The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-28
WASHINGTON. Dec. 81.

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Washington was startled this morning
with new fact, that for the time being has
crowded out of the public mind seces'ion.-
Friday it was South Carolina secession, this
morning it is great robbery in the Bureau
of the Interior, by which nearly million OF
dollars in value of U. 5. Bonds had been alb
stractcd, and feloniously converted into cash
for the benefit of high Government Con-
tractor. The Star of this evening gives the
following particulars of the robbery:
Az ASTOUNDING RoBBERY OF THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT! SS30,000 in State Bonds Ab-
stracisd from an Iron SAFE By The Clerk IN
Charqecfn! He Comes Forrdrd and Makes
a Voluntary Confession 10 The Secretary, &c.
An The Deidils A dIy or two since, Cor
don Bailey. the law clerk of the Interior De-
partment-a native of South Carolina, APP
pointed from Office from Alabama, young
married man of about thirty years of age,
admitted to be person of remarkably fine
abilities and Attachments = placed in the
hands of n friend letter TO be- handed to
Secretary Thompson. This was during the
latter's recent absence. Ills manner was
such that the friend pressed him with inquir-
les concerning its contents, and, learning
them, fastened to deliver it to Mr.. L. ON the
instant OF his return to this city on Satur-
day evening last. Ii proved TO be yolun-
tary confession from Bailey that at the in
stance of another he had distracted land
loaned to that person. from the iron safe UNI
der his charge, a large amount-SS3O, 900
of the State bonds held by Mr.. Tsas Secre-
tary of the Interior in trust for sundry In
dian tribcs-the proceeds Of their bonds sold
by the Government, and 10 invested and held
for their benefit in pursuance of treaty slip
ulation.
IL seems that the Secretary had endeayored
10 induce the regular treasurer of his depart
ment. MIR. Peter hammond, to become their
custodian, but not being obliged so to do by
law OF regulation, he declined the response
bility of their charge. The Secretary then
entrusted them to the keeping Of Bailey, the
Department. law clerk, who was under bonds
of $40 900 for the faithful performance of
other trusts--not that one. The receipt Of
this letter by the Secretary of course created
great commotion in the department. and he,
with Bailey and other clerks, were there en-
gagged in the consequent Investigation all Sat
urday night until three n. m, with hacks,
police officers, &c, plying over the city,
According to Bailey confession, he loaned
the bonds to the party who had induced him
10 commit the abstraction, but was not to re-
ceiye single dollar of the proceeds Of the
ejaculation. He had cut of and preserved
in the safe the coupons for the next six
months interest, 80 that no part OF that
could be lost to the Government or Indians.
One theory OF the abstraction is that Bal
lev and his confederate desired to make q
large SUN by speculation in the stolen bonds
1.-THE first of which were taken rs early as five
months ago) by selling them at the compar-
atiycly high prices at which they sold some
time since. and buying them back and 70.
placing them in tho safe, when the sectional
trouble they knew was about to arise should
depross their prices, rs at present, and that
his confederate having failed to return any
Of thom 80 far. b. became alarmed and made
his voluntary confession to the Secretary. :.
AL yesterday the secretary continued his
Investigation into the affair, and is said to
have found. 10 Gar, all the statements of Bal
ley's letter OF confession correct 10 the letter.
He obeyed the Secretaries summons, and aid
ed him on Saturday night and again ycster
day afternoon in his labors ofscarch.