New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-11
CITY I7.EHG

SPEcULAIog IN PATENTS ARREsTED.-1t would
seem as II the embargo Southern shipments Of
traband Of war had become 80 stringent, that man
must be desperate indeed 10 rsk such speculation. But
there are still 20 be found those who willing 20
hazard their necks for the chance Of great profits. II
there had been any doubt previousy this point it
was dispelled by arrest which made yesterday,
under the following circumstances: The United States
Marshal receiving Trustworthy information that one
John X. Miner Of Virginia tsaj Negotiating in This
city for tho purchase of machinery for Iih6g cahnoh
for shipnent to he Confederate States, be made the
necessary ista..is..soft ard satisfied himself Of the
truth of the charge Mllnef yS G9ug5 to have regis-
tered bimsef on the books Of the Fifth Avenue HOTEL
az from Virginia. bat becoming alarmed at the seeming
probabilities Of personal difficulty, changed his quarters
TO more obscure hotel aud reported himself as from
Pennsylvania. His movements were watched, and IL
wai ascerained that he had made his arrangements TO
meet the patentee Of the hhng'machine at o'clock
yesterday and pay the price agreed upon for certain
territorial share OF the patent and the right of manufae
ture He had aso arranged 10 forward thirty forty
skilled mechanics by the morning Pistsburg train from
Jersey City, who were TO diyerge AZ Harrisburg 10
Hagerstown Maryland, aud thence end their way into
Virginia either a. above, below Martinsburg whence
their passage 10 Richmond would be easily arranged.
The paieniee had been admitted as partner in the
speculation and he had recently returned from Rich
mond with Miner after having made large and very
profitable contract with the JEFF. Davis Government,
70 supply new rifed cannon, and rife such old ord
nance as might be placed in their hands. IL was
certsined also that il was part Of the plan to buy and
load weasel, clearing her for Of the Brsh colo
nes where her nationality would DO changed and she
would make her way as best she might 10 North
Carolina port To carry out these daring speculatons
Millner had something $4,000 on de-
post in one Of our banks, and everything had been
apparently planned 20 avoid the possibility Of detection
But these specuators In patent machinery had counted
without their host and the result proved that thew
were no match for the shrewdnees and industry Of Mr.
Murray and his detectives. Just as the critical moment
approached the detective who had been watching Mill
ners operations and working up the ease"--or. in
other words, accommodating the requisite evidence
against him-tapped bin on the shoulder as he was
rushing down Wall street 10 keep bis appointment
On being told that he prisoner the agitation Of
this ply seally fra chivarc son of Virginia was ex
treme In vain he swore great round oaths and made
protestations without number. He was politely re-
quested 10 march on 10 Chambers street, and
on arriving there, confronted with the Marshal.
At the Marshals Office he said that he was a neutral
favoring neither side; that he was from Psylyania
County, in the Eastern part Of Virginia (which
would seem to indicate that his geographical studies
had been neglected) that he hoped we might have
this awful quarrel settled in way and that he
had grevously dispeased lis uncle, who a Seces-
sion candidate for the Convention, by voting against
him. He chewed plug tobacco, walked neryously up
and down the room, seated himself and rose at least
dozen times in minute and argued the question
with each and every Deputy-Marshal in turn. Mr..
Murray let him talk on, and kept him amused until
tusty agent had filed libel against that $50 600 that
was lying in bank, and another had collected some
odds and ends Of testimony, and then handed Mr.. Mill
ner over to couple Of officers for safe conveyance TO
Fort Lafayette. Thus came to an untimey end bold
at,emp, to send eannon-raing machinery to Messr. j.
Davis and G. 4. Besuregard.