The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-31

nsssoo.-Attempt 40 Control the
Newspapers - Newspaper Mono
Poiy.-EspIonngc over tho Army,
Eto.
Never was a grosaor imposition prAo-
tised pbonl the public than the pretonce
chat the Police originated, organized,
conducted aud controlled by Truesdail
was either necessary or useful in delect-
ing illegal practices, arresting smugglers,
or preventing correspondence with the
enemy. The organization, there is strong
reason 70 believe, was designed By its
sathOr 10 subserve private ends, while its
reputation for promoting the welfare Of
The army and iheg good Of the nation was
manufactured by cunnihgly wrought
tissue Of craft and deceit. One signal
instance Of the mode in which Tfuesdail
arrested smugglers We viii present as an
illustration of its whole procedure. The
"Annsls Of tho Army Of the Gambler
land" written by a member Of the Police,
has given partial and highly colored
version Of the story, which We shall sivp
asreported by Stevens himsolftho police
who was the chief actor in tho Disgrace
ful affair ,i9iioesa+ lti"
Stevens caDetoi Nashville as q deser-
Ger from the rebel army, and was coon
employed BY Tru6sdail a. a detective to
dog the steps Of those whom he wished
TO viotimize, and plumber Sometimes bis
victimsiwcrs ollicore IN the Federal army,
sometimes crippled soldiers who were
trying 10 earn a few dollars honestly by
selling n6wspapers. In the present in
stanco the victim was Mrs. Yeargin
whose husband, 81 the time we write of
was a sick Confederate prisoner, lying
in the hospitAIat MurfroOsboro. Trues-
dali became acquainted with these facts,
and immediately seized tho opportunity
10 disply his astonishing sagacisy and
experiences in arresting contrabAnd
traders lie Immediately sent Stew
ems to- Mrs. Yeargin, who felt all
a wife's natural anxiety 10 hear
some ddings of her sick husband. The
detective entered her house as friend,
told her that he had served in the same
armylwith her husband, and that II she
wished TO visit him in his aiflictioD,
where her attention and minis trations
would be 50 Acceptable, he would get her
a pass TO 90 to Murfreesbofo. Mrs.
YeArgin told the detective, TO whom sho
felt profoundly. grateful, that she did
not wish to violate any military order,
and feared tho request for pass would
be imprOper.aa The detective told her
that there would be no difficulty, that be
would get her pass and that she had
better carry along some clothing for her
husband, As he was no doubt destitute.
Mrs. YeArgin was afraid that this might
subject her to arrest. Stevens said not
at all, he could easily arrange all that.
lie then said he would like to sell her 3
coat which he had worn in the rebel SER
vice. She purchased il, as it was offered
low. lie then told her that she had q
family to support by her own oxertions,
and that as she would be in the South
she had better take with her some medi-
cines to sell She objected to this, bat
Stevens urged that il was right, that
there would be no risk in il at all, and
that he would make il all hight. lie
finally prevailed upon heF to to take the
drugs, which he bought himself. BE
next bought her carriage and pair OF
mules, buts she preferring team, which
no had OF his own, he snapped with her,
eTaoting a large amount of boot. Finally,
shO started taking coat, gloves, and
underclOthes for her husband, aud the
medicines which Trneadsil's man had
purchased Tor her,
Stevens accompanied her to the piclgetH
on tho outskirts of the city, where accor-
ding 70 previOus arrangements they were
both arrested. Truesdail thon took from
her three hundred dollars in South.
ern money, siT hundred dollars ii
gold, her mules, carriages clothing
and medicines, and after stripping
her of everything she had, sent her be.
yOnd the picket lines and gave orders
that she should not be suffered to rcturI
10 the city. This oonsummate piece o
meAnness and rsscality reached Oh,
ears Of 0sv, johnson, Truesdail beoam,
alarmed, let her come back, and refunded
ths three hundred dollars of Southern
many which be had robbed her Of, h,
kspl he sig hlpd,ed dollars IN gold Ill
wanted the gold TO buy cotton vail
doubtless. Why did he refund portion
of the money, If he had the right to TAX,
any Of il land by what authority die
he retain the gold Certainly msane
and moro dishohOrAble piece of swind
ling, cowArdice and extOriiOn egor wa
perpetrated by the vilest tool Of JET
Davis. Nothing more rnmanly can b.
conceived Of, A detective, under IN
mark Of friendship and sympath,
goes to the house Of woman, wholly
unsolicited, and urges her, by her aflec
tion for n gick huahnnd I,yino Il; IA,