, 1862-03-24
WHOLESARE ROBBERY or TIE
GOVERNMENT.

From New iork Tribune, 20th.1
Scarcely had the war between the United
States Government and the rebellious States
been inauguEated, when system OF fimpudent
wholesale plundering was started and estao-
lshed in the vicinity Of this city, BY which the
country Wa9 deprived Of arms, equipments,
and provisions to an enormous amount.
From the time that- the first military en-
campments were settled on Staten Island, and
ut other points in the neighborhood of New
York, large cases Of arms and equipments, aud
barrels Of beef, pork and hams have at various
times been seized By the United States Mar
shal, under circumstances yelled in mystery,
but leading to the suspicion that an illicit bu-
siness on very large scale, in Government
stores and equipments, Was being conducted
somewhere, by some person or persons.
The frequency Of such seizures, and the ex-
traordinarY absence Of claimants led Marshal
Murray to institute an investigation as to how
the goods belonging to the United States Gov
eminent came to be found at various places
nncared for BY any responsible person, and De-
terattcnd to that business. After consider
able lapse Of time they succeeded In tracing to
the abode Of John G. Giles quantity Of ar
tic1es belonging to the army Of the United
States, and On Tuesday they went down to
Staten Island to his place for the purpose Of
arresting him Before entering the place they
found some cases In front Of bis door contain
goods such as have been named.
Itappears that Giles has lived on Staten Is
land at convenient distance from the ferry
and from the various encampments which
have been there since the commencement Of
the war till the present time; and that he has
carried on a wholesale business with thieves
who managed to enlist in the Regiments for
the sake Of plunder, and with drunken sold
fers who were directed to his place for the pur-
poses of trade with view to provide them
selves with the means of purchasing rum.
He was in the habit Of purchasing from
those theieyes swords, Enfield rifles, pistols
and clothing, at fabufously low prices. Over
coats which must have cost the Government
ct least u, have been purchased by him 70.
81 each; and The camp thieves have received
as much Us $50 at one time for lots o!
States. At the tins when many: d
our eoldfers were going from the city to the
seat Of war destitute Of arms, because Of their
scarcity, secondhand shops all oyer.the city
which lad been stolen from the yarious
camps, but no person could tell how 1t was
| that Enfield rifles were So numerous under
such circumstances. It is known that Giles
has taken soldier, stripped him Of his uni:
form,. given him a comparatively Mofthless
which to buy 1iqnor.-
Giles has been ostensibly tobacco peddlcr,
bat according to testimony now in the fan1t
| Of the Government, he has been using thai
| profession as cover for bis nefariOus a11l
fraitorons traffic. He has, 1t appears, beef
/ IN the habit Of coming up to the City, ha1tas
| on his wagon some tobacco, but large guam
tity Of the plnnder referred to, and instead: o
t pedd1ing lis weed, has driven lively trade
with second hand dealers. It is estimated
| that since the commencement Of the Wal, thl
man must have amassed heavy fortune. -Thi
| goods seized by the United States Marshal
and eayed to the Government, are said to b.
| worth at least $4,000 T..