JOHN W. SMITH, alios THE WANDERING JEW

THE

"I am as homeless as the wind that moans

And wanders through the streets."

HE WANDERING JEW, as Mr. John W. Smith was familiarly called during his sojourn in the Old Capitol Prison, was an old man, of not less than sixty-five years, blind of one eye, a homeless, and apparently friendless wanderer. He was a native of one of the counties of Virginia contiguous to Washington, but had left his native State in his youth, and wandered to the West, where he spent most of his subsequent life on the frontiers. He migrated to Kansas soon after that portion of the country became organized into a Territory, and engaged in merchandising and general trading.

During the troubles in the Territory between the John Brownists and their opponents, he lost his property by the theft of the John Brown and Lane gangs of marauders. This naturally soured him against the Abolitionists, whom he regarded with an aversion which, with him, knew no bounds.

The immediate cause of his arrest (as well as it can be ascertained) was his invention of a bomb for disabling locomotives while in motion, without injury to the railroad trains. The object, it would seem, of Mr. Smith, in this invention, was to place it at the disposal of the Federal Government, as soon as he got it perfected, and proper models made for its experiment. He had a friend in St. Louis, to whom he communicated his invention and design, requesting aid to enable him to get up a proper model, as the Ordnance Department, it appears, takes no notice of inventions whose utility cannot be practically demonstrated.

The correspondence between Mr. Smith and his friend at St. Louis was seized, on suspicion of its having referred to some diabolical design against the Federal Government, and Smith himself was seized at Jacksonville, Illinois, early in August, 1862, and transported to the Old Capitol Prison.

He was placed in the hospital, temporarily, with Dr. Hewitt and others, for whom there was no accommodation elsewhere, and in due time became an occupant of room No. 13, and subsequently of No. 16.

The conduct of the Administration toward this feeble, penniless, infirm old man, aroused the sympathies of his fellowprisoners. When first introduced to them in No. 13, he had neither coat nor hat, and no change of clothing of any kind, and it was some time before those who had the means to help him found an opportunity to do so. Being a Freemason of high degree in the order, he contrived to make his situation known to his brethren in Washington, and through the kind offices of Dr. Hull, who had access to the prison, the Masons supplied some of his wants.

When Mr. Smith was brought to the Old Capitol he was stripped nude, and his rags of clothes and person searched for evidences of whatever charge was made against him, or of the suspicions entertained of him. But nothing was found to implicate him, or convict him of any offence. Nevertheless, he was kept nearly two months in the building, and was only released at last (as were several others at the same time) to make way for some other victims.

Like all others, he was wantonly kidnapped and cruelly punished without cause, trial, or judgment.

Papers of value to him were taken from his person when arrested, and on applying for them when he was released, they were withheld. He had an inventive mind, and was continually thinking of improvements in implements of husbandry and domestic economy; and, during the war, of improvements of arms, projectiles, etc. He had patented severai improvements in beehives and farm implements, but, iike

most inventors, realized little or nothing from the fruits of his genius.

The papers taken from him had reference to inventions, and when he was set at liberty they had been confiscated, doubtless, as was the property of many other victims. When this poor, miserable man was discharged, he was compelled to beg the means to feed himself, on his way home, the Govern ment furnishing only transportation.

GENERAL WILLIAM BRINDLE.

GENERAL WM. BRINDLE is a native of Muncy, Ly.

coming County, Pennsylvania. He represented, with ability, his county in the Legislature, during the session of 1850-51, and was one of the committee that drew up the Tariff report, which was presented to the House on the 3d of February, 1851.

Early in the year 1856, he removed to the Territory of Kansas, and was commissioned by President Pierce, (with whom he had served in the Mexican war,) Indian Land Agent, with authority to sell United States lands in the Ter ritory, and receive the proceeds arising from the sales. His commission reached him on the 13th of September of that year, the anniversary of the entrance of the American army into the city of Mexico. General Brindle continued to hold this position until the election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency, when he resigned, but was not relieved by the appointment of a successor until May, 1861.

During the Kansas difficulties of 1856 and 1857, General Brindle took an active part in the politics of that State, and was mainly instrumental in ferreting out and defeating the now well-known "Candle Box" election frauds of Calhoun and McLean, and in proving the perjury of the latter. The General, although a Democrat, opposed both extremes of the "Kansas Question," and, as a friend of the people, he used his utmost endeavors to obtain for them a fair election.

He was arrested about 1 o'clock P.M., on the 28th of July, 1862, at his residence in Lecompton, Kansas, by a Government detective, named Carpenter, supported by a company of Wisconsin cavalry.

General Brindle demanded to know by what authority his premises were surrounded by armed men, and he deprived of liberty. The officer in cominand replied that it was by order of General Blunt.

When asked to produce the order, the officer commanded the ten men in the room to draw their revolvers, which they did, covering the person of the General. On being informed that no resistance was contemplated, the soldiers lowered their weapons.

The General then inquired upon what charge or charges he was arrested, and was informed that it was on account of his being a terror to the Union men, and having arms in his house.

The absurdity of the first charge is manifested by the fact that there were seated in the room, at the time, several extreme Abolitionists of Lecompton and the vicinity, who had just dined at the General's table.

Accompanied by his wife, he set out for Fort Leavenworth the same evening, guarded by the detachment of cavalry. The command halted in the city of Lawrence for the night, when, through the influence of an extreme anti-slavery man, but a personal friend, he was released on his parole to report the following morning at nine o'clock.

Here the General and wife were hospitably entertained by Dr. C. E. Miner and family, of that city. The Doctor, who was present at the time of his arrest, and knowing its injustice, and who was, moreover, a bold and defiant friend of constitutional liberty, and a sworn enemy to the despotism then reigning supreme in Kansas, went with him to the headquarters of Captain Stout, where, in the presence of the military authorities and detectives, he boldly denounced the arrest, and offered to accompany the General to Fort Leavenworth.

The command pushed forward, and arrived at Leavenworth City about dark. The General obtained permission to accompany his wife to the Planters' House, where he met some friends connected with the army, who, learning of his arrest,