The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-14
George j. Gibson, of Peoria, Illinois,
Alleged to be the Author Of
the Infamous Scheme.
ARRESTED At the GRAND PACIFIC
Gibson Charged With Offering the
Government Guager $4,000
to Blow up Dis
tillery.
Under Advises from the Government
Gibson is carefully led on to
Disclose His Entire
Scheme.

CHICAGO, Feb. 11.--If the story told by
the agents OF the national treasury de-
partment now in this city is true, one of
the most diabolical of dynamite plots,
involving great loss of life and property,
has been discovered and its consummation
prevented just on the eve of putting it
into effect. The Western Dlstillers and
Cattle Feeders Association, better known
as whisky trust, is corporation with a
capital stock of $35,O0O,O 900, and controls
the price of high wines throughout the
country, as 1t controls all of the distil-
leries. with two or three exceptions. The
most important distillery outside of the
combination Is that of II. H. Shuffeldt,
in this city, and it was againt this con-
Germ the plot was arranged. The ex-
posure of the conspiracy occurred
this morning. George j. Gibbon, of
Peoria, Ill.,, arrived here at 6 o'clock
and on complaint of Solicitor. General
Hart of the treasury department, who
came here from Washington for that
purpose, was arrested as he alighted from
his carriage at the door of the Grand
Pacific hotel and hurried across the street
into the government building where he
was locked up. The arrest was made as
quietly as possible and the fact was not
made public till some hours afterward.
The charge laid at Gibson's door is that
he offered the government gauger, T. s.
Dewar, who is on duty at Shufeldt's dis
tillery, bribe to blow up the distillery
with dynamite. Solicitor Hart tells the
story of the plea as follows:
Some months ago, the Washington de-
pertinent were assured that things were
:ot Just straight IRON the fact that the
trust had tried theiI best to have a Ger
tain man appointed inspector of the de-
partmens for this district. We set d
watch Soon T. 3. Demar was communi-
Gated with, and this r,an Gibson opened
up correspondence with him. We have
the correspondence. Gibson felt his man
cautiously, telling him ut first that Shu'
teldt's Concern was in the way and that
they were trying To get it out of the way
He got a little b0lder soon and 1inally
led on by Demar, who was all the time
Ia consultation with the department
he made straight proposition
He offered D-mar $4,000 and then in'
creased the offer to $25,OO0 to blow uI
the concern. Gibson stated he had a
dynamite machine that could be located
Just outside Ot one Of the large tanks
that in few moments after 1t was placeC
it would explode, There would he pl-n
ty OF time, Gibson told Demar, for him tt
get away, and that ne was the only maj
who could place 1t because OF the fac
that, rs II government officer, he had &C
cess to all parts Of the building.
"Th- result Of the success OF the con
spiracy," continued Hart. "wnuld hav'
been that the machine would have ex
plodrd between two of the Immense tank
making terrible destruction and leavln.
sea Of alcohol on fire. Gibson liet
when he told Dewar that the machine
would not 20 of until he had time to &c
out, for it would have exploded at once
killing the man who placed 1t the yer.
instant before he could possibly get away
thus destroying the only evidence agatns
the trust people and at the same time saV
ing to them $4,000 that Dewar was t
have received. In addition to the de
struction of Dewar and the building tn
success of the plot meant the unque'tion
ably death of $50 men working In tn
place. ~
"As saw, Dewar, under our instruc
, tions, went the length OF the conspirac.
to the poinl of doing the diabOlical de
and when Gibson was arrested he wa
waiting uneasily expecting to hear of tn
explosion and destruction of al. thos
lives and all that property.
"We have in our possession all the ev
, dence to substantiate Demar's story
dynamite machine, letters, contract bt
tween Demar and Gibson, in fact, ever,
thing. The case Is practically over; :
far as our department is concerned tn
D case is made"
"Have you any evidence to show tn
n others besides Gibson We're implicated
the conspiracy" Hart was asked.
"Gibson Ia secretary of the trust, ar
while we might reason that Gibson W
not alone in this and that somebo'
" higher up in the trust was the resp0n
IS BILE party, we have not q bit Of eviden
tending TO implica,e anyone else.. Evei
. thing we have points to Gibson and
" other person.
The machine, materials to make 1t
~ fectivs, and inculpating documents WI
in sachel which Gibson carried ut
>" time of his arrest. Some unknown
U, son who had knowledge Of the conspir'
warned the owners of the distillery NJ
Du day of the danger which beset them
fixing the date for the explosion Tor
terday or today and they were caref'
guarding the premises day and nj
rso previous attempts, which were
'fionted TO the whisky trust, but
proved, were made TO destroy Shufe
Y ~ith ds namtte. This afternoon GiI
~ was taken before United sta,es com
;, 90 slonsr aoa Hoyne and released ON hs,,
= sso'ooo' He declined to make anv y
~en' In regard to the matter. :