The morning call., 1893-12-12
HE SOLD ALCOHOL
A Well=COnneCted Young
Man Arrested.
He Is Charged With Having Procured
Goods From Wholesalers by
Means of Bogus Orders.

For more than a month past young
man has been going from one wholesale
drug house to another in this city getting
gallons of alcohol or orders purporting to
have been signed by the National Elec-
trical Company. The alcohol was pur-
chased at the rate of 50 80 per gallon and
no suspicion attached to the purchaser
until the bills were presented for payment
at the end of November. Then it was
found that Redington & Co., Langley &
Michaels and other drug houses had fur
nished an aggregate of about S400 worth
of alcohol upon worthless orders. their
being no such concern as the National
Electrical Company in existence.
The drugmen employed the Morse De-
tective Agency to look into the swindle,
and it was speedily found that not only
was there no National Electrical Com
pany. but that the young man had for sew
eral weeks been supplying retail druggi SITS
with the best grade of alcohol at 81 so per
gallon. price fully 81 per gallon below
the lowest market price. The wholesale
druggists were advised to accept the next
order for alcohol preSen ted by the alleged
representative of the National Electrical
Company, but TO delay filling the same
until the detectives and the officers of the
Government could be notified and given
chance to follow him until he disposed of
il. This plan was followed, and when yes
terday moining the young man called at
Redngton & Co.'S for ten gallons of
alcohol, presenting an order for the same,
be was told he could have 1t as soon as the
cans could be filed.
Unsusplclous he waited, and while he
waited the detectives and B. NJ. Thomas.
special revenue agent, were sent for. and
as soon as they arrived the goods were de-
livered. The man was allowed to take the
goods away, but was follow to a retail
drugstore on Fourth street. where he was
arrested In the act OF disposing of his i'll
gotten wares. The arrest was made by
the Government officer on the charge of
selling liquor without a license. and the
prisoner was taken 10 the Office of the
name of II. c. Miller. Later be was
taken before Commissioner Heacock, and,
In default of $500 ball. committed to the
County jail. In addition to the charge
made by the Government Miller will be
prosecuted upon the charge of obtaining
goods under false pretenses and probably
upon a charge of forgery.
Miller is a young man who Is we'll con-
nected in this city. He is only 25 years of
age. but is mental and physical wreck
from the use of opium. He was formerly
connected with the National Electrical
company, ana Wnen that concern failed
he commenced bis career as dealer in
alcohol. using, as stated. the name of the
defuDct company on orders to obtain the
goods be wanted. Just how great the ex-
tent of MilIer's swindling is it is impossi-
bic now to state, as last night 1t was re-
ported that other firms in the city besides
the wholesale druggists had been victim
lied by bogus orders on which various
kinds of goods had been obtained.
All prosecution of Miller. other than on
the charge of selling liquor without a
license, will have to be made in the State
courts upon warrants sworn out by his
victims.