The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-11
CITY INTELLIGENCE,

RoBBERY-ARREsr OF THE THIEF-Durng the en-
gagements of Mr.. James Z. Murdoch, the eminent
actor, it has been customary with him to employ a
servant to wait him at the theatre, to assist him
IN dressing for the stage and perform other servi
ces usually required by an actor. The person who
has performed these duties for several years while
Mr.. Murdoch was fulfilling his professional engage,
ments here, was a muatto man named Stephen
Harris, who has always conducted hmselfi in an up
right and becoming manner. During last week
however, on Friday night, Mr.. Murdoch missed
from his wardrobe several articles of wearing ap-
parel, coats pantaloons and Shirts and also a val
liable breastpin. Information of the robbery was
given TO the police on Saturday morning and de-
tectives German and Stevens set about to discover
and arrest the thief. From certain facts coming
to their knowledge, the officers concluded that
Harris, the mulatto, was the guilty party, and on
Saturday night they entered the theatre from the
lear, and asked negro, who was employed there
to tell Harris that some desired to see him.
Their messenger, however, told Harris that some
officers were waiting to see him, and he, without
any ceremony, resigned his situation as valet to Mr.
Murdoch and escaped through the front apartments
OF the Theatre. The officers being thus foiled in
the arrest, devoted considerable part of Sunday in
searching for Harris through ra streets on the
Point and Federal Hill, but without success On
Monday officer German was passing along Bal
timore street about o'clock, the muatto was
pointed out to him. Harris WE Immediately ar
rested and charged with the robbery. He confessed
the theft and said he wanted to go into the
country; he thought he coud raise money on the
stolen articles, BY which he could play "Policy''
and get sufficient to pay his travelling expenses
tie was taken to the Marshal's Office where he d.
Vulged to the officers what disposition he had made
of the stolen articles. From this information, the
officers proceeded to several pawn brokers' shops
where the articles had been pledged. and succeeded
IN recovering all of them. Harris had given the
breastpin to some of his female acuuaintances but
officer German traced it and secured it. Harris
was committed to jail by Justice Mckinley. He is
the same mulatto who was found about three years
ago, in the house of Mrs Smith, No. 2s3 East
Fayette street, secreted under bed, evidently in
tent on robbery, but who at the time escaped ar
rest.
THE REMOVAL OF THE PRISONERS TO THE New JAIL.
" esterday morning the prisoners-one hundred
and forty-two in number-were removed from the
old to the new Jail. The evening previous, they
were informed by the wardens that that night
would be the last they would spend in the old
building, and the prisoners kept up jofcation
during the night. Yesterday morning, after they
had been removed the different rooms which they
had left presented sorry appearance. Room No.
l, or as it was called by ihe inmates, "ArbOr No.
l." was literally torn to pieces. Every piece of
furniture in it was destroy yed-the stove taken to
pieces, the floor torn up, and the bricks in the
hearth removed. In "Arbor No. g." portion of
the furniture was destroyed The principal feature
presented here was stuffed paddy, which had
undergone trial by jury, been convicted of the
crime of refusing drink of whiskey, and sentenced
to be hung, which sentence was duly carried into
effect by suspending it from the ceiling The walls
drawn with charcoal, some of which represented
the prisoners.
The prisoners were all removed in a couple of
hours and seemed generally pleased with their new
quarters Immediately on getting in, they
required to go through the process of cleaning
themselves from the crown of their heads to the
soies OF their feet Those who had clean linen put
it on and by noon the entire body presented more
respectable appearance than they have for many
months past The cooking and heating apparatus was
In full operation. The temperature throughout the
entire building about 20 degrees. Bony Lee the
chief of the cook king department, and performs his
duties efficiently and promptly. Captain James
has issued strict set of rules to the prisoners in
regard to keeping their cells clean and not defa.
cling the walls
MARYLAND INSTITUTE LECTURE-Last night very
large audience was present to hear the fifth lecture
OF the Maryland Institute course, which was de-
livered by the Rev. Otis H. Tiffany, of this city,
Subject-"Daniel Webster, the Defender of the Con-
sttution and the Union" Mr.. Tiffany commenced
by referring to the early life of Mr.. Webster, his
collegiate course and the impressions which were
formed OF him by his preceptors. At school Mr.
