The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-08-30
THE WIRZ TRIAL.
The Counsel for Prisoner.
TEsTIMoNYoF DIR. ROY.
Return Of Messrs. Baker and Schade
TO the Case-Further Testimony.


by Union Line, cor Monroe and Water Stsl
WASHINGTON, August 29.-The prison
er was brought into Court at half past
10 o'clock
Judge Advocate Chapman said he had
communication from the prisoner, which
read as sfollows: DA~s'-'-' 70 t ~
OLD CAPITOL PRISON
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug %, 1865.
To Colonel ". =. Chapman, Judge AdrO-
cate, Military Commission:
most respectfully ask the Commits
counsel, Messrs Schade and Baker, as
understand that on my most fervent en-
treaties they have consented again to
appear for me. They understand my
whole case, and know my witnesses and
papers. Hoping that the COnrt will
grant my request, / sign myself most
respectfully your obedient servant,
H WIRZ,
Late Capt and A. A G., G. S. A
Maior-General Wallace said if there was
no objection the gentlemen would be
sent for
No objection being made, and the
Commission being disposed to offer ev-
cry proper means for defense. an orderly
was despatched for Messrs. Baker and
Schade.
The Court was then cleared for about
three quarters of an hour, aud when the
doors were opened the record Of yester-
day was read.
Messrs. Baker and Schade again ap-
peared in Court as counsel for Wirz.
DR.. J. @, Roy was called, and being
examined by Assistant Judge Advocate
Hosmer, testified that he was Oh duty at
Andersonville There were no comforts.
He was told that there were between 81,
900 and $4,000 prisonere there He did
not find much difficulty in obtaining
medicine, excepting few OF the rarer
articles. The men presented the most
horrible specimens of humanity he ever
saw. A large number of them We're al
fected with the worst forms of scurvy-
He attributed the sickness to long con-
finement, exposure and absence OF COM
forts of life.
4aThere were maggots in the swamp
near the hospital, the malaria from which
had most fatal effect upon the patients.
The insects or white ants with wings
NAL and Vegetable matter. They were
so numerous that it was dangerous tor
man TO open his mouth at sundowD. All
the surgeons came to the conclusion that
Wirz had full authority over the prison
under Gen Winder.
He had seen the Chief Clerk of DR..
James bucked, and inquiring the reason
was informed that the punishment was
inflicted by order of Capt Wirz.
Cross examined by Mr. Baker-The
hospital fund about which he had 1esti
fed, and with which delicacies for the
sick were purchased, was in existence
when he went to Andersonville. During
the month of February OF March last,
5000 in confederate money was drawn
from the fund At that time one dollar
greenback would purchase twenty OF
confederate money The witness was at
Andersonville six months, and the buck
ing was the only instance ofpunishment
lie had seen.
DR. B A. Vanderkieft testified that lac
was on duty at Annapolis from May Goth,
1868, to May 25th, 1865 He attended to
more than 1000 of returned prisoners
from Andersonville. They were suffer
inc from chronic diarrhaea, sCurvy and
other diseases Some were in a dying
condition and others had to be treated in
hospital before they acquired strength
enough to be taken home.
He was shown the photograph "t
living skeleton and said he had seen many
of the prisoners returning in similar con
dition
Martin E. Hogan testified as to his hav-
ing been a prisoner at Andersonvllle.-
The men were so thick they could scarce
ly elbow their way Some lay in heir
own filth, calling for water and crying
for food but no attention was paid them.
He had seen Capt. Wirz with hounds
TRYING to escape from prison about the
9Th of Oct 1864. After the most obscene
abuse from Capt Wirz he was fastened
by the neck and feet and remained their
sixty-eight hours. He heard Capt. Wirz
give orders that he should not have food
but he did get food from some paroled
comrades who stole it,
DR.. J. d. Kieser testified that one man
reached beyond the dead line for piece
of mouldy bread or cake, when the guard
shot the man through the head. He had
seen men on the chain gang with iron
collars around their necks.
The witness had seen Gen. Winder at
the prison. A number of our prisoners
rushed to see him when he told our men
to stand back and gave orders to the
guard to fire on those who approached the
cate nearer than fifteen feet He had
never seen Capt Wirz commit an assault
Oh any one individual prisoner, but he
had heard the prisoner to give orders to
the guard, one of them to confine pris-
oner in the stocks for attempting to es-
cape.
The Court at quarter past four o'clock
adjourned