Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-28
Hopes Tor EARLY campaign.
THE REVENUE RECEIPTS.
investigation Made at Des Moines by
SAINT Kirkpatrick

| Des MoineS, Nov. 24-Sanford Kirk
patrick, special agent of the federal
revenue department, is in the city look
ing to the enforcement of the war reve-
nue. tax. He has discovered a number
of cases where stamps had not been
used, but no prosecutions are in sight,
as in all or nearly all cases it was APP
parent the failure TO attach stamps to
documents had been either the result of
oversight or misunderstanding of the
law. AS result of his visit the sale
and use of stamps has largely increased
and the government given profit over
the cost of the investiga ton. Mr.. Kirk
patrick is veteran OF the revenue de-
partment and has had some exciting
experiences, one of which nearly cost
him his life.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick called at the city hall
Wednesday and requested permits
sion to inspect number of papers on
file in the office of the city clerk, and
among Others found eight official bonds
the placing of revenue stamps upon
which had been overlooked. Mr.. Kirk
patrick informed the clerk that these
documents each required a 5O-cent
stamp, which Mr.. Woodruff lost no
time in securing and attaching to them.
Until the arrival and ruling of the spe-
cial officer it had been understood the
law did not contemplate the use of
stamps on municipal obligations of this
character. 9
Mr.. Kirkpatrick, without Indicating
the institutions affected, stated that
since he had begun an Investigation in
the city he had discovered in two or
three banks instances in which large
number OF commercial obligations held
by the banks had not been stamped.
In one OF the banks he>discovered that
stamps had not been attached to sew
eral hundred papers where they should
have been used, but on being inform
ed of the oversight the banks COM
piled with the ruling of the officer and
gave him the fullest opportunity to ex-
anime everything of character sup
posed to demand stamps.
Mr. Kirkpatrick, when he entered the
government service in the revenue de-
partment during the admins tration of
President Cleveland, had been resi-
dent of Wapello county many years.
For six or seven years preceding the
election OF Mr.. Cleveland he was en-
gagged in business in Ottumwa. Having
a record for efficient service in the war
of the rebellion, he was recommended
to Mr.. Cleveland, and soon received an
appointment in the revenue service.
He was afterwards assigned to service
farreting out and running down the
manufacturers of moonshine whisky in
the south. In the summer of 1856 he
was sent to the mountain districts of
South Carolina to discover and capture
an illicit still. With other revenue of
fcers he immured himself in the fast
nesses of the rugged country and after
q brief search the still was located. The
officers made descent upon it one day,
but We're met by q fusilade from shot
guns when they rushed forward to bag
the game. Kirkpatrick was so close
upon one of the mconshiners that to
avoid being shot point blank in the face
he threw out his hand TO seize the grim
muzzle. The movement saved his life,
but the heavy charge in the gun ex-
Iploded SO close to his eyes that one OF
them was wholly destroyed and the
sight of the other permanently inn
paired. Blinded and suffering excru-
ciating pain. he did not lose his pres
ence of mind. but leveiing Win
chester he fred. The ball took effect in
the breast of the moonshiner and he
died in five minutes. For n number of
years Mr.. kirkpatrick had the remain
ing eye treated by the most noted ocu-
lists in the country, the government as
sisting him in seeking 10 remedy his
impaired vision. The result was not at
AL encouraging until two years ago,
when ice sight OF his eve began to
grow stronger. Now he can read with
the aid of a strong magnifying glass,
which he carries, He also has ya.u-
.ahle assistant in Mrs. Eirlsratrick. who
acconpan:es him in al his pilgrimages
and Is his contant companion. They
arg stopping at the Iowa house.
Slot wife and self
Mount Vernon, Ohio, Nov. a. (By
Asseeiated Press Charles Goldsbor-
ough, a crippled saloon keep, last night
killed. Hi. f,a,, I-;lIn,I