The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-18
Head Of Dry Fork Distilling
Co. Faces Grave Charges
in Federal Court.
QUANTITY OF LIQUOR
SHIPPED WITHOUT TAy
District Attorney Tells Of Enor
nous Frauds With Which He
Expects to Directly Connect
the Defendant and
Government Of
ficials.
q.
Especial TO Tho Times pl.pateh.l

Especial to Tho Times. Dispatehl
~ AWHILE, Va. April 1T. M
Angle, the president and gen-
eral manager OF tho Dry Fork
- Distilling Company, bonded
dlstillery, and Incorporated un-
der tho laws of Virginia, was placed on
trial to-day in the United States court.
Judge Henry c.N1cDowell presiding, on
the charge Of having practiced enor-
nous frauds on the government by
the manufacture and the sale of un-
stamped spirits.
The defendant was nrraigned on an
Indictment covering general charge
and which specifically charged him
with removing and concealing hun
dred thousand gallons of unstamped
whiskey on which he should have paid
the tax of s1.10 per gallon
AT the session OF the United States
court held here last November, the Dry
Fork Distilling Company was subject
ed to rigid and close investigation
as the result OF which 1t is alleged eX-
tensive frauds were unearthed.
Numerous Indictments were return.
ed, involving about fifteen or twenty
men. Among those indicted We're all
of the officers and the directors OF the
Dry Fork Company. and four govern
ment storekeepers and gaugers at the
distillery, who are charged with con-
spiracy to defraud Uncle Sam of the
tax. Tie government officers. who face
charges are G.. It. Reeves, Sam Nor
gan. c. G. Scyphers and S. G. Bum
garner. All of these have been arr
rested and are now out on bond. Sew
eral hundred witnesses have been sum
moned in the case. and 1t is expected
that the trial will occupy several
weeks time.
Extended Through Two Years.
The investigation of the affairs of
| the Dry Fork Company has been con-
Quoted by the highest government ona-
| cials, and the period of irreg egularitles
extended. 1t is alleged, from August
1905. to october. l9ol WhiSn -cuiiil' ill.t,
mated In raid on the dtstillery, ana
| the seizure OF the properly. The army
| of witnesses summoned to testify III
/ the case include government olhcers.
secret service men, expert accountants,
railway employees grain and PROVISION
dealers, and bankers.
Tho government hopes to prove py
tary evidence that the Dry Fork DIS DIS
Etillins Company manufactured hun-
dreds OF gallons of whiskey on which
not cent OF tax was paid.
The defendant, who is represented
bv a strong array OF legal talent, made
several motions to-day to quash the
| indictments, but ali We're overrulel.
The prosecution is being conducted BY
District Attorney Thomas Lee MOORE
who. with his assistant, S. IT. Hoge.
secured the conviction at the last term
of the court here of about six governs
ment officers for collusion With dtstll-
Hers to commit frauds.
With Connivancc OF Officers.
Mr.. Moore in his opening statement
to-day said the government expected
to prove that large quantities OF
spirits IN barrels and other vessels
had been shipped by T. NJ. Angle and
the Dry Fork Distilltng Company un-9
der fictitious names. such as D. Loo.
Loo Loo, ]. o. Ball, High Ball etc. and
that when they were sent out all evl-
dence of Angles or the Dry Fork Dis
tilling Company's connection was care
fully covered up by the shippers at
Dry Fork.
He stated that 1t had been discov-
cred that the consignees Of some Of
these shipments had settled with T.
NJ. Angle and the Dry Fork 'Distilling
Company. and that Angles name would
be connected with the shipments. Att
torney Moore also alleged that 1t would
be shown that large amounts of mate
rial were shippedsto the Dry Fork Conn
pany and used which was not accounted
for In the government records In I
closing he stated that he regretted
that he was compelled to state that
the extensive fratds perpatrated On the
government had been committed with
the connlvance and the consent of
sworn government officials, who We're
then II the courtroom. sitting behind
the defendant and prompting him as
he outlined his defense. He declared
that under the internal revenue laws &
and regulations, II the government Of
hcials performed their duties it would
he an absolute impossibility for the
dtstillers to defraud the government
as they have done n this and other
Instances; that the Department OF y Ms
tice was determined to rid the oihelal y
service of dishonest and corrupt ON y
cials that largo number OF govern
ment officers had already been indicted,
and that they had fled the country
without being arrested. CONTINUING,
he declared that several others had
been tried and convicted
VIII Wait and See.
Attorney II. j. Britt, Of AsheVllle, NJ.
c.. IN replying gave no outline WnaS-
ever of the defense declaring g that ths
defendant was supposed to ba innocent
until proven guilty. He said that Ia
would be contented to remain and sea
what eVluellCe tlle SpSSkitihSts " -
Introduce before he would ATTEMPT to
rebut it. In addition to Mr.. Britt the
defendant Is represented by Judge
Spencer b. Adams and Judge w. =,
Bynun,. OF North Carolina. and Peatross
S Harris OF Danville, John w. Yerkes,
OF Washington. D. c., is snid tobbe ad. N
yisory counsel, but so far he has not
appeared in the case, 5
An Interesting feature In connection
,ritb the ca "a WAS tho statement that Il
Mr.. Angle was too sick to appear for
trial, and was at the point OF death
at hospital in Roanoke, Officers We're y
sent to bring him here, and after tina 8
examinations OF several phystcians ths
court ruled that he was BILE 10 stand I;
trial. i}5 sfs ss
Only two witnesses. = g, Junkln.