Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-06

war, the RduReI, Wuo say 10 was oShCu
by Secretary Gibson, OF the Distilling
and Cattle-Feeding Company, TO destroy
Shuieldt's distillery, last night related
the incidents that wound up by the ar
rest OF Mr.. Gibson:
Said Mr.. Dewar: "Yes; / was asked
TO destroy Shufeldt's distlllery, In Chi
cogo, and took IL as q personal insult
to be asked 10 do such thing, and de-
termined TO run the matter into tho
hands Of the Government, which did.
THE Shufeldt distlllery is one OF the
largest in Chicago, and consumes five
thousand bushels OF grain each day,
and thus produces twenty thousand gal
Ions Of LIQUOR. In consequence OF the
aggressive policy OF its managers, the
Trust never was able TO do anything
with it, and one day met Mr.. Gibson,
and he stated that there was crooked
ness I'm the dlstillery. Now | was a
special sent from this city to Chicago,
and Ii was my duty 10 look
into crookedness, and when Mr..
Gibson stated that l could do him
some good by looking into affairs de-
termined to do so IL he would tell me
how to go about 1t. He finally request
ed me to come and see him at the Grand
Pacific Hotel, and went. He there re-
iterated the charges OF crookedness, and
wound up the conversation by asking
me to come and see him again. | did
so. and, after considerable delay, he
came out with a direct proposition that
| destroy the dlstillery for stated sum
of money and Whisky Trust stock"
"What offer was made?" was asked,
'for IL is authoritaLivelY announced that
S25, 900 was the amount"
II will not say" replied Mr.. Dewar,
'but the sum was more than | expect
TO be worth any day. But to proceed
with the scheme. Mr.. Gibson, after he
had made the offer, went into the sub
iect with enthusiasm. He stated that
what be wanted me TO DO was nothing
more than he would do himself, and
then he questioned me very cLas&y
about the spirit. told him that
casks were three feet from the roof
aud that they rested on tImbers. He
stated that he had liquid that could
be used TO start fire, aud that /, as q
Government gauger, would never bo
suspected OF doing the job. Mr..
Gibson knew as we'll as / did
that the dIstillery Is surrounded by
electric light, and Is so well guarded
that no one can get In. unless be were
an authorized agent. Bringing tho
matter 10 q head, the liquid was 20
use was brought out. and saw that it
was very in6ammable. Mr.. Gibson
took mite on a stopper and touched IL
to newspaper, and instantly there
was fash that warned me OF tho
dangerous nature OF the stuff. / left
Mr.. Gibson and went TO work, but not
till had informed my superior. Mr..
Brooks, OF what had transplred. A few
days after the above received q can OF
the fluid from Mr.. Gibson, and this
turned over to Mr.. Brooks. About
this time Mr.. Brooks was detailed
10 New York and Mr.. Sommerville was
brought to his place. !. almost tho
same day, was sent 10 81. Paul and later
TO Minneapolis, so that by the time
returned TO Chicago two weeks had
transplred since the offer. Shortly after
getting TO work again received tele-
gram from Mr.. Gibson asking me 20
meet him at the same hotel. did so
and shook hands with him in order 10
let my friends know that they had the
right mar. His arrest followed at once
and subsequently he was indicted by
both the Government and the state.
The trial came up again and again, but
something always Iraasplred 70 delay
IL and gradually the matter dropped
until now there Is no prosecution.
"Whlle the matter was before tho
Courts the Courtroom WAS filed with
spectators, all anxious 70 catch the
slightest word. During the proceed
ings was greatly surprised 81 the testi-
mony. Mr.. Gibson, In explaining the
nature OF the fluid, stated that once IN
corked IL would ignite in four hours,
and thus could leave II and get far
away for the explosion. He also said
the employees could all be out as / was
to pick my time for starting the Ere.
Judge Of my surprise when two experts
gave their testimony. One stated 70 the
Jury that an explosion would have oc
Cured ten seconds after uncorklng
and the other said the explosion might
have been delayed three minutes, but
he thought IL very unlikely. Up TO
that time had never dreamed that Mr..
Gibson had designs on my life, and that
his real scheme was 10 destroy me at
the same time did the distillery. II /
had done the work for him, the Trust
would not have had to pay any money
out, II the testimony OF the experts can
be relied upon, IL would have been I'm
"A sraIC
"How did you come 20 know hr.
Gibson2"
~ previously worked for the Trust
as inspector. was years ago q agauger,
but the election Of Cleveland threw me
ont OF work, and Mr.. Hobart Of this
city. employed me 20 work for the con-
Germ. / worked for them three
months, and 10 the course OF business
met Mr.. Gibson At Peoria. After the
election OF Harrison and the appoint
ment OF Colonel McClung / accepted
nv present position for the reason that
IL wss secure for time At least.
omit the Trust suddenly, a. my ap-
Dointment was made unexpectedly. I
went to Mr.. Hobart and spologized
for zy haste, and explained the situa-
ton TO him. The Trust always paid ma
we'll. and never had any reason 70 DO
antagonistic to them It'll my expe-
rience nth Mr. Gibson. Naturally I
am " dignant over two things. Ono
ths/ ked me 70 do such Job, and
~ that he deceived me aboui
/of the explosives. Yes, I
fst consignment Of the expIo-
ro weeks. but luckily did Hot
wlth IL.