Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-01-04
BoLp NATIONAL RoBBERY.

Government officials at Washington, aud the
whole country, have been startled at the re-
recent disclosure of Goddard Bailey, ore Of
thc Chief Clerks in the Interior Department,
of the abstraction from the safe of the De-
pariment, Of nearly million Of dollars, ID
bonds and coupons, convertible into money at
any time. Il is said that men in high places
Of the Government are strongly implicated in
the robbery. The Secretary Of War is strongly
suspected. '.lndepondont," of the North A
mericaD, writes the following in regard to the
matter:
TIE robbery--for defalcation is not the
word applicable 10 the occason-of the safe
of the Interior Department OF nearly nine
hundred Thousand dollars 10 State bonds,
transferable By delivery, has naturally pro,
voked much remark here. Goddard Bailey,
tae person who admits having abstracted the
securities, aud who voluntarily gave tie infor-
nation to the Secretary of the Iuterior. is a
native of Charleston, and the son OF former
Attorney General Of Soaih Carolina, although
his appointment is nomiually ascribea TO Ala
bama iD The blue book. lie acted rs the pri-
NatG ScVAGkdkJ u sale 40ttDpstn. Una n4Q
charge of the trust funds of the Indians.
amounting to some fhree millions in all Va
rious rumors are a1oat as to the purposes to
which these fands were applied, Sut nothing
short Of thoroag Investigation will probably
disclose the whole facts connected with that
astounding transaction. Il Is very certain
that confederates must have been connected
With the operation, ia order 10 dispose Of so
large an amount Of bonds, aud intinations
have becn thrown out duplicating parties Of
moro consequence than the immediats actor IN
this affair.
Mr. Thompson, as Secretary Of the Interior,
Is the trustee Of the ladian funds, and their
legal custodian. 1t is utterly acomprehensi-
bic how he could have permitted such an enor-
NOUS amount OF securities, which are convert
iole like bank uotes, to have remalaed ia the
keeping OF any subordinate, aud exposed to
such casualties as attach to a common iron
safe, aud tue temptations likely to beset an ir-
responsible clerk, who gives no bonds for the
discharge Of his duty, and could give none adj
eqaate TO such a trust. thorough examna-
tloa may furnish developments that viii sur
prise ami shock tbc country
Stafiling as this event is, the public here
have been prepared for disclosures quite as se-
rions. The worst is by 40 meaus told: and
when some OF the departments are overhauled
by their successors III otiec, revelations will
be made far more astonishing than any which
have yet leaked cut. The investigations of
tie last Congress proved, beyoud the possibil-
Ity of doubt, that system Of cutcaDiioa Was
established here without parallel in the history
Of the Government. Contracts, iabs aud ia
vers have been parceile3 cut Though notorious
agents and infamous employees, which have
cost tbe country millions of collars. Large
sums thus procured were uso4 . operate in
Congress, and to sabsidize the press, Willie the
remainder went nto the poekeis af officials aud
instTumeuts who may ce seea prawling around
the departments, with free catrY to certain
Secretaries, but who by no possibility could
OBTAIN admission TO any geutsemsn's circle, OF
table These facts are the cemtuon iaIk Of
town, snd have been 80 for three years past
They are just Us mu1h discussed ia Democrat
ic quarters as by The Opposition. aud hideoas
and defiant disregard OF opinion exhibited by
those who hsye invited these suspicious. have
been frequently brought to the nvtiee Of TIE
President, but without effect
Vim. Ii. Russell, of the Gru. of Russell,
Majors & Co., bas bean arrested, and is pow in
the Washington jail, having failed to give the
required bonds Ct 5000 600 Baly is retain
ed US wituess. TIE Russell firm are strong.
Iy in the robbsry. The Interior Department
have. taken measures for the recovery Of the
distracted bonds.