Evening star., 1899-03-29
OLEOMARGARINE FRAUDS
The Appeal of Wilkins and Butler, Convicted
in Philadelphia.
Arguments Submitted Today for the
Defendants and Government and
Decision Expected shortly.
Special Dispatch 10 The Evening Star.


PHILADELPHIA, March 29-The appeal
of Joseph Wilkins, a member, and Howard
Butler, employe, of the firm of Wilkins
& Co., oleomargarine Dealers of Washing
ton, d. c., was called for hearing today in
the circuit court of appeals.
Wilkins and Butler were convicted in the
United States court here last spring before
Judge Butler, on the charge of having re-
moved the internal revenue stamps and
other distinguishing marks required by law
from over hundred boxes and tubs con-
tanning oleomargarine Special Agent
Bowen of the United States internal rev.
enue bureau and an assistant testified to
having watched wilkins and Butler while
they were engaged in the ofense in ware
house to which the 6eonlargarne had been
shipped from Washington, and to having
arrested them while so engaged.
After the parties We're indicted vigorous
efforts We're made by the powerful inhu-
enceS interested in the oIeoma rgar rine buSi-
ness to prevent them from being brought
to trial. The sum of $1,000 was offered to
the authorities of the, internal revenue
bureau in payment for a compromise of ;he
case. The latter officials. as well as Secre-
tary Gage, approved acceptance of the
offer. but Attorney General McKenna de-
clined to approve it. Last spring, when the
time for the trial was approaching and
Attorney General Mckenna had been made
Court. the offer to compromise was re-
newed. the sum of $4,000 being offered In
ternal Revenue Commissioner Scott now
senator from West Virginia, and Secretary
Gage again approved the proffer. but the
new Attorney General, Griggs, refused to
accept it.
The men We're then brought to trial al d
defended by jeremiah VI. Wilson of Wash
ington and others. Neither defendant was
placed on the witness stand They were
promptly convicted, and Judge Butler sem
fenced Wilkins to a fine of $500 and six
months in prison, and Butler to fine of
5000 and three months in prison.
Attorney Wilson sued out d writ of error
10 the court of appeals, which Judge But
Ter graute1, and the hearing was set for
the fall term of the latter court last year
When the case was called in the court of
appeals a pOstponement was granted, rep
fesentation having been made to he gov
ernment that Mr.. Wilson was too i'll to pre-
pare a brief 1t developed Immediately
afterward, however, that this was only a
ruse TO secure delay, and thereupon United
states District Attorney James NJ. Beck
IN charge of the prosecution here, was
directed by Attorney General Griggs to per-
init no more postponements of the case.
The case was argued before Judges Ache
son and Dallas and District Judge Buffing-
ton. The defendants did not appear Mr..
A. A. Hoehling, jr, of Washington opened
for the defendants In support of the fifteen
exceptions made to the action of the court
which convicted them. United States At
torney James NJ. Beck made a powerful
argument in behalf of the verdict and SEN
tences being sustained and jeremiah NJ
Wilson of Washington concluded for the
defendants
put Will probably be announced in few
daVS