, 1865-01-23
OUR CINCINNATI LETTER.
The Chicago Conspiracy Case.
Arrangement Of Prtllmlnarles--The Evidence
C1mmeneed-Testlmeny Of ]. 7. Shauks.
[From Our Own Correspondent

CNctsNA11, January u, 1865.
This morning the Court Martial occupied In tho
triA1 of Wn1sh, Norris j. Co., assembled IN the
rotunda Of the Court House, In this city, pursuant
to adjournment, one member, Unconstitutional
Spooner-was unasoldably absent Major Bur-
nett, the Judge Advocate, safd that the Govern
mcnt YVES perfectly prepared with its witnesset tor
the prosecution, and had all the members Of tho
court been present. he intended to hare opened
tie case for the people without further delay This
he must decline 70 do In thu absence Of Colonel
Spooner. as 1t Wxs mntter ofimportance that all
the evidence should be heard, and carefully
weighed, by each member of the Commission. He
suggested that with the consent OF the accused,
the record Of the previous day be read, and any
further preliminary business be transacted, after
which the court might adjourn until tomorrow,
whcn he would place his first witness upon tho
stand.
The counsel for the defense expressed their
perfect willingness to accede to tho proposition,
and would consent that at the next session of tho
Gonlt, co. spooner should resume hla seat in the
The prcyious days record was then read, and,
when slightly amended, approved.
Judge Barley, on behalf OF the prisoner Semmes,
81 attorney Of your city, presented the following
affidavit in support Of the plea Of severance. made
b. his client and orerruled by the Coart ycsteF.
1hc Judge Advocate presented to the counsel
for the sccneed the list Of witnesses fnr the prose-
The Tn,nrsE. Some Of these men ihe Govern-
rnent might not use. while others would be pro-
duced whose names he had not given. As some
] s'spSic rendering a' of p' sssp n.a's, a " ,!sns. @
nit q correct copy Of The list;
l. e. skinner, Edvsfd waie1. Wills Biedsos, os,
L. c. Morrison, Morris Langhorn, ". NJ Hull,
Obadiah Jackson, Jr., comssock, .. 9. Wal-
Icr, Frederick 4. Cooper, W c. W W2lsh and G. ".
nuli. Other names ii ny possession I an not at
i ece In the local columns Of the TRIBUNE OF
W aps se 4ns q ny G@ sn1s 1es
aictton / care little. Major, will,rd ''or any
s4s5 %a 4 dsf pgsl %Sen T. bs
in the present instance reply to Etndicate the
authorities from the whine Of *'persccntfon"
which already arises fro% DemosE;nads flrclle,.
ter. If C. M. Willard does not know Why he Wal
arrested will tell him. The statement now make
have obtained from competent soasce, e. ana s,! u
Wis to which allude. At the discovery Of the
p!ot Of the Chicago conspir.to5s On the evening
Of The 5 Of su1esTisf ss,edi3
ing this proposition, Mayor Charles u. Willard
wss feard to state ID tas public streets .! youE'
sens, atbat be cerfainly fn<w that II martial law
w,s proclaimed in Chicago the city would be fred
in flfty different places within twelve houra." One
or two Of his auditors Immediately repaired to
Major and Judge Advocate II L. Burnett and vol.
uutarily made affidavit to the expression have
quoted. he thinking with them, that the man
Who 'scertasnly knsso fsuch dangerous knowledge
must be dangerous man, properly ordered his
iae diate s.1cst hpd only released him when the
military authorities Of Chicago were in position
| to defy the macklnat1ous ot any p1oHcrs. Hinno-
cent and o.scFsea Of such pure cons science,
did not Maior Willard demand trial when he
| could confront his nccnsers. That would hare
cIfrred bis escutcheoa supposi1g that he is per-
sccrtr q Inen much mtTe etcctua1ly than his re-
icaxc IN The condition that "Ge would swear never
i,yc,fter in word or deel" to tfans:rees or plot
ncn;rst The Government. therefore confidently
carrect Major Nlnalds tsne positions IL fol-
IL The partes causing hi. arrest will express.
:. ,ss,rt tl,at be vas arrested tor supposed com.
.,icitv in the plot Of the slratore, for this
la+.ny man having certain knowledge Of the
nt,on nf thc secret and trcasonsAe society, OF
ias;v IT cnnsnirator. and expressing that knowl.
ctlSs IN tl,e manner be did may be Legally presun.
RI tn =. have some connection With the aame, and
trk IN the very coDSiuon o. toe pio'' u' eon1ec'
| ftl must be in unlawful me-
"a. The charges hayc MENTIONED Wes: made
Gu oa:ll a,,ninnt Ma}or Willard md ne kncTt
,,:; r. Both; Gsi5s'naltSi Fl, atSiorpeee sae II. =
t.t:t1, he has been advised ~ the antoof1tie
lr:c Of lhc nature Of his onense. II INC chaigs
fc untrue it is bis OWL fault that he WAS arfcsted
il lrA,, OF his ege and legal experience eefenn'