The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-26
THE wIRZ TRIAL.
A NEW SET OF CHARGES AGAINST THE
KEEPER OF THE ANDERSON
VILE PRISONERS,
The Names of Lee, Seldom and Northrop Drop
pod from tho Indictment.

y
morning at eleven O'clock, in the Court |
of Claims room, at the Capitol. |
Judge Hughes, counsel for the accused, |
said that as coon a. the prisoner should |
be brought into Court he would submit |
a motion,
Major General Wallace remarked
Time enough will be given for that pur-
pose
Judge Hughes-I viii present It al the
earliest moment.
The prisoner was al This stage of the |
proceedings brought into Court in custo-
dy of military guard
Judge Advocate Chapman called the !
roll of members, all Of whom answered |
to their names. EEe then read an order |
from the War Department, dated the !
22d of August iii substance that the |
military commission which was to CON
vene on the Goth inst. is by order of the |
President ofthe United States, dissolved. |
and then read another order, dated yes
terday, convening a special commission, |
to assemble to-day at eleven o'clock, for |
the trial OF Henry Wirz, and such other
prisoners as may be brought before IT,
the detail of officers being the same as
that Of the previous commission.
Major a. A. H0siner has, on applica-
ton Of Colonel Chapman TO the proper
authority, been appointed Assistant
Judge Advocate. #..,.
Judge Advocate Chapman asked the
prisoner whether he had any objection
10 the members Of the Court. 81 ...
Mr.. Peck, of counsel, said that there
was none personally to the members.
The members, Judge Advocate and
! the official reporters were then sworn,
promising, in addition to an impartial
| performance OF duty, that they. would
| not Improperly disclose the secret pro
| Ceedings and sentence of the court.
Judge Advocate Chapman addressing
the prisonerJ--fou are charged under
the name Of Henry Wir2; is that pour
name?
The prisoner said it was.
Judge Advocate Ghipman-T changes
and specifications will now be read.
Major General Wallace, the President
of the Court Let the prisoner stand up.
THE CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS. .a l
Captain Wirz rose to his feet, when
the charges and specifications were
read 5s o
They are substantially the same as
those upon which he was arraigned on
Monday He is first charged with ma
iciously wilfully and traitorougly, and
in aid Of the then existing armed rebel
lion against the United States of Amer
lea, on or before the LIST day of March,
A. D. 1864, and on divers other days be-
tween that day and the 10th day of
April, 1855, combining, contederating
and conspirng together with John II,
Winder, Richard B. WiDder, Joseph
White, w. $. VVinder, r. r. Stevenson
and others, unknown, to iniure the
L 4 Il s.ox..
in the military service of the United
States, then held and being prisoners Of
war within the lines OF the eO-caiied
Confederate States and in the military
prisons thereof, to the end that the ar
mics of the United States might be
weakened and impaired, in violation Of
the laws and customs of war.
The above differs from the former
charge in this, namely That the names
of Robert E. Lee, James 4. Seldom and
Lucas D. Northrop are now omitted
The other charge is that of murder, pro-
duced by heartless, brutal and cruel
treatment. The specifications are four |
teen in number
Judge Advocate Chapman asked the
prisoner what answer he had to make TO
the charges. ..-
The prisoner made no reply.
OBJECTION TO TIE DIas0LUrION OF THE 0RIGI' |
MAJ C0UBr
Judge Hughes, of counsel, said that
these new charges and specifications, or
the fact that any amendments or changes
had been made in those heretofore pre-
scented, reached him now for the first
time The counsel had received an Of
fetal note this morning from the Judge
Advocate, which he would read, accom-
panied by copy, as he supposed ,ofthese
charges. This note was received at
o'clock or a little sooner, this morning,
addressed to the firm OF which he was q
member, viz: Hughes, Denver Il Peck, 4
dated August p, 1865. The note from
Judge Advocate Chapman is in substance
briefly as follows -
JUDGE ADVOCATE eHIPMAE5 S0TE
l enclose copy of the charges and
specifications, with such changes as may |
be presented tomorrow. tits proper 20
say now what could not be said sooner,
viz; The court will assemble tomorrow
at eleven o'clock in the Court of Claims |
room, and I will proceed without further
delay with the case. The objections |
made by you will in part be removed by |
the orders of Tomorrow. There remain |
but two points raised by you TO be SET
tied. lst As to the jurisdiction of the |
Court. I'd. As to the immunity of Capt, |
Wirz, claimed under the arrangement
with Captain Noyes and the eapitulation
as concluded between johnson and
sherman These, L hope, VIII be dis
posed of tomorrow, or as soon as we get
into the evidence.
Judge Hughes said the note was not
dated yesterday, butto-day, this being
the I'D.
Judge Advocate Chapman said the
note was written yesterday, but Was
wrongly dated in the hurry.
TIE COUNSEL OF vIRs ABANDON TIL cAsE.
Judge Hughes remarked that he's saw
by morning paper only thai the court
was to meet to-day, aud that il was mere
accident that he came here. The au-
thorities were ample that the prisoner
should have time to plead and prepare
for defence, and to consult counsel, and |
on the prisoners behalf he asked the I
Commission to give him sufficient time. |
The prisoner, without any fault OF his,
would now be under the necessity of |
employing new counsel, as he (Jodge |
Huvhesl was inclined TO think that he
had rendered all the professional service
required by his obligations. It was ne
cessary for him to give the reasons for
Withdrawing from the case, but this
ought not to prevent the Court from de- /
termining the question OF giving further