The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-27
rs ALLEN 4 xooxsH1NERs
A Jersey City Politician Held Ne a witness n
an Illicit Diatillery Case.

IN httANth tNsNhhuH OsH~
Tho examination in the case OF John Miller.
the only man found by the United statcs Gov.
eminent officers when, on June IL, they raided
an Illicit still at Paramount avenue and Florence
street. Jersey City, was resumed yesterday be-
fore United States Commissioner Linsley Rowe.
Tho examination had been adjourned from the
previous Saturday in order to secure tho at
tendance OF Richard J. Allen, the owner Of tho
building. Mr.. Allen was a conspicuous leader
in labor movements. and in 1887 he ran for
Sheriff against Robert Davis and David w.
Lawrence.
Allen ran on the Labor ticket with n Republi.
can Endorsement. Davis was tho regular Demo
cratic candidate and Lawrence was nominated
by straightout Republicans. Davis was elected.
In the following spring Allen ran against orestes
Cleveland for Mayor and was defeated again.
When the Republicans got control in 1892 one
of the many plums they had to dispose Of fell to
Allen, and he kept his place until May last,
when tho Democrats discharged him.
Mr.. Allen has q machine shop In the building
In which the illicit still was discovered. When
Miller was arrested in tho raid he said he was
only a Waterman there, and that he was en-
ployed by Allen to look after the place and do
chores around the shop. Mr.. Allen swore yes
to-day that Miller was never In his employ. but
that he worked for the mai who leased the
premises In which the still was found. Mr.. Al
II have owned tho machine shop for four
some time. A man who said he was +. Smith OF
eral ! weeks nSS efore the SsM raid tof and G1 rented ID the M' base.
ment for $15 u month. He said he wanted 1t for
tho manufacture. OF witch hazel extract, or It's
substitute. The first months rent was paid in
Ibid You do any work for Smith r. asked As
YES" replied Mr.. Allen, II put In q sewer
connection and built a fence around the base
make a connection with my boiler" -
Mr.. Allen also testified that he had made a coll
f %Ss s asad as a 4 %oF anii in ct son Mss a,ueI with iS seG etili.
The witness said that he went downstairs
several times and say tho tube and tho aP,
makine witch hazel extract, He saw barrels
S@H SSo %l01 saH o all 'n these %efs sh IN s%'p'y asked Mr..
o'Brien., land never had your suspicious
81 had no suspicion whatever" the witness
replied. II never saw them make any witch
a hiWsys seemed Mhsp | to T Ss prs tRa " 1ee to o"n %anafac anes
sppssstas: ! thought Il Was none Of my i bust
Mr.. Alien said that he was an all-around
machinist. and had seen a great deal OF ma
1fFso You rented your cellar to an .s,ntirs
t do..'i made worm for him, built a high board
renee. ana never charged MIN anything ior I'LL
this except the rent
Yes"
The witness admitted that his son had done
some cartinR for Smith.
Revenue Officer Moore produced a sketch OF
the plant whi,h he had made. 1t showed the
watts, the still, and the pipes, one OF which was
connected with Aliens boiler upstairs. District
Attorney Rice diret;ed Moore to go and take q
photograph OF the plant.
"You had better go at once" he said "be:
bause there is plenty, OF time between now and
Monday to make alterations, and 1t Is OF the
greatest Importance that the Government should
have positive proof of the connection between
the still and Aliens boiler"
On Mr.. O'Brien's motion Commissioner Rowe
decided to require Mr.. Allen to furnish 81 0OC
bail to appear as a witness. He was allowed tc
defer giving the bail until Monday. Miller was
sent back to the county jail In default Of 81 SOC
bail. He persisted in his statement that he wa.
employed by Mr.. Allen. Deputy Collector Farmel
said that diligcnt search had been made fol
Smith, but he could not he found.
1t Is limited that an effort will be made Il
show that several prominent politicians havt
been moonshiners.