, 1864-01-12
THE BONDS FOB BLOCKADE
!. RUNNERS.
FURTHER Developments AT The
MY, CUSTOM HOUSE.
Arrest Of Albert NJ Palmer, Private
Secretary to the Collector

It will be remembered Lnht onAteu 9t1tSo
Marshal Murray made the arrest eeee eeorao aa5s y
having shipped goods to Nassau, the ulumate
destination Of which was for the sonth.
BENJAMIN was at once sent to Fort Lafayette,
md NIL the papers found In his office, MS
office safe, account books letter BOOKS tTTS,
snfc was found securely locked, and there
vas very little in the papers and nooks
found that could be considered evidences Of
the prisoners guilt. Nothing was known Of
the contents of the safe, but Marahal Murray
fust Hst what VIA a It did contain, and On Tuesday
afternoon succeeded in opening It,
The check-b book Of Benjamin was found III.
side, with marginal references showing that
q number of checks had been drawn IN favor
Of A. N. Palmer, Collector Barney's Priyate
ench. There were some other papers found
tending TO show considerable Intimacy be.
tween the parties, and one Of these In Palm
er's hundw litipg, on the official paper Of the
Customlouee. read; ;.r;, . m ,,,n.,,.t,,,
1wisA to pfe 1t at o5ee: 9eals, PALMER.
The other evidences against the accused
hive not yet been given out, but Is soon Us
they were discovered Marshal MuF"
tafion together in regard to the matter, and
on the following morning !yesteEday) called
uron Maj. Gen. Dix and laid the whole case
before that official, who coincided with them
in decming 1t proper that Palmer. should be
taken into custody. TIE necessary orders r.
Fort Lafayctte, and directions for Lis arrest
were piyen to Detective Smith and Deputy
Dwire, who visited the Custom-house, but
failed to lind the object Of their search
| They then eecrcted themselves near the Col
| lcctor's room, and confidential clerk Of the
hall 1ff EaBt tn 3nnE{E tn0uif1EH
| for him. The colorcd porter in'attendancc
stated that he was engaged with MIR. Barney
E1ud could not be seen. The clerk requested
that he be asked to step to the door mo-
| mcut. Upon being called, Mr. Palmer came
TO the door When the officers stepped forward
| and took him into custody in the Collector 8
room md in presence Of the Collector. The
| accused trenbled violently and became rery
much agitated at the suddenness with which
he had been taken. He requested the officer
| to explain matters but was informed they
knew nothing Of the case beyond the fact
that they had been ordered to take him in
charge. He was then placed in carriage and
driven Immediately to Fort Lafayette, at
which place he arrived about o'clock In the
It is Stated that Benjamin was in habit o1
shipping goods to Nassau in some other
na1ne; fEat be would then enter Ills OWE
name In the bond as one Of the sureties that
the goods should not 60 into the Confcder'
acy. It Is alleged that Palmer procured the
second bondsman. Qhe law requiring two.
clerk in the Office, as the second surety
l. Another statement is that Smallcy was IN
duccd to 80 upon the bond ont Of Friendship
for Benjamin. In either case, Palmer s posi-
tion was such as to allow any name to PAS
that had once been approved BY MN, ana u
near and to pass for consideration. -sTht
iull nature Of the evidence against him, how
ever, is not fully known, and 1t cannot 81
said with precision how much or how little
: he is implicated; but there arc importan
the possession Of the Marshal which have .
} bearing upon the entire transactions OF Pal
! mer and others. ....-.
". "A. Smalley, whose arrest in connection
with Benjamin has been stated, expresses nj
J tion Of the facts 90 faT as he is concerned
the bond signing, and ayows his entire limo
; ceucc Of any knowledge that he was signin!
bonds for blockade-runners; be became &C
9 quaInted with Benjamin some time since at
4 dinner; the acquaintance ripened into friend
: ship, and on thfs he signed the bonds. Fo
:. every bond be signed, some eight Or more
= ho subsequently received In m enve
II ope check from Benjamin for 800, neithe
b more or lees; he made no secret Of th
c fact, but mentioned it to a number OF friend
> us business transaction The checks We1
drawn to his order, were signed by Benjamin
and wero presented By him, (smallcy.) Tue
are yet In bank, unless taken possession
T by. Marshal Murray, and these facts,
claims, are sufficient proof that he was NJ
aware OF guilt, and did not intend eommi
he s intend a ID lie e et6er, ihs would have taEe
cash, and not allowed the check cyidenc
r against him. The first bonds lie signed we
:. cancelled on the af3dayits Of reputable part!
r in Nassau, that the goods he gave them +
+ were landed at Nassau, and were retail.
- there.
= CfIlcer Jarvis, OF the Marshnls Office, q
r. rested Mr. Smalley on the 9lst Deccmbe
:, =, At that time he was md to dato he has be-
- quite III Mt. his house, but on Monday "
Il able to go out and be sworn in rs Clerk
y tie Fourth District Court, to which posfti'
~ ~ be Inns been recently appointed. He is atl
l. of couree, under arrest,