North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-05-25
The Government G1ins Back to the Dark
Ages.
ATRoCIOUS CRUELTY!
THE REVIVAL OF TORTURE.
TUE THUMB SCREW AND THE DAcg!

o"on'y; al 'ii0 WIN Pp'hS post uHiIi lie SANK
bleeding and exhausted under the lash, we
now have an addition to that mode of tor
turc description Of which we copy as fol-
lows:
Johnson the Geserter, after the thumb
screus had been put 10 him al The barracks
owned up yesterday. He said that he en-
listed in this city, and gave the number Of
the regiment to which he belonged He es-
capped from the barracks.-Erenin9 Journal
Of Saturday. - srsE-a1..s .-.
OWNED UP.-Johnson, the desefter, who
attempted to hide bis uniform last week in
an out house on the hill, and then rigged
himself up in citizens clot hes, was forced to,
own up. Afier the thumb scrers had been
applied he said his name was James Hunt
gave the name and number of the regiment
to which he belonged, and where he enlist
ed Erening Journal Of Monday.
We have copied, without comment, from
the Evening Journal, occasional notices of
the cruel and degrading punishments to
which soldiers in the Barracks here are sub
jccIed and which the Journal paraded as
evidences of TiGor. The above account, how
ever, exceeds the measure of silent federation.
Thissman johnson was Subjected to the ter
rblc torture Of the Thumb Screw, to make
him disclose to what regiment he belonged
Che had beLn arrested on o vague suspicion
of desertion,) and a1here he concealed his
bounty money. 1t was this inquiry after
the money that prompted the torture. The
prisoner refused to reveal aud the thumb
screws were applied We need not describe
the terrible machinery, by which an agoniz
ed and mutlsted being ia forced into the
utterance of confessions az to himself and
accusations against others. II he does not
reveal-if he has nothing to reveal-the
tightening pressure, crushing the flesh and,
decorating the most sensitive nerves in the
frame, goes on till brain and heart give away
and some story is uttered, true or false
which makes the torturrrs pause. And this.
is done in country where the law refuses
to interrogate an accused, or to listen to his
confession, except after warning him OF the
dangers of self incu'pation.
This man was deserter! True But as
to most Of the deser.ers, Gen. Wister writes
to Gen. Dix
" There seems 10 be but little doubt that
many in fact think am justified in saying
the most, Of these unfortunate men were eli.
ther deceived or kidnapped, or both, in New
York city, where they were drugged apd car
ried off to New Hampshire and Connecticut
mustered in and uniformed before their con
sciousness was restored. .....
Two of these fugitives from service, he
adds, have just been shot at Yorktown
1~o more-yourg men-we notice, were
shot in Boston harhor on Friday. Every
where We hear Of executions for desertion :;
and yet the horror of the service into which
men are Kidnapped is SO great, that accord
ing to Senate. Wilson, $4,000 have deserted.
We do not plead TO mitigate the severity
OF martial punishment decreed by Courts
But we do protest against the riviyal of the
!. thumb screw and the rack, and the ma
chnery for extorting revelations of concealed
money or suspected crimes. They belong
to barbarous and brutal age. We will not
ask who is responsible for this outrage upon
humanity for we do not deal with execut ution-
erS. But who is responsible for HIM q
What military officer has the ultimate re
sponsibi.ity for the conduct of he Albany
Barracks, AMI the military thcre.-Aibany
alias and argus. ..-a.e.r ...s
Questions for an Investi satfng COMMITTEES to
ask Gen. Butler.
1.sNhat has become of the dog taxes2
2. What has become of the money General
Blftler seized from blockade runners and all
whe are brought before him for trial 2.
3. Where is the furniture of those who left
Norfolk, amounting to many thousands Of
dollars aa- .t1. Tt
4. Why is it that quarterma ters not worth
one thousand dollars when they first went to
Fortress Monroe are now living in more
spendor than the Wealthiest men of al! Nor
folk ...r ..r.... f
r. 5. Why were the persons keeping hard
ware store at The head of Market square re-.
quired to give 1t up for military necessity
and Why was it then allowed to be opened as
large grocery with permit to sell whskey
g. What becomes Of the money collected
from harbor fees and from the ferry
Z. What was the crime of Butler's staff
officer sent ont OF the department 2-World.
"FIRE AT THE CRIsIs r'-During
one of the battles on the Mississippi, between