A North Carolina "Buffato" attempting to reclaim horses taken from the Yankees.
--On Tuesday morning last, a white man claiming to be a magistrate from
North Carolina, entered the office of the
Chief of Police, on Broad street, and asked for instructions as the best way to secure the arrest of certain parties, who were attempting to bring from that State horses without the proper authority to do so. After some little conversation between one of the clerks and himself, he walked to the door of the office, but on looking up the street, turned back and remarked that he thought he saw one of the parties engaged in this illegal traffic outside.
The individual pointed out was thereupon arrested and carried before
Major Griswold for examination; but, instead of the investigation resulting in his conviction of any fraudulent conduct in the matter, it was proven that the informant himself was one of that class of traitors known as "buffaloes,"--i. e., domestic traitors,--and that the horses which he wished to reclaim were some which had been captured from the
Yankees.
This pretended magistrate had obtained from persons no better than himself a power of attorney to come on to
Richmond and claim the horses as some which had been stolen from loyal citizens in his neighborhood.
The case being rather novel and embarrassing in its features,
Maj. Griswold knew of nothing better to do with him than to turn him over to
Capt. Coke, for enrollment in the
Confederate service; but it appearing that he was over the conscript age, that officer was necessarily compelled to discharge him, for the want of some distinct charge upon which to retain him in custody, and he was therefore permitted to leave the city without any punishment being inflicted upon him.
