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Show CROOKED WHISKY, Tlic Testimony Runs tttraihl Auulust 31t-k.ee. St. Louis, 22 The United States court room was crowded again to-day at the McKee trial. The halls outside were crowded with people who could not get into iho court. Tiie first witness wit-ness was Engelkea, of tho firm of Bernecker & Co., rectifiers. After stating tiiat his firm hail handled a good deal of crooked whisky. Witness recount.-d a long conversation be had with McKee iu the Ulobc-Democrat office iu October, 1S74, of which the following is tho substance: "I went to McKee at the solicitation of Henry Hardway, ex-U. S. storekeeper, and told him that Joyce had promised Hardway that he should be given an an interest in the Busby distillery, and should not bo subjected to levies fnr ring purposes. In consideration of thi-i Henry Hardway was to take care of Ctiet. Hardway, his brother, Megruo, and other fellows who threatened threat-ened mioohief. Hardway complained that Joyce was dealing double with bim, that he and McDonald were always throwing obstacles in his way." Witness continued giving many incidents and points in the conversation between McKee, himself and others, iu a very circumstantial way, showing that McKee had taken a deep interest in tbe malter and was well acquainted with the plans of the ring. Witness' testimony went to show that McKee had been greatly exercised lost tho distillers and others would turn states evidence, and had made numeious promises, entreaties and threats to restrain them from ao doing. Witness also gave an accouut of another conversation he had with McKee shortly after the indictment had been toufd against the latter, in which witness stated that McKee attempted at-tempted to make him believe the conversation above mentioned was about some goods of witness which bad been seized in Colorado, and that witness had asked him to intercede inter-cede in his behalf with Collector Mc-Guire Mc-Guire for their release. Witness continued: con-tinued: McKee asked mo to refresh my memory regarding tho matter and determine il he was not right. I told Mr. McKee that it was so absurd ab-surd that I should go to him to invoke in-voke his influence with McGuire for interference with concerns of the local officers of Colorado. If I had had any gootla under seizure there I would have known what to do without going to him. This idea witness refused re-fused to entertain. In the crass examination he was questioned very closely concerning me divorce he obtained from his first wife in 1867, the purpose of the defense de-fense being to show that he was a bicamist, but this they failed to do,1 ai,i the court 6topped farther inquiry! into bis family afiaira. Witness again described the conversation with McKee Mc-Kee at the O'li'be-Demoa at office, but the defense failed to break down the statement made in the direct examination. exami-nation. Pie contessed to having pleaded guilty to the counts of Ihe indictment against hiin. G. D. Thorp, ex-United States storekeeper, was the next witness. He testified to having performed service ser-vice at various distilleries; received money from distillers for the ring and for himself. Witnasa continued: I remember when Megruecame here last June. I saw him at the Liudell hotel the day of his arrival. Tho same evening I saw McKee and he asked me if I could not arrange an interview with Megrue, and I toid him I thought I could. I saw Megrue ayain that night and told him of Mc-Kee's Mc-Kee's desire to Bee him, and he said he would be glad to see McKee, and I then went to the Ghbe-JJ:mocrai office; told McKee what Megrue had, said. Ho told me that he did not wish to visit the hotel to see Megrue, but would like to meet him in tome' dark, secluded spot. Wo talked matters over, and agreed upon the I corner oi Seventh ana ht. Gharles streets as the place ol meeting. Megrue Me-grue refused to leave the hotel. I theu went lo the place appointed, told McKee of Megrue's decision, and we went to the hotel together, and I introduced McKee to Megruo and left them together. I saw McKee after tiie interview; talked over what Megrue intended to do. I was afraid Megrue intended to injure McKee. I toid McKee I thought they would not indict hirn as he could be of great use to others who were under indictment. A few days after this I had a talk with McKee in the cellar of his office. McKee was very anxious to know whether he was to be indicted or not, He said if he escaped es-caped indictment he could be of great service to those who were indicted. McKee asked me how he (Major Megrue) felt. I told him I did Dot know, but thought if he was taken before the grand jury he would tell all he knew. Wo talked over Joyce's connection with Megrue. McKee said Joyce thought he was very smart, but he had got picked up by Megrue. McKee said the distillers were all good enough till it came to putting up money, and then they weakened. I saw Megrue and McKee together several timtM afterwards, ar.d we talked the matter over. McKeo said he was going to Washington and : would get the thing fixed. Ho atked j mo if I knew what Megrue was going to testify to before tho prand jury, and I told him I did not. I was not under indictment at that lime, but was subsequently. sub-sequently. The cross-examination only developed devel-oped the fact that during witness' otlicial term ho tuppoacd lie violated all the requirements of his position; that there are four indictments against him for connection with the nuiany Jliiuua, lO IWO OI W111CU no had pleaded guilty. He denied having hav-ing received any assurances that hie testimony iu these c-aaea would secure him light punishment. C. G. Megruo was recalled and questioned legarding his interview with McKeo at tho Lindell hotel in June. Ho said: When McKeo came into my room ha sat down and began talking in a general way nboui tho whisky ring, tho excitement here pertaining to tho grand jury and about my indictment. Ho showed that he wr.8 considerably excited and said ho felt that I had it in my power lo save him, and wanted to know if I would do it. I replied that I would have all that I could do to save myself; my-self; that I was thinking of a course to pursue and didn't know wholher I would tell all or not tell anything. I had not been beforo tho grand jury. I said if I testified to the truth I would say there was u curtain amount of mouey paid lo me and I disbursed it in a certain way, and that I paid John Leavenworth money to bo given him (McKeo) anil Ford aftor 1 had been before tho grand jury. When they wero entuliri to know if the atato had introduced nil the testimony they had to prove McKco'a connection with tho whisky rin, Colonel Brodhcftd said thestale might introduce evidence from lime to time as it may bo developed. Tho court asked: Do you propose to introduce tho declarations of Leavenworth as one of tlio conspirators? Colonel Brodhead answered that they did propose to show that money 'ras received by McKeo, by the declarations declara-tions of Leavenworth, beforo nnd alter payment. Upon this point a lengthy argument ensued. Tno jury having been sent lo the hotel, no more testimony waa takeu. |