The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-22

TO some OF the parties above mentioned.
The "Secret Organization to Assassinase the
Pssidemt and Ouerthreso the Government. p
Some two weeks since considerable sensa
tion was created in this city by the report
that two foreigners, had been arrested
on the charge of leading an organization
which existed In this city, whose object II was
to assassinate President Davis, iberate the
Yankee prisoners, and Oyerturn the Govern
ment generally. The two men arrested and
committed to Castle Thunder were named
Moses Friedland and A. Heintse At the
time of their arrest it was promised that in
few days developments would be made
which would "startle the natives" and
which would lead to the arrest of hundreds
OF our citizens who were members of the
incendiary association. In due time the par
ties were taken before Gen. Winder; but that
functionary, from some cause or other, con
cluded that 1t was not In his power to dis
pose of the matter, and therefore turned the
prisoners over to His Honor, the Mayor of
this city. It having been made known
through the public prints of this city that
Heintse and Friedland would undergo an
examination on Saturday last, the Mayors
Court was crowded with spectators, all Gu.
riOus to know how far this diabOlical plot
had progressed. In short while, however,
after the opening of the case, the large as
semblage present, finding that mountain
had been made Of a mole hill, began to dis
perse, and by the time the Mayor bad
concluded his investigation very few but
those who had business there remained ip
the Courtroom. The following is the evi.
dence which was given
John L. Weatherford, G. 8. Detective,
sworn.-Haying reason to suspect that Ger
tain parties in this city were running persons
through to the Yankee lines, was directed
by Capt. McCubbin, Chief Of Police, to fer
ret the matter out. Heintse's house was
pointed out as the most probable place at
which l could obtain all the information
desired. Accordingly I went there, and
found Heintse behind the counter and two
soldiers on the other side, one Of whom was
too drunk to say or know anything, while
the other, though far from being sober, was
sufficiently rational to stand up and know
what he was talking about. While waiting
for Friedland, (who had been designated as
the man to make my inquiries Of,) over
heard Heintse say to the soldiers that pro-
tect was on foot among the old women Of
Richmond to mob President Davis but that
they were not the proper personSto do it.
In his (Heintse's) opinion, the soldiers should
rebellion would soon blow up. Heintse also
remarked that he had understood the prison.
ers here had by some means obtained pos
session of arms, and In o short time they
would break out, when there would be great
confusion. While this conversation was
going on Friedlard came into the store and
assented by mods of his headand occasionally
saying "Yes" to what was said. he In
quired Of Friedland q: to the person who
could pilot him to tho North, and %
certained that it was nr. VIM. Maclure. He
then LETT and informed Gen. Winder about
what he had heard, when he (Winder) Or
dered the arrest Of the two prisoner.
Messrs. Reese and Mitchell, Confederate
Detectives, knew nothing OF the affair, ex-
cept that they had, under General Winder's
orders, arrested Heintse and Fdedland.
lnadditton to this evidence several printed
ere used BY the 0dd Feliows, Masons, ond
all other secret societies, which were found
at the house of the accused, were gobbled
up and brought into Court. It turned out,
however, that Heintae b a prominent men,
Der OF an order known ~ the "Red Men,"
and the words "meet at your grove" which
had probably been construed e. announcing
. meeting to be hell In some secluded pfi-
vate woods, simply meant the assembling at
their lodge room.
Messrs. Daniel Ratcliffe and Jos. n Car
rington, counsel for the prisoners called up .
number of witnesses for their clients, Ill Of
whom testified that there were NO more loyal
persons In the city. They had known them
for years, and hesitated not to cay that for
gentlemanly demeanor end patriotic feelings
their character was unimpeachAble
9s sa's soneqsSn q tss aS.. testimony e mo- % h
to discover the slightest ground upon which
he could remand the parfies. There had bean
no distinct charge made before him againes
them, and - Gen. Wiades, who had Ar4t had
the matter under consideration, had thQuaht
proper TO turn thea over % him, (the Nsy-