The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-14
THE WHISKY TRUST PLOT.
Special Meeting Of the Octopus Called
Internal Fluid In Gibson's valise.

PEORIA, ILL.,, Feb. 13.--Although the whisky
trust people still maintain that George Gibson
Is entirely innocent of conspiracy to destroy the
schufeidt distillery, the general public has
come TO the conclusion that he is guilty There
h great excitement at trust headquarters, and
agents are going out on every train TO cities
where the trust members reside. Vice Prcsi.
dent Woolrer left this afternoon for Chicago,
where he will meet President Grecnhut, who is
coming from Washington City. meeting of
the trust directors has been called for next
Monday, and interesting action is expected
then. Gibson maintains dogged silence but
says he is innocent. He says the bottle in his
yalise contained an antiscptic fluid patented by
chemist OF the trust, and was on his way TO
sell the secret OF the compound to stock COM
pany.
CHICAGO, Feb 13.-This morning Attorney
Barry, OF counsel for Gibson, secretary OF the
whisky trust. with District Attorney Gilchrist,
made an exaVination Of thcpackHec said to
have been delivered by Gibson to- Dewas When
the package was opened f,fil a light,
BLUSH fluid was discovered. drop ofthis was
put On piece of paper, and the instant 1t came
IN contact with the paper there was n fash, a
stream OF fire shot up and the room was filled
with sulphurous fumes. So quickly did the
paper burn that bucket of water had to be
thrown on II to prevent the fire from commuui-
eating with the other materials The strong
smell emitted by the finid proved It's principal
lngrcdlent to be phosphorus. Gilchrist said
as 70 the result OF the experiment "Our pur-
pose III making the experiment was to find out
II the fluid was the same that in the bottle
wnich Gibson gave Dewar. Such 1t proves to
ne: II fastens the chain Of evidence around
Gibson, and makes 1t possible to indict him for
attempted arson"
sUnited states District Attorney GiIchrist said
the purpose In making the experiment was to
l1tertain If the fluid in Gibson's valise was the
ne as in the bottle which he gave to Dewar
which had been previously tested. Such II
& Owed to be. The fact that anything was deliy-
led to Dewar besides the fluid has been denied
M some, but Attorney Gilchrist says that In the
paekage delivered to Dewar was section of a
SGn S.;.i, barrel charged with powder snd steel
eett0n, through which ran fuse. Tho fluid
II ihc bottle was to be- poured on the fuse
Witch would ignite and explode the powder in
t3IeFun barrel.
] Officials about the government building have
peen discussing the probability OF Gibsons es-
coping to Canada.
An officer said they will not attempt to dog
nim, as IT will be an easy matter to get him
back. 1t is understood federal officers are trying
p secure from the Western Union Company q
Number OF telegrams sent by Gibson recently
inspector Stuart gaid tonight that during
nip to Peoria last week he discovered where
Gibson's fluid was compounded and obtained
evidence as to whom 1t was for The loaded
gun-barrel work was done In Peoria by one and
the same man, Gibson himself. Captain Stuart
obtained some of Gibson's handwriting at
Peoria, and had it compared with the letters by
an expert, who unhesitatingly declared that the
telltale penmanship was Gibson's
President Greenhut, of the whisky trust &C.
cornpancd BY one of his associates, DR.. Rush,
arrived in Chicago tonight, and took up quar-
ters at the Auditorium. He left the Auditorium
hastily, almost Immediately entering q carriage,
and drove to the residence of the wealthy
packer, Nelson Morris, who is a member Of the
trust, and signed the $4,000 bond which Sc
cured Gibson's temporary release. At q. IN.
Grcenhut had not returned to the Auditorium
II was rumored that at the meeting of the trust
Oh Monday Gibson would be displaced from his
position as secretary, and that the trust would
formally disavow all responsibility for any
criminal acts