Yankee clothing.
--Some ten days since the C. S. officers having charge of the
Federal goods received by our Government for distribution among the
Yankee prisoners, were informed that several boxes, containing overcoats, shirts, etc., had been broken into and robbed of their contents.
By whom, or at what particular time the robbery had been committed, the officers could not tell; but, with the hope of recovering the goods,
Maj. Turner gave such information as he had to
Capt. McCubbin, of the detective force, and that officer started his aids in search of the goods.
On Friday morning last a member of the
City Battalion, then doing street duty saw
John B. Henderson at the
First Market wearing a blue overcoat, and proposed to purchase it.
Henderson directed
Hollins to call at
Mrs. Riley's, where be bought two overcoats--one for himself and one for his brother.
Capt. McCubbin, on seeing these coats, took charge of them, and that night sent two men to
Henderson to purchase all he had. The men found
Henderson, who carried them to
Frank Gilday's, on Main street, near 21st, where they were shown seventeen overcoats, believed to be
Yankee, and agreed to buy. Just then
officers McCubbin and
Moore made their appearance, took charge of the coats, and lodged
Henderson and
Gilday in Castle Thunder.
The next morning Gilday's house was searched, and several pairs of drawers, socks, and shirts were found.
From this point other houses were visited, and a large number of shoes, socks, pants, etc, were seized.
As the parties found in the possession of these goods were civilians, they were turned over to the
Mayor for trial, and yesterday morning several hours were spent in their investigation.
The first point necessary for the
Commonwealth to establish was, that a larceny had been committed.
Neither
Capt. McCubbin nor his men had any legal knowledge of the theft.
They only knew what
Maj. Turner had said.
Maj. Turner, when called, could only state what had been reported to him by
Capt. Self; and when
Capt, Self was sworn he had no knowledge of the theft, or the character of the goods said to have been stolen, save from the report made by
Capt. Monroe, his assistant.
Owing to the absence of
Capt. Monroe, the investigation, was adjourned until this morning.
