, 1859-11-18
Arrest of a Suspected Insurrectionfst
In Washington.

Last evening, just after dark, Detective OIL
cer Allen, in passing up Seventh street, had his
attention arrested by the appearance Of an in
diyidua!, whose singular notions betrayed him
ut once to be a stranger in Washington, and
suspicious stranger at that. He appeared to be
q man Of rs or ii years, howed down with the
weight Of years and his costume bespoke the
man Of poverty. His pantalnons were country
drab, very much patched and frnycd at the bot.
toms; his cont Was adorned with many aud
various colored pieces, which almost deied
criticism as to the original hue, and be wore a
ing steps with heagy stat. Officer Allen
approaching the stranger. asked him where he
was from, and III putting the interrogatory, be
lie observed thai his customer wore underneath
his ruined title =" 8 face belonging not to the
lust, but to the first half of mans lifetime.
There was so striking adherence between the
youthful looking features and the decr;pit wa]k,
that the detective drew with the rapidity of an
old hand at the business, tie inference, The re-
snIt Of which is given below: lie answered
1hat iie was from "Harpers Ferry" Allen
Immediately entered into conversation with the
stranger, from whom he drew the fact that be
had travelled to Washington, partly on the rail
road and partly by the wagon road lie admit
ted that he had been at Harper's Ferry, but de-
uied that he had any part in the late iusurrec-
ton. Officer Allen had By this time accom-
panied him as fdr as Justice Donn's office, and
inviting him in be informed him that he was
prisoner Justice Donn examined him touch
ing his presence IN Washington, to which in-
quir;es he made unsatisfactory and confused re-
plies. A search Of bis person was instituted. and
tho old aud ragged cloathing having been .e-
moved-lo! mau, rather good looking, and
about thirty -four years Of age, stood revealed.
i further examination Of his person disclosed
the fact Of numerous fresh shot wounds all
over bis neck and breast The officer now ac-
cused him Of being one Of "0ssawntomie"
Browns men, and fugitive from justice. As
before stated, he admitted that be Was at Har-
per's Ferry Mt the time Of the uprising there !;
was not in the engine house, but staid one night
in the armory, and that be made his escape to
the mountains, where he took refuge until
lew days ago. BE claimed to be an educated
and wealthy gentleman; stated that he was
born in Pennsylvania and had lived in Boston
and Philadelphia. he refused to render auy
further account Of himself: aud, finding that
be had got into warm quarters, tried an unsuc-
eessful game Of insanity" He now denied
Ossawatomia brown and his late foray at Har-
per'a Ferry. His person YVES farther examined
but a large pocket knife and case Of needles
with spool Of black thread, were all that was
discovered. He gave his name as John McDon-
aid, and with the exception Of his shoes, which
foriably clothed underneath bis disguise. he
was committed to jail for Identification.
At halfpast eight o'clock last night, the fol-
lowing dispatch Was sent by officer Allen to
Coz, Wise:
70 Coz. Wi.<, Richmond - arrested man
supposed to be an insu1rectionist in disguise
Admits be was at Harper's Ferry. He has been
shot in the breast. In jail in Washington, for
identification.
An hour Inter, Allen received the following
dispatch from Richmond:
10 D<tectirt Il. T. A}ttn Telegraph to 4.
". Barbour, Harpers Ferry, and to A. Hunter,
Charlestown, Virginia, for persons to identify
prisoner, and inform President Of United
States. II. a. Wise.