| From the Richmond Whig |
| January 26, 1865 |
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| Arrested on a Charge of Treason |
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| It frequently happens that the
ends of justice may be defeated by the premature publication of facts
connected with an arrest. This was believed to be the case when Samuel
Ruth, Superintendent of the Fredericksburg R. R. Co. {Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac RR}, was taken into
custody, and the authorities requested that for the present nothing
should be said about the matter by the press. This request, we regret
to say, has been disregarded by some of the city papers. Information
obtained by some of the detective police led to the belief that Mr.
Ruth had for a long time taken advantage of his position as
Superintendent of the Richmond & Fredericksburg Railroad to convey
important information to the enemy; and on Monday evening he was
arrested on this charge and committed to Castle Thunder. John H.
Timberlake, a policeman of Fredericksburg, and Hugh W. Silver, a
resident of King George, who had been previously arrested on the same
charge, were also committed to the Castle. The Government depend upon
the testimony of Mrs. Dade, of King George, and upon circumstantial
evidence, to make out a case against the parties. Mr. Ruth's friends,
among whom are many gentlemen of influence, believe Mr. Ruth to be
innocent. The authorities are, however, fully satisfied of his guilt.
His case will be examined so soon as Mrs. Dade can be gotten to the
city. |
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