The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-03

issue of March /, 1862, contained a report
which did great injustice to many of Alex
andrias best citizens. The article was as
follows:
THE Government detective, L. c. Ba-
ker. and his assistant. 6. W. Morton, have
bagged nest of traitors and conspirators.
whose dark and reasonable operations
have been on ever since the breaking out
Of the rebellion, and yet whose plans were
SO secretly and adroitly pursued that it
is only now that the evidence is secured
and the Infamous wretches captured.
THE conspiracy has been organized I'M
der the pretended forms of a relief as
ISOLATION, and comprised all the treason
able objects of giving aid and comfort to
the enemy. A fund was obtained from
rebel sympathizers for the purpose of sup
porting the families of soldiers in the
service Of the Confederate States on the
identical plan of the noble Relief Com
mission. of Philadelphia. established
with such different motives. 1t
also has been engaged in the
manufacture of rebel uniforms, which
were distributed among subordinate fe-
male associations.
The purposes of the plotters were also
to furnish arms and munitions of war. a
considerable quantity has been discovered
packed for shipment, consisting of KNAPP
sacks and weapons. Letters were found
acknowledging the receipt. through the
agency of the association, of rifles and pis-
tolls in Richmond
The association was organized und n
ex-Mayor Price Hiram o. Cleightoa,
chairman; James E. McGraw. William w.
McGraw, and William W. Harper, While
Henry Peel acted as secretary. 1t after
ward permanently organized by electiEg
William n. Brown as treasurer and Z. S.
Hough, secretary. The following are the
subcommittee:
First ward-John W. Burk, John A.
Fields. George II. Markell; Second ward,
II. C. Fields, William Cogan. John l..
Smith; Third ward. W. T. Boothe, W.
Avery. J. A. McGraw; Fourth ward Z.
Snowden, jr.. Andrew J. Fleming, william
w. Harper. James y. Chamberlain. Pur-
chasing committees-W. A. Maury Stephen
Green. w. II. Mcknight. Louis Kinzer.
Thomas Gloves. Committee TO solicit aid
of ladies'. Entwisle, jr., Robert Ashby,
and George T. Baldwin.
1.-The ringleader appeared to be Henry
Daingerfeld. who had brother. major,
in the rebel army, and who is one of The
wealthiest men in the State CT Virginia.
he resides in magnificent mansion in
Alexandria. and is estimated TO be worth
over million OF dollars. Among his pa
pers were discovered invoices for over
s500.o00 worth of tobacco. shipped from
Baltimore to Europe, and which was owred
by parties in the rebel States. a prcmi-
nent actor was Charles Marbury cashier OF
The Farmers Bank of Alexandria All these
parties were arrested last night, and wi
no doubt be sent Immediately to Fort War
rem.
Mr.. Baker. the detective. has been for
al IA. II
til now, baffled the skill of all the detec-
tires. Among the papers secured are
many letters duplicating parties hereto
fore unsupported. The whole number of
arrests is twentyseven and the parties
are from among the F. F. VS..
Besides the large number of letters pa
pers and contraband articles captured. is
one which possesses great interest 1t is a
new company flag. belonging to the Els
worth Zouaves, and which was lost in the
melee which occurred on that fatal morn
ing when gallant Ellsworth fell by the
hands of an assassin. 1t was found in ;na
house of Mrs. Mcknight, strong sec1s-
sionist, secreted between MATTRESSES. where
it had remained since the day it was
stolen.
THE papers seized are highly interest
ing. but for reasons at once apparent can
net now be published. They comprised
written speeches. proclamations, ss,bscrip-
lions. lists, maps. plans, passes, and al
the minute machinery to be used for the
nefarious purposes that have been so OPP
portunely disclosed. The greatest con-
sternation prevails among certain classes
in Alexandria. and those with guilty con-
sciences are quaking in their shoes"
These charges were without foundation.
The association had no other purpose than
that which appeared on its face. to re-
lieve cases of destitution among the fami-
lies of those who had gone South. The
gentlemen named were carried to the Old
Capitol prison and remained there some
time, but no evidence appeared against
them, and they were discharged.
Mr.. David Turner came to Alexandria
soon after this period and the "Chroni-
Gle" having ceased to exist he issued the
State Journal from the Sentinel Of
flee, and becoming the printer for the mil
itary authorities he did lucrative bust |
ness.
The Alexandria Gazette" having OBJ |
tanned new type and presses. renewed its !
publication at an office on King Street, /
and no further Interference with its pub |
LEGATION by mob or military authority was |
made.
Very soon came. however. the turn of
MT. turner. lie mad obtained patronage !
Tor his state Journal" carried on luc-
-ative Job printing office which did all the
work required by the STATS of the various
military departments around. ard stool |
cremost among the Union men, but one
lay the city was surprised to see him car
led along the streets, a military prisoner
n the custody of two soldiers. 1t appear
ID that he had as a stroke of newspaper
enterprise obtained and published in the !
State Journal list and description Of
Ill the forts around Alexandria, their
ornaments. officers, and men-a full res.
er. He had done this as a bit OF newspa-
Der work, thoug3tless of its military eff |,
ect, and his amazement was indescriba-
Die when he found himself taken from the
bosom of his family and imprisoned on
he charge of furnishing information TO
he enemy" Indeed. as a matter of fact,
copies of the paper had been sent by the
Confederate secret service at Alexandria |
INTO the Confederate lines as soon as the |
value of the information was perceived, |
which, in fact was not for two days Mr.. |
Turner. after some trouble. was released |
by order of President Lincoln. who knew
his faithfulness, and soon afterward made |
him United States Collector Of the port Of |
Alexandria.