The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-09-11

It was tremendous bit of enterprise
"a nights work that was never be-
fore equalled in the world.
When the facts came out during the
course of the following day the people
were thunderstruck-none more than
the government officials who were To-
Gated in New Orleans. Neither peo-
pie nor officials knew that Brooks and
Kelly and their men were in New Or
leans, and the capture proved to be
one Of the great sensations of the
time.
Indictments were promptly found
and convictions followed in every case.
The government confiscated over a
half million dollars in property and
contraband whisky. The trials were
not officially concluded until almost
two years after the capture, and in
the spring of 1876 Kelly returned to
New Orleans in the capacity of wit
ness, being granted leave of absence
from the position he then held-that
of lieutenant of police in Philadelphia.
There is one phase Of this story to
which particular attention is directed.
1t was freely said at that time that
President Grant was man who took
care of his friends, and it was in
simulated that his friends were some
times not the kind of persons who
deserved the encouragement Of
high-minded official.
Well, Gen. Grant did take care of
his friends.
But his friends, as Francis Kelly
happened to know in this instance,
were the friends of good government;
they were the men who under his in
spiration and the supervision of
James J. Brooks were instrumental in
breaking up the notorious whisky
ring; they were the men who sent Of
tenders to the penitentiary, and they
were the men who helped to restore
hundreds Of thousands of dollars to
the treasury of the United States. In
other words, Gen. Grant was deter
mined that justice should be done, no
matter where the chips might fall.
In 1874 after the return from New
Orleans, Gen. Grant sent for Mr..
Brooks. He called at the White House
and found the president in his office
smoking big black cigar. He looked
up quietly as Mr. Brooks entered, and
said with characteristic terseness:
Brooks, you and Kelly did good
work at New Orleans"
Mr.. Brooks bowed at this and MUIR
INJURED his thanks at receiving the
commentator of the chief magistrate
of the nation.
Brooks" continued the president,
II am going to appoint you chief of
the government secret service"
And so he did. Within a few days
this deserving, intelligent and compe-
tent detective was placed at the head
of the most important service in the
world. Kelly was promoted to the
position of lieutenant of police in his
home city, and of course the fact
that he had figured in the government
exploit was chiefly responsible for this
promotion. Supervisor Tuition was ap-
pointed collector of the port of Phila-
delphia. Alfred Brooks was named
as a special revenue agent. John
Mitchell had his salary raised and
was placed in position of Importance
in the service. After the trial and.
conviction of the distillers in New
Orleans in 1876, President Grant re-
appointed Mr.. Beckwith United States
attorney for the district of New Or
leans; United States Marshal Pack.
ard, who figured in the seizure and
arrests, was appointed United States
consul at Liverpool. Judge Woods,
who was the district jurist before
whom the distillers were tried, was
elected to a seat on the supreme
court bench at Washington.
Copyright, by w. G. Chapman)