hotel.
lie {Babcock) left the city about 10 O'Clock the
same evening he was acquitted, and, en- route
n a
paid visit to Mcdonald, who was then con-
fined In one of the cells there. This midnight
visit to the cell OF the convicted ex-superviSor
CT revenue by Bahcocli was published and CON-
mented upon extensively In the st. Louis
papers next morning, and created general
comment and criticism. In the spring OF 1871
penftentiary at Jefferson City, announced ID
his visitors and friends that he expected par
Gon at al early day.
MDONALDS LITTLE MAHOGANY BOX.
One Sunday afternoon, late In March, 1877,
an attache of a st. Louis daily paper was seated
in McDonald's cell talking with the General.
The prisoner complained that injustice had
been done him by the Qhen) administration In
delaying his pardon; that he had been prom
lSeg 1 pardon, and ought to have had it earlier.
Mcdonald d maid was very impatient at the delay,
and after awhile said to his visitor, In sub
stance: You come out here ito the penitenti-
airy 10 see NE next Friday afternoon, and IL my
bbaraon bias1 isn't here by that time, III give you the
fSentTy fSs rycre,s ever Of had I'll let you into
DO you see that box? (pointing to mahog-
any 6oX under the head of the bed IN
the celL) III open that to you, and no man has
YET seer the inside of it except myself I've got
me history OF the whisky ring there, and don't
Iutenu 10 pe trlfled With any longer" The box
pointed out by Mcdonald was apparently of
lnahogany, bound with brass bands. and Sc
CuIed I, b9 a lock-just such a box as a man
9 Mouid Keep valuable papers in. Gen. McDon-
alu SAID 10 Ills visitor that Sunday afternoon
.hal M ne mad suffered Everything for frienis:"
sIal ne nad worn and was then wearing a
ielon gafn, and he added With emphasis: i've
Cone IL an 10 prevent an everlasting stigma
IelDg nAed upon TIE American repnhiic y
me Genefafs education, 1t must he remem-
ueTeo, was very imperfect, and his Iancuaga
tlOugh usually strong, was not aIWays fhe
choicest or framed In accordance with the r,'IaS
CT syDtax. Tine reporter called the newt FridaS
at the tlme named and found Mcdonald in tha
highest spirits. He had lust been infnrnoaS oaS
that his pal don had reached the prOner anthnr
ltleS and that he would be released from nrtSnn
that evening. He said: 'This puts an end i'1n ~
our little arrangement, and my box will rem,in
sealed for awhile longer.n LII
IN justice to persons aSSailed by Mcdonald Z,
can De said that his assertions in regard 10 suTe
Ing, and being in the nature OF yicarnns
atOnenent, or that he was Shielding anThoSy
higher In ot1ice than himself from disgrace wer,.
not credited "''o
CONSECRATION OF BISHOP WATTERsoN -rr,o
conservation OF Rev DIR John Watto,s,o,,