Webster gave promise of the greatness he after
wards attained. He possessed genius but it was the
genius OF industry and devotion to labor. As a
student he was laborious and thorough and MASTER
ed every subject perfectly before he was satisfied.
The lecturer referred to his personal appearance,
and related the incident between Mr. Webster and
the stage-driver, when the latter took him for a
hlghwayman. Mr.. Webster's course in Congress
was next dwelt upon. The rapidity with which he
rose, at one bound taking rank with the master
minds OF that body. No man, said the lecturer,
mas so lndeholy impressed his thoughts so com
pletely interviewer his views into every great CUES
ton which has agitated the country as Mr. Web
ster. He was great on all questions, and possessed
powers OF intellect not granted to all really
great men, The lecturer then referred to Mr. Web
ster as lawyer, saying that in his (the lecturers
opinion he was the greatest that this country ever
produced. He referred to Mr.. Webster's method
of preparation in each case, and particularly to
4hnf thafl h. 1soll l. II
pronounced Mr.. Webster's style of oratorv to be a
combination of that of Demosthenes and Burke. He
closed with reference to the great mans death.
HEARTLEss DEsERrIoN.-About one year since, a
man named Nelson Townsend removed to this city,
from Rochester, New York, where he had married,
and setup grocery store Baltimore street, near
Pine; many persons may have observed the unique
sign over his door: Townsend, Grocer on the cash
plan." While here, he became intimate with an
other woman, and on some pretence sent his wife
to New York: on her return he broke up his bust
ness here, and started with his family osensbly for
Harrisburg, Pa; between this city and the latter
place he left his wife, with only eight dollars to
defray her expenses, and without ga wing when he
would return. Previous to this, however, on her
return from New York, she found that a child nine
months old was missing, and on making inquiries
OF her husband he gave no satisfactory account OF
IT. she found the chid's clothes, which were cover
ed with blood She returned from Harrisburg
and found Townsend in this city, and on Monday
last he left her again. and took the cars at Pres
dent street depot for Wilmington, Del Mrs. Town
send laid the matter before the Mayor Yesterday
and by his direction she went to the Church Home
on Broadway.
CRY RETAIL MARKEr.-The Lexington market
yesterday was thinly attended by the country peo.
ple in consequence of the bad condition of H.
roads in the neighborhood of the CITY. The dis
play of the principal articles of consumption, such
as beef, pork and mutton, maintained its usual ex
cellence, and the ruling prices about the same
as on previous davs; but vegetables were yery poor
q rad ut
demand account of their bad quality. Poultry
though there was not large supply of it, wa
much lower than it has been for some time past
A good-sized turkey could be had for 81 cts. t.
81 so for the best chickens dressed 81 to rs cts PEE
pair Game not abundant but the milt
weather brought down the prices, partridges sell
ing as low as 81 so per dozen and pheasants at 5
10 slZ5 per pair.
o,Ia ihh nLvEn AND The lcE.-The tug-boat Fair.
queen arrived yesterday afternoon and reports tha
she toWed the brig Daniel Webster nm as biph a
North POINT, where Sue was compelled to part baw
ser and leave the brig at anchor, on account of thu
track, completely closing it up The tug renort
the steamship City Of Norfolk hence for Ssranpnab h
locked in the ice below North Point The staama
George Peabody, of the Norfolk line, arrived an,
reports meeting large masses of drift ics =,
Thomas Point. There was also dense fog pre
vailing, and she was compelled to anchor and re
main there for several hours. Several of the tu
boats have been badly injured by the drift ict
lhe JdWes murray Is at cooper oncers snlI
yard, being ironed
CoLLEcrIoN OF TAYEs.-The following is tn
amount OF taxes collected during the month
December, for three years past:-City, 1857, S4
1885, State, do, SAL 62; City, 1858, S., ,69s 6t
State do, 81, City, 1859, Si32, ,9s2 9O STATE
do, 4,O61.6s; opening streets So, 2,276 40; pump
4O.50-total Sl63.7S3. 90. ff
BuRsLARv.-Some time between l O'Clock an
daylight on Sunday MOI ming, the drug store of MI
Balmer, corner of High and Baltimore streets. WIS
entered by thieves and robbed of Sl3 in gold an
quantity of silver change. The thieves entere
by means Of false keys.