Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-15
GIBSON LEYANTED.
The Distillery Dynamiter
Flying from Justice.
His Bail Bond Considered a
Mere Bagatelle.
Europe or South America Thought
to Be His Destination. I"
The Whisky Trust Directors Meet and
fne WHISKY Trust Directors Meet and
Agree Upon Plan of Defense.
Flinsy SubterfugesI
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches
PEORIA, Feb, IA. The belief prevails
tonight that George J. Gibson, secretary
OF the whiskey trust, is well on his way
to Europe, and, aided by plenty of
money, will endeavor to escape. One
man connected with the trust said Glib
son has been gone since Thursday
night, and will not return. His bail
bond Of 100000, he said, was baga-
telle, and considered very cheap. 1t
was thought best to get away before
any further charges were preferred, and
the bonds increased by the possible
action OF the state authorities.
1t was learned today that several
months ago Gibson purchased at store
in this city, fifty pounds Of dynamite.
About month ago he bought, a guam
tity OF bi-sulphide OF carbon and phos-
phorus at a drug store. He learned the
secret Of compound from chemist who
he frequently invited to dine with him,
and led up to talk on chemicals OF this
nature. Finally he had his son 60 to
the chemist and have him prepare a.
small portion for experimental purposes.
It's supposed that he then purchased
the ingredients and compounded the
mixture. The formula was arranged for
very heavy proportion of phosphorus,
which would ignite ON cloth or paper
freely.
1t is learned that detectives have been
looking after the trust officers and dis
tillers here for several days, and hunt
ing tor the machinist who made the
machine sent to Dewar. :
The, story is industriously circulated
that Gibson is in this city at the Ma
tional hotel. Meals have been. sent up
to his room, but it is not known who
eats them. Those in position to know
say it is not Gibson.
1t is rumored late tonight that Gibson
left for South America Friday morning.
When asked about the truth of the
.rumor, one Of his friends said Gibson
would be out OF reach Of the officials in
a few days. He did not know whether
ne had gone to Europe or South America,
but said he would not be seen in Peoria
again. "He has plenty Of money, = said
his friend, land does not need to live in
Peoria"
They will assert that Dewar is prac-
tical machinist, and could have made
the Internal machine which he alleges
Gibson gave him. 1t was to be admit
ted that Gibson was in communication
with Dewar for the purpose of obtaining
reliable information as to the output of
Schufeldt's distillery, and in case De-
war failed to send the information
Gibson may have written him on the
subject; that Dewar had an opportunity
to tamper with Gibson's valise before it
was put in the vault; that he might
have substituted the matter in it later
for an innocent liquid; that no such bot
tie as that containing the liquid
was in Gibson's valise when he was
arrested. IN short, that Gibson may
be the victim of conspiracy.
AS to the shares of whiskey trust
stock, it is to be shown that they were
the property of Gibson's wife, and that
he was merely taking them to be depos-
tied.
In the course of an interview subse-
quently, President Greenhut said good
attorneys have been engaged to defend
Gibson. He said there is really no mo-
tive for the trust to wish to annihilate
Schufeldt's distillery, but there were
many reasons for the Shufeldts wishing
to injure the trust
District Attorney Milchrist thought
the plan of the defense was not worth
shucks. He pronounced as ridiculous
the story that the bottles in the valise
could have been exchanged. The
valise was not out of Glib
sons hands from the time
he left the carriage until he reached
Commissioner Haynes office. 1t was
then opened in his presence, and in it
was found the bottle.
The statement that Gibson did not
come here in answer to letter from
Dewar, but was on his way to Cleve-
land to visit relatives, the district attor-
ney branded as untrue, and said
he had evidence to disprove it. 'I
think the best thing the trust people
can do is to keep quiet. They may get
in deeper than they think"
CHICAGO, Feb. 14.-It was decided to-
day to lay the case Of George J. Gibson,
the alleged dynamiter and secretary OF
the whiskey trust, before the state,
rather than the federal grand jury, as
under the state law it is possible to in
flict more severe penalties than under
the federal law.
A consultation between President
Greenhut, Of the whiskey trust, and Di-
rectors Woolner and McNulty and other
officials. was held here today, in regard
to the sensational developments of the
alleged dynamite conspiracy Of Secre-
tary Gibson. Greenhut announced that
Gibson has resigned, pending the inves-
tigation. A preliminary plan Of defense
has been outlined, in which it will be
asserted that Dewar manufactured the
machine, and that Gibson is the victim
of conspiracy on the part of the
United States officials.
M0ONx GIvEs MP THE EIGHT