The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-14
THE FEARFUL CONSPIRACY.



CHICAGO. IT,. Feb l3-The fact that the
bottle found in the satchel taken from Secre-
tary Gibson of the Whisky Trust at the time
Of his arrest contained a substance which
would have brought about the destruction of
Shuteldts distilleiy in very short order was
definitely Established by an experiment made
this morning. The experiment was made IN
room l3 of the Federal building by the officers
who worked up the case against the Whisky
Trust man and i'm the presence OF Lawyer
Dnrry. who has charge Of GibsOns defense. In.
spectur Stuart Withdrew the covered cork
from the bottle and allowed one drop a. the
~tuf 10 fall upon small piece OF paper.
Almost instantly the paper burst into ii,'me
The experiment vas repoated several times
aud il was found whenever the smallest guam
titv was placed onanv substance that a hane
would start up instantly. III placed upon
substance not inilammablo the stun itself took
iiIe after exposure 10 the atmosphere. Nhen
the cork was replaced in the bottle Captain
Stuart wiped the neck with towel and threw
the towel to one side. Ina moment the towel
was in flames, and there was IA scurrying tor
water to put ont the flame. The room was
filed with blue smoke and an odor of phos-
phate.
"IAM COMPLETELY STUNNED"
The experiments were conducted with great
secrecy. but after the tue nature of the sub
stance which Gibson's friends have alleged u
be Gin was discovered, Captain Stuart and
United States Attorney Alichrist came out IN
the corridor % get n breath Of fresh ar.
They had lust washed their hands after hand
ling the bottle, but. nevertheless, blue smoke
curled NJ from their fingers. showing what n
strong solution of phosphorus the bottle must
have contained. GibsOu's attorney. william
BURY was dumbfounded at the result OF the
experiment. and refused 10 say ANYTHING.
II a. L. sl...t If
sons. watched the experiment with great IN
terest % am completely stunned sad he.
I'm view Of the facts shown before me thus
morning | was compelled 10 believe my old
friend guilty against my wish. Now | know
it, How can help believing It wien the evi-
dence. is so .damning; do not believe. e.
though. that he thought for moment that
any lives would be lost, and only intended 10
destroy the distillery."
DFsCRIPTIoN or HIS Plans.
A complete description of Gibson's plan for
destroying the distilery was given by one ~
the officers in the case to-day. In The dstll-
lery there are eleven huge watts IN blg room
containing highly infalnmabic spillts. The
watts are elevated about two feet from the
floor 50 that the revenue oriceis can look
under .hem The Internal machine was to
have been placed under vat No. .. almost IN
the centre of the room and on IT. explosion
steel ball would have penetrated the bottom OK
the vat. making a hole from which the
spirits would have flowed ike water from
hydrant under high pressure. The fiuid was
10 be found on the fuse. and the spirits would
have been ignited. thus pouring out a steady
stream of hre. Dewar wCuld have been en-
velopsd in flames. and could not have es-
capped. There would have been no Use IN try
ing to fight ire. because it would have been
impossible 10 get at its source. There wonld
have been a steady stream OF burning lquld
pouring from the vat and spreading destruc-
ton all round