Charged with stealing Yankee clothing
--A negro man, named Peter, was arrested on Friday, by one of Gen. Winder's detectives, for having in his possession fifteen overcoats, three pea jackets, and two pairs of pants, all of Yankee texture. The detective, learning that these articles were in the possession of this negro, and believing that they were a part of a large lot of Yankee clothing which had been stolen from the Libby prison, reported the case to Gen. Winder, by whom he had been directed to seize on to them and to hand the negro over to the Mayor. It was proven that the negro was in the employ of a Mr. Stebbins, and that the clothing had been deposited with him by different parties, who showed a clear title to their ownership. By orders from Stebbins, Peter was taking them to Mr. O. H. Dennis's dyeing establishment, to have them dyed. At this stage of the case the Mayor directed that the negro should be discharged and the clothing delivered to Mr. Stebbins. He also took occasion to give the Government officers a little wholesome advice and admonition. Whenever any theft or other violation of law was perpetrated, he would, at all hours of the day or night, cheerfully issue a warrant for the arrest of the parties; but the practice of entering people's houses or forcibly taking possession of certain things upon more suspicion, and without proper authority of law, would not be countenanced. As the Chief Magistrate of the city of Richmond he should at all times maintain the laws of the Commonwealth, and would insist upon a proper observance of the rights and privileges of every citizen in it, so far as he had the power to do so.
