New Britain herald., 1915-10-20
SEVEN IN MOONSHINE
 CASE PLEAD GUILTY
Action of Defendants in Govern
 ment's Suit Causes Surprise
FRED BOWLES DISCHARGED
Men Will Be Sentenced Tomorrow Gigantic Prosecution of Many Other Persons Predicted by Federal Au- thOritieS.


 Fort Smith Ark, Oct 20.-Seven men on trial charged with conspiracy to defraud the government in the manufacture of moonshine whiskey, pleaded guilty in the United States district court here today. Sentence will be passed tomorrow. The case against Fred Bowles of Fort Smith, the eight defendant, was dismissed The cases against the defendants went to trial yesterday and their action to- day was a surprise.
 The defendants were indicted by the Federal grand jury last June.
 The government authorities predict that out of the cases may grow gi- gantic prosecution of many other men who, it is alleged, have swindled the government of the United States out of between $10,0O0,O00 and $15,0OO,- 900 during the last ten years.
 Cooper Alleged Head.
 The alleged head of the conspiracy is John l.. Casper, an officer of the Rush Distilling company, of Kansas City, who with Guy L. Hartman, of Kansas City, James c. Brewbaker, of Kansas City and others are charged with maintaining an illicit distillary at Fort Smith and with shipping thou sands of gallons of spurious whiskey. manufactured at the plant, to the dis tilling company.
 The six revenue officers are named with other defendants in blanket in- dictment for conspiracy and one of them Knox Booth is accused of ac- cepting bribes from Casper and Hart man. Booth was formerly superin- tendent of the Tennessee Revenue Di- vision and was removed from office after the issue of the warrant for his arrest. Government officers say he confessed and gave valuable informa- tion as to the working of the alleged conspiracy.
 Other Revenue Men.
 The other revenue men indicted were:
 James Surber, Atlanta. Ga., former superintendent of the Georgia Rev enue Division; resigned shortly before his indictment.
 Thomas c. Mccoy, Ashville, N. C.. former revenue agent, resigned from service five years ago.
 S. L.. Williams, Winston, N. C., for mer revenue agent; resigned several years ago and became associated with Casper, in the distilling business.
 J. Henry Brown, Harrison, Ark, former government guager; still in government service when arrested. Newton c. Spradling, Aurora, Mo-, former guager; resigned when ar | rested.
 J..w. Grider, Sonora, Ark, not in l service when indicted.
 1 Others Indicted. l Others indicted are:
 John Farrabee, George Hartman l and Charles Brewbaker of Kansas l City; John Coffey, Fred Bowles and J. Y. Thomas, of Fort Sith; James l.. Smith, Atlanta, Ga., Henry Cummings, Wheeling, ". Va~; William Smith, l Fort Smith,, Ark, and Leo F. Brock, Salisbury, N. C., Moses B. Brock, Ed. P. Jarrett, Ernest Sumner, J. w, Gri- der and c. M. Hawkins, Marion, N. C. Government officers did not have to | ride into wooded hills inhabited by rough men of the "Moonshine' type to uncover the "sill," where it is al legged the illicit liquor was made They found it standby boldly on one o1 Fort Smiths streets-a delapidateo I some deserted Arkansas farm house But inside, machinery modern to the minute, the government alleges, man. ufactured "Six Year Old Kentucky Bourbon" Fine Old Private Stock, and "Six Year Old Rye," from pure alcohol in fifty hours, the sparkle and blend being given by means o1 chemicals Win the aid of attractive l Iob conspirators sold their product through agents in Kansas City to thu southwestern retail trade.
 Former Legal Distillery.
 The Fort Smith plant once was a le gal distillery. In March, 1914, how ever, it's owner advised the revenue department at Washington of their in l tention to cease business. The govern
 ment immediately withdrew it's off1cia guager and sealed the doors of tn | plant
 The seals, it is alleged, were sool
 broken, the old machinery removes
 and new machinery set up.
 Six indictments in all, were handed
 down, the first charging Casper, Gu l l.. Hartman, J. C. BreWbaker, Will Hams, Brown and other defendant with intent to defraud the Unite ] States of the tax imposed on distille 7 | spirits and with having in their pos , l session cancelled revenue stamps. Bribe of $I,OOO.
 Casper in the second indictment 1 charged with paying Booth bribe o $1, ,00O in connection with the remove = of 25,00O gallonsE5of whiskey from h = distillery without payment of the in f l ternal revenue tax.rs This offense is al
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