, 1891-03-07

trust prepared an Internal machine and
bribed a man to place it under the great
vat in the Shufeldt distiliery store room,
where it would have exploded with a force
that would nave blown the whole vast
structure to splinters. On the instant
5000 gallons OF alcohol and nearly 200, 900
gallons Of other high proof spirits would
have been fred, and the whole block would
have become n hell Of blue fame.
Incrcdiblel heart sickeningi Yet Thomas
s. DE War, a presumably reliable man, a
revenue gnuger, makes oath hat he en-
tered into u conspiracy with Gibson TO do
that very thing. He produces the machine.
He details every intended stage in the
crime, for which he was to receive S25,O 900;
and. whHt is Of fur more weight. he displays
letters In Gibson's own handwriting which
certainly prove some understanding. He
al 30 wrote in the presence Of witnesses a
letter to Gibson, in which he specified the
crime. Gibson was seen To take that letter
from the PeuriH postolics, and in response
To II he went 90 Chicago aud met De War.
IT, as Gihson's friends ailese, it IS a con
spir1cy against him. il il a wonderfully
complcteoue. II, however, Gibson is guilty,
thcu-but there is no language to charac-
trrize the crime. And yet the Chicago re-
porters s1y Gibson Is n Gue looking man,
five foot ten inches in height and well
built, hitherto regarded as OF the s~trictest
integrity
The whisky trust WIS formed in 1887,
with headquarters at Peoria, Ills, aud has
out certificates exceeding In face value
S3D,00O,OJO, but now worth less than half
by reason Of the decline. Among the firms
that refused to enter the trust was that of
the Shuteldts. whose great distillcry in
Chicago covers nearly four acres, and now
has an output of $1,000 gallons a day, be-
sides 5000 barrels in stock. Could all this
be destroyed, say the United States OIL
cials, the trust could raise its prices and its
certificates go to par.
1t is claimed that two previous attempts
have been made with dynamite to destroy
the distillery, but most of the facts were
kept secret. The United States attorney,
solicitor and marshal have managed the
case, yet the highest charge on which they
could hold Gibson was that of attempt
bribery of a gauger, and the bail was but
10000, He easily furnished it, and is now
preparing for what must be a vigorous de
Tense. On the same evidence the Cook
county grand jury unanimously voted an
indictment under the state law.
De War says Gibson had assured him
that after placing the machine under the
vat and pouring on 1t the fluid furnished
him three hours would elapse before the
explosion, giving him time TO escape. But
when the officials put a single drop of the
stuff on a paper it took fire instantly with
sue a flash and smoke that all weredriven
from the room, badly frightened, of course.
The conclusion is evident. 1t was intended
that the agent should go TO eternity as sud
denly as the victims. There was to be no
living witness. A bottle Of similar fluid
was found in Gibson's valise. The agita-
ton ut Peoria, whore Gibson's family live,
and at other points may be imagined. The
officials insist that they nave convincing
proofs of the intention not only to destroy
Shufeldt's, but other distilleries.