Evening star., 1897-04-12
CHARGES OF SPECIAL AGENT BOWEN
Astonishment That a Compromise
Should Even Be Considered.
DEFIANCE OF THE LAW

much additional interest IN q subject that
has already secured strong place in the
public mind. Several inquiries have been
made as to the exact charges pending
against Wilkins and Butler in Philadel-
phia, which the treasury officials are now
believed to contemplate dropping in return
for the payment Of large sum of money
to the fraud fund of the treasury by the
Representatives of the defendants. The
facts in the case are as follows:
Early last fall Special Agent w. H. H.
Bowen of the internal revenue office be-
came acquainted with the fact that the
revenue stamps. and other distinguishing
marks required by law to be placed on
packages of oleomargartne and like pro-
ducts were being systematically removed
from packages. tubs and boxes at one of
the Philadelphia wharves. The internal
revenue officers in Philadelphia were also
aware that such a practice was being fol-
lowed in their city. Special Agent Bowen
Kept s watch h, upon m, the M shipments Of cleo
December 10. 1896, he learned that large
shipment of oleo had been sent from tins
city to Philadelphia He determined to fol-
low 1t. He went to Philadelphia on the
informed that the work of removing the
stamps and other distinguishing marks
was usually done on Sunday. he made his
way early the next morning to the sus-
pected place Of operations.
The LOca ton il discovered.
Mr.. Bowen did not ge ,unaccompanied,
but took along with himsspscial Agent Van
Horn and several others, AS precaution-
ary measure Mr.. Bowen sent one of the
party to the warehouse. where 1t was be-
lieved the operations were being conduct
ed as a scout, and theslatter returned and
reported that he had heard noises in the
warehouse that sounded Hike scraping was
being done. Mr.. Bowen proceeded to the
place indicated and heardfthe noises as de-
scribed. The building was in charge of a
watchman who, when informed of the
identity of Mr.. Bowen and his party, ad-
mitted them to the building. Locating the
point whence the noises came. Mr.. Bowen
and his party proceeded toward 1T. Piles
OF furniture, boxes OF merchandise and
other freight hid them from view as they
approached, and in few moments they had
secured positions from which they could
look down upon all that was going ON.
The Operators at Work.
Mr.. Bowen states that he was astounded
when he saw Joseph wilkins. who had
been acquitted in Washington less thai.
forty-eight hours before on the charge of
selling oleomargarine to the reform school
under the representation that it was but
ter. engaged with Howard Butler and one
or two other men in removing from the
packages of oleomargarine the revenue
STAMPS. and the other distinguishing marks
provided for by law. The work was being
done. says Mr.. Bowen, by means Of water,
sponges and scraDers. and the men con-
tinued at It In absolute ignorance of the
presence of the special agent until Mr.
Bowen stepped out from his place Of con-
cealmept.
Heavy Seizure by Bowen.
Mr.. Bowen declares that he confiscated
about 5000 pounds of the stuff from which
all the stamps and marks had already
been removed in violation Of law, and that
this amount was contained in 12O packages,
tubs and boxes. He also charges that he
confiscated the scrapers, sponges and other
implements the men were using in their
work. He made no arrests at the time
but after reporting the results of his ex-
pedition to the Philadelphia internal rev
enue Office and the Treasury DEPARTING mt
Mr.. Bowen came on to Washington. He
kins and Howard Butler, which were
placed in the hands of Deputy Marshal
Cusick. who made the arrests on Wednes-
day, December q. 1895. and took the ac-
cused men before United States Commits
sioner Mills. A postponement Of the hear
Ing was asked until January, and the re.
ques: was granted. the defendants being
required to give bonds OF 5000 each for
their appearance when wanted.
Failed to Appear.
i AS SoSC "oS ISSdIUSQ 6S Tue strongest
that had ever been made by the agents of
the internal revenue bureau The law pro-
vides a penalty of $50 for each stamp re-
moved from a tub. package or box Of oleo-
margarine and Imprisonment in jail for
each offense for not less than thirty days
and not more than SIX months Special
Agent Bowen declared that no less than 12O
stamps had been removed. Wilkins and
Butler were indicted by the Philadelphia
grand jury and a day set for their trial.
When the case was called neither man put
IN appearance and bench warrants were is
sued Tor them The warrants were sent to
United States Marshal A. A. Wilson of this
District for service, but they were not
served. Marshal Wilson taking the ground
that Mr.. Wilkins was well-known busi-
Butler would appear when wanted, and
that therefore he did not think 1t neces-
sary TO arrest them on the bench warrants.
The Oner to CamprOmise.
Immediately after this. It lis said. the rep
resentatives Of Wilkine ahd Butler offered
$4,000 or an approximately large sum to
the commissioner Of internal revenue If he
would withdraw the prosecution Of the case
In Philadelphia. The Commissioner of in
ternal revenue secured q, stay of proceed
ings Notwithstanding the faet that Wilkins
the Philadelphia court by reason of their
failure to appear for trial. and thus the
case now stands, -
There.is general septifnent of astonish-
ment that the treasury officials should have
even considered for q mdmsnt the advisa-
bility OF compromising q case where the
law was set at such bold defiance by per-
sons who have been contianally charged
with similar ofenses, and who have been
constantly allowed to escabe prosecstion by
the payment OF sums -oE money Into the
Treasury Department.
Influences Behiid Oleo. Men.
There seem to be Influences Of q peculiar
ly powerful character behind the men who
are charged now and who have been charg-
ed constantly In the past with violations
Of the oleomarsarins laws. and the regula-
tions guverning The manufacture and sale
Of ther staR. They nat: only extend, II
would seem. over the Trea ury D6 6nartment,
but-lt wotl1 Appear frosnN gi4ncp at local
conditions -thex are beis1g sklt here
Ole0marEarine ID st1h being sold CIR butter
tn Washington and at hItter prices. and
there is an impudant and defiant air on
tho part Of those who are engaged In the