The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-15

fiction of their teeth Fair ones would advise you to
try the fragrant sozoDoNT 1t will remove at once all
impurities the progress of decay and whiten such
parts have already become black by decay and leave
| breath as fragrant as
A few dayssince there appeared in our
peoples Column" a communication
from prisoner, in regard to the killing
of one John Bray by Capt. McCanna,
which We published Ver6atim ct Htera-
tim, and without comment. The fol-
lowing is the official report of the Board
of Investigation appointed on that af-
fair:
Proceedings of Board of Investiga-
ton which convened at Hard Labor
Prison, Norfolk, Va, on Monday, the
9TH day of August, 1866, by virtue of the
following Special ORDER
HEADQUARTERS suB-DIsIRIcF OF NORFOLK
NORFOLK, Va, august 7h, 1865.
SPECIAL ORDERS, No As.
[ExTRAoT
4. A Board of Investigation is hereby
ordered to convene at, the Hard Labor
Prison, in Norfolk, Va, at O'clock p.
NJ, this day, to inquire into and report
upon the shooting of Private John Bray,
Company I'D, 1st U. S. Artillery, by
Capt. Martin McCanna, Superintendent
Hard Labor Prison, on the night of the
9th inst.
Detail for the Board-Capt. M. Mill
man, 39th Ills. Vols. Capt. P. Holm
9th Vermont Vols; Adjt. H. A. Widdi.
| field, 1O4th Pa. Vols, Recorder.
The Board will make prompt report.
By order of
RVt RriU (Ian n T., MANN
(Signed JOHN. L. WoRDEN, JR.,
Capt. and A. A. G.
The Board met pursuant to the above
Order.
Present-all the members.
The Board then proceeded to investi-
gate the shooting of Private John Bray,
Co. 3D." 1st U. S. Artillery, by Capt.
Martin McCanna, 104th Pa. Vols.
Captain w. H. Rankin, 1O4th Pa.
Vols, being duly sworn, says: capt.
McCanna, two (2) sergeants and myself
went into the prison tosee after the pris-
oners, as the sergeant reported there
was noise inside. We found number
of men with their balls and chains off.
John Bray was sitting in the doorway,
which was against orders. Capt Mccain
ma asked him what he was doing there?
He replied, nothing Capt. Mccain
ma said go back to bed.' The man, John
Bray, said he be damned if he would
and jumped up and drew a club, and
was in a threatening attitude. The
Captain then shot him. think the man
would have struck Capt McCanna if he
had not have shot him when he did,"
Thomas Rhun, Co. tx" l04th Pa.
Vols, Sergeant Of the guard, being duly
sworn, says: II was sergeant of the
guard, and sentry, post No. 9, called for
me. l answered the call, to see what
was the matter. asked the guard what
was wanted, and he said the prisoners
were making noise. I examined the
prison, and found a number of the pris-
oners up. 1 then came down and visited
the guard on the parapet, and he toldme
there was noisein the prison, as if some
one was trying to dig out. I then re-
ported the fact to Capt. McCanna. Capt.
McCanna, Capt. Rankin and Sergeant
Scanlon went along and searched the
lower jail. We then proceeded to the
new prison; the Captain stopped and
gave the guard some instructions.
stopped to see what instructions the
Captain gave the guard, while Captain
Rankin and Sergeant Scanlon went
ahead into the prison. The instructions
given by the Captain We're, not to allow
any prisoner to sit in the door. Captain
McCanna and went on into the prison.
AS we went into the door this man,
John Bray, was sitting at the door,
The Captain asked him "what he was
doing thereof He then said he "pre-
ferred sitting there" and the Captain
told him he did not care what he pre-
ferred, and ordered him to his bunk.
He then said he guessed he would sit
where he was. The Captain drew his
revolver and cooked it, and told him to
get off to his bed as soon as he could. |
The prisoner then produced a club. and |
81 be God damned if T don't |
show you better than to draw a revolver
on me-" He then drew his club in
striking position, and was about to
strike the Captain. The Captain then
shot him, killing him instantly.
Sergeant Anthony Scanlon, Tailor,
being duly sworn, says -" While on
iuty in the prison with the Captain, we |
Ound this man, John Bray, sitting at |
he door of the prison. The Captain
lsked the man "what he was doing |
here ?o and told him to get up and 20 |
o his bunk. He said he would not;
md, as he made the remark, he jumped
Up and produced a club, and went to-
Yards the Captain, and was about to
trike him, when the Captain drew his
evolver and shot him. Before the Cap
ain shot him he made the remark that
lie abe God damned If he would not
earn the Captain to draw revolver on
lin !" and the night before / was
threatened by him with club.
The Board, after mature elaboration,
re of the opinion that Captain Martin
fcCanna was justified in shooting pri-
ate John Bray, Co. sd" LIST q. 8.
Art'y; and that it was done in self
efence.
Signed MINOR w. MILL1MAN,
Capt. 39th Ill. Vol.
5igned) p. HoBEN,
Capt. 9th Yer. Vol.
Signed H. A. WIDDIFIELD,
1st Lit. and Adjutant
l04th Pa. Vol, Rec'd'r.