Daily Richmond Whig

RAISING THE WIND.-An orderly sergeant of a New York regiment, has been sent to Castle Thunder upon a charge of levying black mail, bribery and corruption. It is well understood that there is a very stringent law against the sale or furnishing of liquor either to civilians or soldiers But the sergeant had a plan of his own. He would present himself to the proprietor of a drinking saloon, and feigning sickness, importune the landlord for a drink. The proprietor would generally hesitate, knowing the penalty of a violation, but human sympathy for human suffering would, in most instances, overcome all scruples, and the liquor would be furnished. After the sergeant had made the round of the shops, he would return and go over his traces again, and accost the proprietor thus-'Look here, what do you keep on violating our laws for? You've been selling liquor.' In vain the alarmed proprietor appealed to the sergeant's sense of honor; he was not to be put off; it was his duty to detect such violations. Then the proprietor and his unwelcome visitor would confederate, and a few greenbacks—perhaps a hundred or so -would change hands, and all would be right.- This game the deceiving sergeant played upon a number of liquor venders, and received his black mail or hush money.
Finally he was reported to the military authorities and his lucrative business was cut short by arrest and consignment to prison. A considerable sum of money, the proceeds of his transactions, was found upon his person.