The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-31
THE WIRZ TRIAL.
he Prisoner Kept Handcufed for Fear
He viii Commit Suicide.
>~>~D>~r~~~~~~~c~~~>~~-
Further Horrible Revelations Of An
Jacksonville Prison Life.
~>~~>~~~>~~~~~~~~~~>>~~~~
Tho Prisoners Prey Upon and Kill One Another
in Their Desperation.
Sc. Sc. SEQ.
WASHINGTON, August 30, 1865.
THE PRISONER HAND

the record OF yeSteruay having peen READ, General
THOMAS, member Of the Commission, said he under
stood the prisoner had been kept handcued night
while in prison The accused should be at liberty to
prepare business previous his attendance before
the court He did not know who had charge of the ac
eused but as he attended constantly by guards he
could necessity for continuing the rigid treatment
He made this suggestion with the view that the condition
Of the prisoner might be ameliorated.
HIS COUNSEL ADVISE 1T FOR FEAR he WOULD
COMMIT SUICIDE.
Judge Advocate CHrnAN stated that the rgor alluded
70 adopted as of precauton at the suggcs
zion Of the counsel for the Defence who said that other
wise the prisoner might commit suicide This CONVEX
sation occurred the same day gentleman retired his
counsel Acting on the suggestion OF the counsel and
upon his own Judgment asked the keeper put the
handouts on the prisoner II was not that night be-
cause the sentry constantly attended him; but it was
subsequently, done II not unusual for persons
cused as the prisoner was to be kept in close conne
mcnt and handcufed BE was sure such treatment was
well known to tho prisoner himself. II seemed
the Court should not dictate what treatment
the prison keeper should adopt The Court was rospon-
sible for him only while he here He did
TO subject TIE prisoner to cruel treatment He did not
propose apply the lea taons II the Court thought
that such treatment that complained of should be
continued he felt satisfied that Colonel Colby would
Handwriting only matter OF precaution for the rea
son stated He was sorry to learn that the handouts
last night injured the prisoner but certainly unn
tentional and could not have been known TO Colonel
Colby.
General THOMAS would distinctly that the matter
brought his attention by the counsel for the
cused.
Mr. BAKER said that that day the prisoner was go
distracted in mind that he himself ir Baker, did not
know what he would do Tho prisoner threatened fire.
.,.-,, 49,. ~, , -. - :,
4uen.y 20 MN tat INC couse, ou NOV rev - VI uc
scssea MN, nc wou'o MEYER agan oSlc ,no ,o pLes
cnce VI ."v ooor Du,s .ns oo'iuson anu eA' I've.
1en. oi tne pr.soners 1inu VI .n, S W tue
Suuse ho auo ,ne ie,n t'a. iv wv NV
Know what the prisoner would 40 unless inc counsci re-
su'nuu; nc uu ao' hnow uue .i' tno piisonei "iis.
" cohhnou ciosc,y fuon 'nis Tue mistake aose Gst
sns, omuss Will soio was ~ eIusy .Ji ~, ,o
prisoner wan nanoeaneu' ws on'y .ehueu ioI d
seinpor'ry Ccumsfntsl- ~ ny NY iuue rn,ness
E. 10 Hme nc MIN, perhaps, not nave made the sug-
gesuQn, ~ vas proper TO say the prisoner made no
complaint Of harsh treatment From what he had seen
the guards in attendance they had given the prisoner
eyery demapded There was no necessity mere.
WINS rather sorry that his Associate suggested anything of
that kind II it had come 10 his knowledge he would
have let IL pass II the prisoner had been in
healthy condition no injury would have occurred to him
by the treatment No one, however blame for il.
at INC JUDGE ADvooArr1ho government must take Its
Mr. BAKER presumed the placing Of the prisoner in
handouts would again occur in consequence Of any
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.xnor por or A or ss,a is, ,o ,oa
.oS"uo, w. oIsonc, ooins s"o ~, , s c. nc au
AZ @ n . " =, e ~, meorg
.oune1s, NC was sc W. uy az rum so'o
year. he was st sent there to command troops. and
W.: VIII" W. w., , aJ p o,. ~ a cpi
W .a1 y, t n oy ,, T.; ~; o,,"
- ILL., ga he, rn,ainp W. os a. nJ nraSon ne ofcor
. d ,hrospo c.h ccon ,i ~ ~ io
n wos dated some time in February or March The wiz
"
.s.o .Iaso s.,er. H., nasaod nndor Tho eontro, M
,a WEE; ,hs nrso INV was Ina ont nv q yinder
~ 90 =, 49, al re a'a,,s, - C.. ,or ,ho'
u " o p w yr:sn ~ MISREPRESENTATION ~
~ mon ~, sh r,,tor ,haro ,sas Sroro NJ
s"s, p,housana 10 ,won,v ,ho,sauJ nrsoners. ,he
, nd"rtos n cree, aad;,ionaI shelter. be was
s. 1917. -. ~ w. 20 w hai; ,;ha .ha~ 10 as ra
vcd and never went BACK sxcent as counsel for some
s ~ ~. anu h ~ ,,si ~, ,h ,as , 49,, T.n,
..Si u ~ s," h Ia coaraod q, Xndorsnnr;,ia
In the earlier and better ays The witness drew bill Of
Injunction TO abaie the prison NUISANCE owing TO the
20 whom he applied said he would appoint day to hear
she argument in chambers and the witness made his
preparations accordingly; General Howell Cobb, who
militia sent him Communication asking him whether
che bill be charged to him against the govern
rnent he informed General Cobb he had drawn the
bin which was 10 be charged 70 hims elf Cobb replied
through his Adjutant General that he deemed it ncon
sseut with hrs duty Confederate officer to take
lice OF the proceedings: discovering that he would be
court martiaed II he perscvered, he said to General
Cobb, III you deem u nnoilcerke ! VIII abandon the
nc Snosc 70 no ,ns lsna oe aSen io
soc cae sn's was 10 '",v or nasus aoos ., e..
s uy ,sns ~, ona havnyyS ,hat
p .h. 90 soora nrc,,, 40 n.vn hcon n,.coS IN tho
ground after the enlargement; Captain wirz
mot TO blame for the size OF the prison; one Of the
the almost nsuicrabIc stencil and 9th caused in
part OF the sraveyaras me green ines were az thcE as
locusts tho great bundcr was ON the part Of the Con
Seerae government la sending so many prisoners there
without proper preparations
q DO you think some one or more inavlduals were