The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-09
AN OLD STILL
Captured In 1870 and Sold to Copper
smith
likely 20 Make Trouble for the Seller
Who Is Said &c Have Made tho
Good Confession.

In fS7e the Government officers bounced
down upon an Illicit dIstillery in Franklin
County and captured the outfit, which was
brought 10 this city and stored away in the
fourth story Of the Post-ofice buiIding. Last
GUNNER the officials OF the revenue Office
were applied t. By distiller who wished to
buy the apparatus. and Collector Mckay
asked authority from Washington to sell the
same, in the meantime having the STILL
cap aud worm, all OF which are made of cop
per. appraised by William Langsenkamp, a
soppersmith doing business on the corner of
Delaware aud Georgia streets. Shortly after
wards, the Collector was informed by the
Washington Department that the still could
not be sold in its condition at that time. as
under the law it would have to be
broken up and sold as old cop
per- This put an end to the
proposed ssie, and nothing more was thought
of the still until Monday when the revenue
Office was ordered 10 break up the apparatus
and sell il as old copper.
In pursuance Of this order, the officials be-
took themselves to the fourth floor with in
struments Of destruction il their hands, and
stern determination written on their counts
nances, but the still, giving the lie to its
name as well as past professions, had moved
itself from the room. or. what is more likely
and what proved afterwards to bs the case,
had been moved, and was nowhere to be
found. This discovery was in the nature Of
q back set 10 the officials of the revenue
Office, who are responsible for its safe keep
ing, and they started out 10 look through the
Junk shops IN the hope that the still might
be found. and the industrious mover dis
covered and punished.
In their rounds OF inquiry, the officers
called upon Mr.. Lsngsenkamp and asked il
he bad ever had such a piece CT property in
his establishment. he replied in the az.
1rmative and pointed 10 out 10 the officers,
saying that it had been purchased from one
OF the men whom he hEd seen about the
Postoffce Building. and that he had paid
IS for the outfit. AS he had been called IN
during the summer 10 apprase the article,
and was told On that occasion that the de-
partment wanted 20 sell it, he naturally
thought, when ii was offered to him in DC.
tober, that the party so offering had author
ity to make the sale, and he had purchased
1t with that view OF the case. He was,
therefore. very much surprised when q de-
maDd was made upon him for its return,
but like q faithful subject Of long suffering
Government he not only offered to re
turn the still, but actually delivered
1t at the revenue Office Yesterday
youth, If not ito fortune aud TO
fame unknown" st least unknown TO Mr..
and offered TO return the eight dollars which
had been paid for the stili. LsngsenkamB
however, refused 10 take the money, arguing
that IL the Still had been stolen from the
Government he might appear to be com.
pounding felony If be took the money, and
he concluded TO lay on his oars and await
developments all OF which shows thst he is
not only man OF business, but good, law.
abiding ci:izeo.
The foregoing facts were gained in part
hoE Mr.. LangseDkamp and in part from EN-.
plOyes in the Collectors office. While in toe
Postofhce Building the reporter learned thai
the man who had sold the sill had acknow wi
edged the same, and though half a dozen
were consulted. al of whom knew that
comics sion had been made and who the party
was, no one would divulge his name
Collector Mckay said that there was nc
disposition to shield the guilty
party ard he assured the reporter that tbs
matter would be investigated to the bottom
out be would not give the name of the mar
who be had heard had confessed 10 haV
ing sold the still TO LaDgsenkamp. that tn,
distinguished Individual might he consulted
with reference 10 his authority for so doing
The reason for the general refusal of tn,
Posiofhce employees u give the name OF tht
seller OF Old metal may be found in th,
words Of q jGnitor who Sas approached b,
the reporter for information when he said
1.-The matter belongs to Mr. McKay's office
he knows who confessed TO selling the still
but If he won't tell, neither will l." Thu
same party. however, volunteered the in
formation that the confessor was an 'ols
emplcye."