The national Republican., 1860-12-27
THE ROBBERY OF THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT.

Further Particulars-7he arrest of RUSSELL
As we stated in our last issue would be the
case, Detective Officer Allen arrived here on
Tuesday morning, from New York, accompa.
MED by Officer Doudegan, one of Marshal Ryn.
derss aids, as an assistant, and bringing in Gus.
tody William H. Russell. Officer Allen left
this city at three o'clock Saturday afternoon,
with one of his partners, (Offcer Busher, !
whom he left in Baltimore on other business,
and proceeded Immediately through to New
York. He had information that person was
dispatched on the same train, to notify Russell
OF his coming, as soon as he arrived in New
York, but managed to head off the messenger.
Allen went directly to Marshal Rynders for as.
sistance. The Marshal did not know Russell,
or where he stopped, but from the first assisted
Allen to the best of his ability.
Allen went to the post Office with Rynders,
and there ascertained where the pony express
Office is located. Allen then went to the ex
press office, leaving Ryuders (who would be
recognised) on the opposite corner, and, inuuir.
ing for MIR. Russell, said he had package to
deliver to him in person. The clerk replied
that Mr.. X. was not in, but was boarding at the
Everett House. Allen went there, and ascer.
tanned that he had taken breakfast two hours
earlier than usual that morning, (Monday.) Re
turning to the marshal's office, Allen got the
assistance of one of the marshals aids, and re.
turned to the pony express office, where he
found Russell, arrested him, carried him to the
office Of Marshal Rynders, and delivered him
into his custody. Russell was then taken be.
fore Judge Belts, who remanded him to the
custody of Allen, to be taken to Washington for
trial.
When arrested, Russell appeared to be mo.
mentarily excited, but it soon vanished, and he
fnl fnn~ llA., Nkakl Ill L NJ
FORK after him, and had been Informed of it
that morning. Upon his arrival here, he was
taken to the residence of Captain Goddard, who
issued the warrant for his arrest, and thence to
Jail, where he was committed for further hear.
ing. On Tuesday afternoon the further hearing
was had in the guard room of the Jail, before
Justice Goddc crd-District Attorney Ould ap.
pearing for the Government, and Messrs. Dav.
idge, Chiffon, and Humphrey Marshall, of Ken
lucky, for the defence, assisted by several legal
advisers, friends of the prisoner. 1t resulted in
demand of 100000 bail, which not being
given, Mr.. r. was placed in custody of the mar.
shal of the District, to be retained for trial at
the Criminal Court.
There were numerous prominent gentlemen
at the Jail in addition to the counsel employed
in the case-among others, Senator Green of
Missouri Hon. Marcus Parrot of Kansas, R.
W. Latham of this city, and Mr.. Lea, of the
firm OF Suter, Lea, Il Co., bankers in this city.
Shortly after Mr.. Russell had been placed in
custody Of Marshal Selden, he obtained per.
mission from the District Attorney to 20 to his
private house in the first ward, whittier he went
in charge of Deputy Marshal Phillips, and re.
mained in consultation with several friends until
about half past one o'clock, P. NJ, when he was
again conveyed to the Jail. He occupies at
present the office of Jailor King, and was Wis.
tied there to-day by a number Of friends.
1t is stated that the abstraction of the bonds
was known as long ago as Thursday last, it
having been at that time communicated by
Bailey to Secretary Floyd. Bailey asked the
advice Of the latter. Secretary Floyd replied
that he had no advice to give, but that on Sec.
retary Thompson's return the matter should be
thoroughly investigated. Bailey confessed the
whole matter to Secretary Thorn pson, alleging
that he had been led into the commission of
the larceny through desire to save the honor
OF MIR. Floyd, whose acceptances to large
amount in possession of Mr.. Russell, of the
firm of Russell, Majors, 4 Co., Government
contractors, would otherwise have been dis.
honored, he Bailey apprehended. These "ac.
ceptances," 1t appears, are simply memoran.
dums of the amounts which would be due at
certain periods to Russell, provided he exc.
cuted his contracts with the Government, and
invoked no liability whatever, they being given
to enable him to obtain credit. The records,
1T is alleged, prove that the existence of these
acceptances was unknown to Bailey at the
period Of the first abstraction of bonds, and
that his excuse in reference to Mr.. Floyd is
merely subterfuge. Russell asked for these
acceptances to show his creditors, to satisfy
them of his resources. Similar memorandums
have been given to public contractors for sew
eral years past.
Those who profess to know the facts in the
case say that Mr., RUSSELL who has been large.
ly engaged in transporting United States stores
across the Plains to Utah and beyond, finding
himself financially embarrassed more than
year ago, obtained the consent of the Secreta.
ry OF War to draw upon his Department to
the amount of 100000. The Secretary &C.
cepted the draft. Some time afterwards he
made similar request for the same amount,
assuring the Secretary that the first draft was
taken care OF, and the latter supposing that at
no time did his obligations amount to over
100000.
Mr.. Kelly, Chief Clerk of the Interior De.
partment, is now in New York for the purpose
of hunting up the missing bonds, and identify
ing them. The list of bonds missing, as far
as can be ascertained, and now believed to be
correct, is:
missouri per cent. coupon ponds $4,000 |
North Carolina & per cent. coupon
bonds $4,000
Tennessee per cent. coupon bonds l44,O 900 |
81 900 |
The securities of Mr.. Bailey gave him up
yesterday morning, and he is now in the custo
dy of the marshal.
Mr.. Russell was brought before the court
yesterday, and it was decided to admit him to
bail in the sum of 100000, of which sum
100000 was accepted from beyond the juris,
dicton of the court, and Senator Green, Rep. |