The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-11
CASPER PAYS OUT
Biggest Sum On Record
in Federal Court.
Mebane Pleads Guilty of Completely in
IistiIlerY Frauds and Prayer For
Judgment is Continued, Bond
Being Given.
Especial to News and observer.)

Especial to News and Observer
Greensboro, N. c., April 10.--In the
Federal court this afternoon the cases
against John l.. Casper were settled
after having been in court several
wears Casper ran q big rectifying
whiskeys business in Winston and is
prominent there. being a member of
the CITY council Casper paid the big
gest sum on record into the Federal
court amounting to over ten thousand
dollars.
When the case was called District
Attorney Holton asked to have the
cases against Casper and the Casper
Distilling Company considered and mol
pros entered as to CaSper'S associates
in the company, Judge Bynum for
Casper then entered plea of guilty as
charged in the first count in the indlct-
ments. Holton prayed Judgment in
che case and in the other case prayed
the Judge, asking the case be contin.
ued upon payment of the costs. Judge
BOYD said that he had be-
fore him a letter from United States
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Yerkes, saying that he thought the
ends of justice would be met if the de-
PENDANT should pay eight thousand
dollars and costs Judge Boyd said he
did not believe i'm this way of letting
violators of law off by the simple pay
ment of money as general PROPOSE
ton, for that meant that poor men
would be imprisoned and rich could
go free of such punishment but IN TINS
case the revenue bureau had worked
the case up and had had charge of it
and a Federal statute gave the bu-
reau the right Of monied settlements
of such matters and he was not going
to stand out against the department,
now accepting its right under the sta
tute to compromise and settle cases of
the kind. \ He then sentenced Casper
in one case to six months imprison-
ment this sentence not 10 be carried
out upon payment Of a fine of fourteen
hundred and eighteen dollars and
twenty-five cents, and the costs, which
amount to oyer one thousand dollars
and the label bond amounting to over
sixty-five~ hundred dollars.
1t is understood that Casper paid
five thousand dollars in cash ON the
spot and viii pay the balance as soon
as the bill is itemiZed. The letter
from Commissioners YerkeS is said to
have come this morning to Casper's
attorneys, who presented it to the
court The settlement was agreed
upon before court met, in consequence
of the commissioners letter Casper
was represented by Messrs Manly.
Bynum and Adams Governor Glenn
who formerly represented Kim, had not
appeared in the case, but went to
Washington Saturday TO see the Conn
missioner Of Internal Revenue it is
said. Immediately it was aScertained
that the case would be tried. The let
ter was written Saturday night in
Washington and handed to Judge
Boyd this morning.
Several other important cases were
settled this afternoon. w. n. Mebane,
government gauger and storekeeper
t1al nif ix,fi f1s
plead guilty Prayer for judgment was
continued, defendant giving bond for
appearance at future term. Judge
Boyd announced that defendant had
filed an important statement which
would prove valuable evidence i'm in
vestigation of other frauds against the
government and he was satisfied de-
PENDANT had not been Intentionally
culpable i'm office.
A. O. Starbuck deputy division col
lector, indicted for permitting false
iurats i'm distillers returns to the coll
lector, submitted plea of nolo conten-
dere. Judge Boyd declared that plea
was i'm effect one of guilty of a base
crime, that he was satisfied defendant
was only following custom followed by
such officers for twenty years, and
while technical guilty, record
showed he had not corruptly permitted
returns to be falsified. He directed
withdrawal of nolo contendere and
take a nolle prosequi.
d. p. City, of Rockingham, for IL
licit distilling, was permitted to plead
guilty and pay a fine of two hundred
and fifty dollars. City was arrested
several months ago and escaped. The
revenue officer arreSting him was shot
at by companion. Wood who is now
serving sentence i'm the penitentiary
for the assault, and who enabled Cit
~ to escape City voluntarily sur
rendered at this term of court, having
previously arranged a compromise.