The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-10
From the NerO York Times
THE PRIVATEER ST0RY-IMPOSTURE AND
CRIME EypOSED

|
| An apparently halfcracked individual, calling
himself Capt. Wyatt, has been hoaxing the public
with an absurd narrative of the organizing of
twenty vessels prvateering fleet this coast.
The United States District Attorney has also
had the "facts" mysteriously laid before him.
10 "hqs 1g 1d his aPdsd
belonging to Capt Israel Merritt. He represented
that he wished to intercepta vessel from Boston at
Sandy Hook, of which he captain, and agreed
to pay Sl00 for the vessel for three days. The
brother of Capt. Merritt states that Wyatt brouS
on board three women and little girl, an old
man and some half dozen boys. The only baggage
they had was an old trunk, chicken coop with a
few hens, and some household rubbish of no posi-
Bile value, and no provisions. They went down the
bay with the party and remained at anchor in the
Horseshoe for two days and nights. the wind being
to the eastward. During this time W yatt tried to in
duce Captain Merritt to go with them to Cape May,
| but lie refused to do so.
Az vessel appeared and affairs began to look
verysuspicious, Capt Merritt, who is brother of
the owner. brought the party to the city, and land
ed ,ortion of them, by request, at Hoboken. As
his hggage was worthless, Capt. Merritt reported
the Ease to his brother, who is the agent of the
| Boad of Underwriters, and be went down and
dron the remainder of the crowd ashore, losing his
chaIer and the provisions they bad consumed for
| thre or four days.
Fom some revelations obtained through the wo-
man Wyatt is supposed to have relative living in
Noble, and being "dead broke" it is supposed, he
had ddopted THIS method OF getting thlther intend
ing steal the schooner, after, perhaps, commit
tinga crime similar to that of the pirate Hicks to
obtsn full possession of her.
tits supposed by the captain that the possession
OF te young woman, who was daughter of the
old ,lks, also of the party, one of the motives
implling Wyatt to this strange adventure. They
are elieved to have come from Yonkers. Perhaps
somoody in that village may throw some light on
the abect.
TIL only way to account for the story of Wyatt
is u,on the theory that he wishes to cover up the
villiny of deep-aid scheme, or to put in circula
toni ridiculous story for mere mischief He had
bettr give Capt. Merritt wide berth.
TpsE SNAKEs.-The Washington correspondent
OF te New York Herald says:
che Dead Letter Department of the Genera
Pos Office was the scene of great CONSERVATION
yessrday afternoon. Upon emptying some bag,
Justlrrived from Florida, two copper-head snakes
SUDDENLY emerged from their contents to the in
tens fright of the officials. The reptiles wer'
killd alter an exciting scramble. Comment or
Enthusiastically piece of vengeance is unnecessary.
uon inquiry we learn that no such ''snaix' bavt
reahed the Dead Letter Office; but there is an i'm
preiion ahoat that on Friday last, in opening som
, bag containing dead letter matter, at the City
Pos Office, couple of snakes were found ant
kild, as stated. AS, however, the City Pos: Ofic
ofhials poh poh the whole story there is probably
noting in it, Washington Star.
friday next, the 18th Of April, will be the ami
yetsary OF Henry Claws birthday,