The Soapy Scandal of South Seattle

By virtue and in pursuance of the internal revenue laws of the United States, I, Owts Hicks, Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for the district of Oregon, did on the 15th day of July, upon the premises of Silas Brown, on lots numbered 10, 11, and 12, in block numbered 34, of John J. Miller’s addition to South Seattle, in the city of Seattle, King county, W. T., seize and take into my possession the following personal property, goods, and chattels, to wit: 1 wheelbarrow, 30 cases soft soap, 1,000 pounds soap, 10 barrels soap, 1 pair scales, 1 iron vat with furnace, 1 box axle grease, 1 soap mixer, 1 horse, wagon, and harness, 7 barrels of various kinds of soap, 1 tank, and miscellaneous household furniture and fixtures. The cause of said seizure being that a certain building upon said premises was on said 15th day of July, and prior thereto, used as a distillery, and a certain still and distilling apparatus was there set up; and one Silas Brown did then and there carry on the business of a distiller without having given bond to the United States as required by law, in violation of sections 3244 and 3281 of the Revised Statutes of the United States. And all of said personal property, goods, and chattels now found and there in said distillery, and in a certain room, yard, and enclosure used therewith, and were used with and constituted a part of said premises, and the same I hereby declare subject to forfeiture to the United States.