The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-02-13

A scheme to Dynamite - Dis,iiisry Dis-
covered and Frustrated.

covered and Frustrated.
CHICAGO. Feb. l2.--lf 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 consumma-
tion prevented just on the eve OF It's
putting into effect The Western Dis
tillers and Cattle Feeders association.
better known as the whisky trust, Is n
corporation with capital stock OF $685..
600. 600 and controls the price Of high
wines throughout the country,
as IL controls all Of the dis
tlleries with two or three excep-
tions. The most important distillery
outside the combination is that OF
IL. III. Shufeldt, OF this city, and 1t was
against this concern that the plot was
arranged. The exposure OF the con
spiracy occurred this morning George
j. Gibson, of Peoria, H., arrived at 6
o'clock, and, on complaint OF solicitor
Gen. Hart, OF the treasury department,
who came here from Washington for the
purpose, was arrested as he was alight
Ing from the carriage at the door of the
Grand Pacific hotel. The charge laid at
Gibson's door IS that he offered Govern
ment Gauger r. 5. Dewar. who is on
duty at Shufeldt's dIstillery, a bribe to
blow up the distlllery with dynamite.
The story goes on to show that Gibson
opened communications with Dewar
some time ago, telling him at first
that the Shufeldt concern was In
the way and that they were trying TO get
IL out OF the way. Finally he offered
Dewar $40, 900 and then increased the
offer 10 SIS, 900 to blow up the concern.
Gibson told him he had q dynamite ma
chine that could be exploded between the
two large tanks, releasing and setting
on 6re sea OF alcohol. There would be
plenty OF time for Dewar 10 get away
and he was the only man who could
place the machine, because OF the fact
that as government gauger he had ac-
cess to all parts OF the building.
'Gibson lied, said Mr.. Hart, when
he told Dewar the machine would not 60
of until he had time 10 get out,
for II would have exploded al
once, killing the man who placed
IL before he could possibly get
away, thus destroying the only evidence
against the trust people and at the same
time saving To them the S25, 900 bribe
In addition TO the destruction Of Dewar
and the buildings the success OF the plot
meant unquestionably the death OF $50
men working Ina the place. As saw,
Dewar, under our instructions. went the
length OF the conspiracy To the point OF
doing the dlabolical deed, and when Glib
son was arrested he was waiting uneasily,
expecting TO hear of the explosion and
destruction OF all those lives and all that
property. We have In our possession
all the evidence To substantiate Dewars
story; the dynamite machine, letters, the
contract between Dewar and Gibson, la
fact, everything. The case Is practically
| over, so far as our department IL con-
csrned. The case Is made"
The machine, the materials 10 make II
effective aud inculpating documents
were Ina the satchel which Gibson carried
at the time OF his arrest.
Two previous attempts. which were
attributed to the whisky trust, but not
proved, were made to destroy Shufeldts
with dynamite. One OF them occurred
two years ago last fall. Detective Dan
Coughlin, Of the city police force, was
detailed on the case, aud II was while at
work on 10 that he made the acquaint-
ance of the little German, John l..
| Kunze. Both OF them were afterwards
tried for completely In the assassination
| of DIR. Cronin. Coughlin is serving a
| life sentence for the crime, but kunze
was acquitted.
Gibson was taken before United States
| Commissioner Hoyne and released on
bail Of 100000. He declined to mako
any statement In regard u tn matter.