Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-08-17
Arrest OF Contrsband Goods Dealers and
Blockade Runners Seizure OF q Large
Mail for the South, sc.

Mail for the South, sc.
Some weeks ego, (the facts being withheld
from publication until the present time Po-
liceman james d. Kidd, OF the Central station,
| observed wagon, with two horses attached In
tandem style, moving down Centre street, near
Calvert street, being driven by Abram j. Bid
dison, the wagon apparently heavily laden.
| He went up TO Blddison and asked him what
his wagon contained, and he replied "guano."
| The suspicious OF the officer was at once
| aroused, as IL was evident to him that the load
was not guspo. He then interrogated him as TO
where he got 1t, where he Was going, and for
whom he was hauling 1t, aud Biddlson an
swcred that be had got II on an alley near Lex
iDgton street; that he was taking 1t sight miles
out on the Hartford road, for q man whose
name he did not know, but who had employed
him as he came into town. The wagon then
passed on and the officer followed II To the
wagon-y yard of the Franklin hotel, corner of
Hillen and High streets, where Biddison put
| up his horses and fed them. Whilo he was
| doing this Officer Kidd stealthly examined the
| wagon, and found 1t contained four boxes,
barrol, three half barrels, and q number of
packages, covered with bagging or canvass,
bat no gusno whatever. He again questioned
Bidd,son, who suid that he did not know what
the wagon contained unless 1t was guano.
The officer then called Sergeant Pryor TO his
assistance, when the two proceeded to open
| one box, which was found to contain brass
| screws, such as are used In the manufacture of
| small arms, and one bag which contained
large number OF letters directed to various per-
sons in the South. The officers at once ar
rested Blddlson and seized his horse and wagon
/ and took them TO the central police station.
The matter was then reported by Marshals
| Carmichael and Manly to Col. Woolley, pro-
| yost marshal, who at once sent to the station
house and furnished transportation for q de-
taehment OF policemen, whom he dispatched
| with orders to search at once certain houses In
| this city. Tho result of this movement was the
discovery that the goods had been shipped
from the store Of Richard Thompson, No l40
Fsyette street, near Howard, who was imme-
dately arrested and confined at the police sta
ton. party Of policemen were sent to the
| country In carriage, with orders TO search
certain houses, eight miles out on the Belalr
| road, and another was ordered TO arrest one
VIM. Reside, a clerk In Thempson's store.
Two days afterward Eeeside was arrested,
and was Identified by Blddison as one OF the
party who helped to load the goods, in an alley
IN the rear OF Thompson's store. Upon an
examination Of the wagon load-everything
having been taken charge Of by Col.Woolley-
IL was found that the three half barrels con-
| tained coat and vest army buttons, OF the Vir.
glnia, United States, and Alabama stamp; the
contents OF the barrel were bundles Of clothing,
shoes, hats, needles, silk thread, quinine,
laudanum, and other articles In small pack
ages, urecteu 10 various persons In Richmond,
aud other points in the South. One of the
boxes contained brass screws, of all sizes, used
| in the manufacture Of muskets, &C.; another
| boI-a small one-various articles of jewelry
valued at about 81 900. Upon opening the
mall bag II was found to contain four or five
| hundred letters, nearly all of which were writ
ten by parties living In Baltimore. Quit, a
number OF them were directed to prominent
Geae. ais In the rebel army, many were for line
Utlicers, and few for naval oflicers-some of
tn, m containing amusing descriptions OF
scenes in the city Of Baltimore during the late
raid by the rebels.
A goodly number of the letters are said 10
have been written by ladies some Of whom
speak of having set up all night during the
raid, at the front windows OF their residences,
expectingto to hear the pattering of the hoofs OF
the horses Of the rebel cavalrymen In the
streets Of Baltimore. Others speak of having
laid In large stock of provisions, certainly
| expecting TO entertain their Southern friends;
while some speak of the Union troops being
routed at Monocacy, running away terribly
frightened, and also refer TO the arrest OF
prominent secesslonists In the city. 1t Is also
stated that during the raid all the banks, quar-
| termasters, commissaries, ETC., removed their
money and valuables aboard vessels IN the
harbOr, preparatory to leaving II the rebels
should attempt to enter Baltimore. From GER
tain papers found in this mail, 1t appears that
this is the Afth load of goods which have been
sent South from Mr.. Thompson's establish.
ment. All the parties are now confined in the
military prison awaiting trial.-Bdh. Stm.