Telegram-herald., 1891-02-13

Wednesday by Inspector Stuart, Of the
Post-Ofice Department Deputy United
States Marshal Gilman and Treas
ury Agent Brooks, OF New York Glib
son, who lives in Peoria had just ar
rived in the city and was accompanied
by his wife and daughter. He was
taken into custody as he alighted from
a carriage at the door of the hotel. and
was at once hustled across the street
into the Government building, where
he was locked up in the United States
Marshal's Office.
Gibson was carrying small saehel
al the time OF the arrest, and this was
captured by Inspector Stuart. In the
sachel were found articles which con-
clusively proved the intentions of the
conspirators. The contents of the sach-
el were locked up in the safe in the in
spector's Office.
The specific charge against Gibson is
that he tried TO bribe an employe of the
Government named De War To blow up
Shufeldt's distillery, All the arrange
mcnts had been completed for the
fiendish work when De War informed
the Government officials of the plan
and prevented the contamination
O: the conspiracy. Solicitor Hart has
in his possession the dynamite machine
with which the destruction was TO be
effected and papers closing the contract
for the diabolical business.
Solicitor Hart told the story to . re-
porter as follows:
Some months ago the Washington depart
ment were assured that things were not just
straight, from the fact that the trust people
tried their best TO have a certain man appointed
inspector Of the department for this district
We set watch soon 7. S. DeWar was
communicated with, and this man Gibson
opened up a correspondence with him. We
have the correspondence. Gibson felt his man
cautiously, telling him at FIRST that Shufeldts
concern was in the way aud that they were
trying to get II out Of the way. He got q
little bolder soon and finally, led on by De-
War. who was all the time in consultation with
the department, he made q straight PROPOSE
tion. He offered DeWar $4,000. and then in
creased the offer 20 SIS o0l, TO blow up tho
concern. Gibson stated that he had . dynamite
machine that could be located Just out
side Of one Of the large tanks. so that few
moments after 1t was placed II would explode.
There would be plenty Of time Gibson told De-
War, for him TO get away and that he was the
only man who could place IL. because OF the
fact that as a Government oflcer he had access
TO all parts of the building.
The result OF the success OF the conspiracy
would have been that the machine would have
exploded between two OF tho immense tanks,
making q terrible destruction, and leaving
sea OF alcohol on FIRE Gibson lied when
he told DeWar that the machine would
not 90 of until he lad time TO get out. for II
would have exploded at once, killing the man
who placed II the very instant before he could
possibly get away. thus destroying the
only evidence against the trust peo-
pie and at the same time saving 10 them the
s25, 600 that DeWar was TO have received. in
addition 10 the destruction OF DcWar and the
buildings the success OF the plo. meant un-
questionably the death OF $50 men working in
the place.
las say, Mr. pewar. under our Instructions,
went the length OF the conspiracy 10 the point
OF doing the diabolicsl deed and when Gibson
was arrested ho vas waiting uneasily,
expecting to hecr OF the explosion
and the destruction OF all those lives
and all that property. We have in our
possession oil the evidence TO substantiate
DeWar's story; the dynamite machine the let
tiers, the contract between DeWar and Gibson.
in fact every thing. The case IS practically
over so far as our department is concerned.
The case is made"
The bottle Of liquid found in the
sachel of Gibson Is pronounced
to be sulphuric acid and phosphor-
US. This mixture ignites upon ex-
posurc 20 the atmosphere, and is
identically the same as that found
in the vial given by Gibson 70 De War.
One hundred shares of whisky trust
stock made out in De Wars name was
also found in Gibson's possession. The
matter will be brought before the
Federal and State grand juries.
The whisky trust is mammoth con-
Germ. with % pitsl OF SIS, 600. 600. Ever
since its formation. some years ago, it
has urged "a bitter warfare against all
the distillcries which refused TO join it.
The principal concern which refused to
enter the combine was shufeldts big
distillcry on the North side. Early one
morning I'm the fall of 1sss two
dynamite bombs were thrown upon the
roof of the distiilery. and one of them
exploded and tore great hole in the
roof Had the other bomb exploded
the destruction of the distillery would
have been complete. as directly
under il was room containing
many thousands of barrels of infsm-
mable spirits. The explosion pro-
duced great sensation st the time. but
no clue % the guilty parties was ever
obtained. II was freely charged at the
time. however. that the whisky trust
was responsible for the crime. IL viii
be remem eered that Little kunzs
and Dan CosghIin. Of the Cronin fame.
were implicated in this case
proEis. III. Feb. l2---9rest surprise
was caused here by the news Of the ar
rest IN Chicago of George : Gibson
Prominent eistilers here are Bon-con-
natal and have bat little to say on the
subject The ONLY expression that can
be gained from anv Of those seer "a that
they consider the entire bussness
farce snd sav 81 f. bssng inscEssea
by the shxfei6ts
Gibson came here fifteen resrs ago
from Cleveland. q. where ne had been
employed IN railroad of5ce- lie rnss-
RED daughter of z. Seville of clsve-
lard retired iros-riIl man Gitssos
was first employed "a book keeper IN
she wonarcA d4xtillkry. and n Is7s.
when the Western Export Assccssr
ssen vzs formed. he wse eieeted secrs-
ssrr. Since then he hss CONTINUALLY
h<iS tse ofhce- although tss whzsky
trust has sdooss1 siEerent n&neS IA