The Delta independent., 1891-02-17
FIENpIsH PLOT FoILED.
Conspiracy Formed to Blow Up Chi.
eago DistiIlers.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Feb. 11.-George J.
Gibson, secretary Of the great whisky
trust, was arrested at the Grand Pacific
hotel at $50 o'clock this morning, on 9
charge Of conspiring to blow up all the
distilleries in the country not belonging te
the trust. Mr.. Gibson lives at Peoria,
Illinois. and 1t Is said that he came here
for the express purpose OF wrecking the
Schufeldt distiliery in this city. Several
attempts have been made to blow up the
Schufeldt plant, in one Of which young
Kunze Of Cronin fame was involved. 1t is
said that Mr.. Gibson tried to bribe a gov
ernment inspector to blow up the Schu-
feldt distillery, and this led TO his arrest
as he alighted from a carriage in front OF
the Grand Pacific hotel this morning. In
q small satchel carried by Gibson was
found q number Of articles which are said
10 be positive evidence of his connection
with the conspiracy. Mr.. Gibson was
taken to the United States marshal's Of
fice in the government building.
AT preliminary hearing before United
States Commissioner Hoyne this afternoon
Mr.. Gibson waived examination and was
held TO the federal grand jury on So, 0,0ol
bail.
Solicitor Hart of tho internal revcn NC
department, who arrived in the city from
Washington yesterday to take charge oi
the case, has in his possession the dyna
mite machine with which the destruction
OF the Schufeldt distillery was TO be eff
fected, and papers closing the contract for
the diabolical business. Tho specific
charge against Gibson is that he tried 10
bribe Dewar 70 blow up the Schufeldt
plant
Solicitor General A. Hart made the
following startling statement this even
ing
"a short time ago we learned that Mr..
Gibson was in correspondence with q
gauger, I. S. Dcwar. ! came on here and
Dewar revealed the propositions made 10
him by Gibson. Gibson told him that the
trust could not get foo,hold in Chicago
Us long - the Schufeldts were located
here. The obnoxious distillery must be
removed.
"Mr. Gibson had q perfectly safe plan,
he said. Dewar was 10 get $1,000 cash,
and els, 900 later, TO introduce into the big
spirit tank Of the distiilcry, containing
thousands Of gallons of high spirits, ar
Internal machine tina, was fixed to explod,
1t q certain time. The explosion would
free the spirits and throw the distillery
Into q mass Of flames. Dewar was led &c
believe that the machine would give hin
time to get out Of the place alive. But Il
would not do 70 lot him live.
"Dewar was to be killed by the exPlos-
ton. which was to occnr one second after
tc dropped the machine into the vat. On,
hundred and fifty people, who are al worl
Ia the place day and night, would hav,
been killed. The Schufeldts will los'
| nothing, said Gibson, because their prop.
,r,y is well insured. The government
owns most OF II.
"Dewar kept US posted aud helped Il
| carry the plan to the point rs 1t turned
out oday. The trap was 10 be sprung
before Sunday. Gibson had the inferna
machine. We have 1t now in our posses
tion. Our confidence in the man wa.
| hcvcr shaken. He fairly tremblcd whcr
he was informed that he never would hav,
lived To claim his reward. Our proof,
Inn sorry TO say, is most absolute. Tn,
chain of evidence against MIR. Gibson 1.
the strongest ever forged. The officials a
Washington are perfectly daEcd over tn,
| tastardly nature OF the conspiracy.n