Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-03-21
tue RAPE CASE

THE RAPE CASE.
The execution of ten men 1t PALMYRA, on the
Doth DAY OF October, 1862, by order OF General
Mcneil, attracted the attention of the Whole
country Importance was added TO it BY the
rebel President, Jefferson DAVIS, VINO. through
Lieut. Gen Holmes. commanding the Trans
Mississippi Department. demanded that General
Mcneil be surrendered TO the rebel authorities
Tor trial and punishment. In other words, il was
a demand for Gen. McNeil's life The Govern
ment paid little or no attention TO the demand so
Tar as know, except To put star on General
Mcneil where before an eagle had perched From
that time To this hut little has been said about H.
and it would not be mentioned now, we're it not
intimately connected with one of the principal
charges against the accused in this case.
A citizen by the name of W m. T. Humphreys
was one OF the ten men condemned TO be shot for
Ble DOn-return OF Mr. Altman, citizen of Pal
myra, an active Union man. who had been alb
Quoted from his home by POrter's guefriIas. and
and who has not been heard from since He was
unquestionably murdered. However, Hum
phreys was one OF the men selected 10 atone for
Altman's supposed death Hum ,hreys. As the
testimony shows had been with Porter at one
time for verv few days, but out OF :ear or other
motives. left Porter, and was taking steps To re-
turn to his allegiance He was arrested aud put
upon his own plrOle-his limits were the tJwn Of
Palmyra, and Humphreys, il appears. did not vi
oate his parole, but remained true to its condi-
tons.
Humphreys lived twenty-four miles from Pal
mpra and during the time OF his Imprisonment
was absent from his family Mary T. Humph
reys, his wife, learning perhaps of the order 10
execute the ten men in case that Altman was
not returned, knowing that her husband was ia
jail. and likely TO be of The lumber, FASTENED Il
ID II
well-being of her hu,bind What occurred af
ter she left Palmyra has been, perhaps as vel
and briefly told by her in the testimony. IL /.
substantially as follows;
AT the time those ten prisoners were shot al
Palmyra, came t. see my husband. who was
was then prisoner; the night arrived, / Wa:
informed that he was OF the number; | went t
see Strachan To- see if there could be anything
done spare bis life: he gave me satisfaction
1 then went to Gen. Mcneil, told him my has
band WAS at Palmyra on parole at the time Por-
ter came TO town, and refused to leave; he sale
that fact had never been made known TO him
my little daugh trr then went 10 him ard begges
him &c spare Der fathers lie; he wrote few
lines to Strachan and sent it 10y a Lieutenant
when was informed of what had been done,
returned 10 my boarding house. that night Mr.
Reed, the tailor, told Inc that he thought ii
would try Strachan | could get my husband re-
leased next morning.: went to the j Ill wher
my husband was, aud after IaAing "a short tin
with him. | started with INV little daughter to SCI
Stnchan: found him in his office. lying dow
on a lounge; went in aud told him had COM
to see il could make any arrangement TO hiv
my husband eleased; he made me 10 answer n
first, but directly told me TO send nv litt
daughter out OF the room and he would talk t.
me; | replied that he could Talk TO me as vel
before her not; lie insisted on sendin;
her out, and finally told her To 60 out himself
which she did; he then told me ii | wOul;
comply with his request. he would release In
husband; ! knew IRON his actions what h.
wanted. and begged him not to make such al
Unreasonable request of me- he declared that n
would not release my husband it | did not &C
cede TO his demands; | protested, and fually h
became euraged. aud swole that he would put m'
husband where | would never zee him, or wou'
4 send him home TO me some day before long
which judged from his appearance and conduct
he me ant that he would kill him aud send hin
HON corpse He took hold OF me violently
/ and said 1t | would sumhit TO him he would re-
lease my hush md; replied would not: he the
swure he would put my husband where woul
never see him any more. Ny heart was almos
| broken 10 think my husband should be thas muir
dered and fearing that be might be, | submitte'
| to his brutal demands"
The witness stated on re-examination that
was ahnnt six weeks after the occurrence tina
| she told her husband aboutis. Tint it was som
Z three or lOur days after, also, that he was re
/ leased
Upon this state of fagts. two separate charge
and one specific liOn under each, respectively
have Been preferred against the accused I h
first OF the two is rape