Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-14
GIBSON is GUILTY
Unless the Plotting Is on the
Other Side.
The TESTIMONY OF THAT GIN"

Government Officers Make Some Experi-
ments That Show That 1t Is a First
Glass Incendiary Mixture The Ac-
cused Mans Friends Feel Rather Dis
couraGed at the Developments - The
Internal Machine That Was To Have
Been Used-Feeiing at Peoria.
CHICAGO, Feb. 1.-The fact that the bot
lie found in the sachel taken from Score
Iary Gibson, of the whisky trust, ut the
time of his arrest, contained a substance
which would have brought about the de-
struction OF Shufeldt's distillery in very
short order was definitely establis ned by
NJ experiment made yesterday morning
The experiment was made in room 30 of
the federal building, by the officers who
worked up the case against the w1isky
rust man, and in the presence of Lawyer
BURY, who with his partner, j. 5. Run
lelis, has charge of Gibsons defense.
An Incendiary Connection.
Inspector Stuart drew the covered cork
from the bottle and allowed one drop of
he stuff to fall upon small piece of pa
per Almost instantly the paper burst
nto flame. The experiment was repeat.
ed several times, and it was found that
whenever the smallest quantity was
placed on any substance that would burn
flame shot up instantly. If placed upon
l substance not infiammable the stuff
itself took fire after brief exposure to
he atm osphere. When the cork was re-
placed in the bottle Capt. Stuart wiped
The neck Nyirh 4 ~,
towel to one side. In moment tie towel
was III flames, and there was a scurryinc
Tor water to put out the fire.
Room Filled with Blue Smoke.
The big room was filled with blue
smoke and with sickening odor IF Mos
phorus, of which the inflammable stuff
appeared to be mainly composed. The
experiments were conducted with great
secrecy, but after the true nature of tie
substance, which Gibson's friends have
alleged to be gin, was discovered. Capt
Ptuar tand United States Attorney Mil
christ came out in the corridor to get a
breath of fresh air. They had just
washed their hands after handling tie
bottle, but, nevertheless, blue smoke
eurled up from theic fingers, showing
what a strong solution of phosphorus
she bottle must contain.
Gibson's Friends Dumfounded.
Gibson's attorney, William BURY, was
dumfounded at the result of the expert
ment and refused to say anything Mar
shall Hitchcock, who is friend of Gibson,
watched the experiment with great inter
est. II am completely stunned said he.
In view of the facts shown before this
morning was compelled to believe nv
old friend guilty against my wish. Now
know it. How can l help believing it
when the evidence is so damaging; but he
never thought for moment that any
lives would be lost and he only Intended
to destroy the distillery"
No One Else Implicated.
Solicitor General Hart left for Wash
tngton City yesterday with a sample of the
liquid found in Gibson's grip. Capt Stu
art is reported to have proof that Gibson
made the machine himself and COM
pounded the liquid, but the inspector will
not say this is true. DeWar is still beyond
The reach of the interviewers. He will not
be seen until the federal grand jury takes
up the case in March. All the off GERS con-
cerned with the case unite in saying that
unless some unexpected evidence is discov-
cred no further arrests will be made. The
evidence thus far duplicates no one but
Gibson.
Description of That Machine.
The machine" which DeWar received
has been thoroughly examined. 1t can be
handled as safely as an ordinary loaded
gun. In one side of tin can stands a
foot-long section of the nipple end of a
gun-barrel. Into this is packed about
three inches of fine powder Then comes
some wadding, and on top of that
Is a steel projectile about four
inches IN length. Alongside of this
Is oakum cotton batting, etc. which after
being fired by the liquid, was to carry the
flame down to the powder. Had DeWar
carried out the scheme the projectile
would have been driven up into the vat or
tank of high proof spirits, which would
come pouring down on the burning cotton
and Oakum There are eleven of these
vats in row and 5000 barrels of spirits
near by-enough to make hot fire