, 1865-01-07
OUR CINCINNATI LETTER.
Temporary Postponen2eat
of the Chicago Con-
spiracy Trial.
Reasons for the Post4,oncrnent
List Of The Conspirators-
How they Pass their
I'ime-I'he 1IcHlcuu
F1urrack.-Frok.
pccfS Of the
TTiul~


Ihe trial by Court Martial Of the Chicag
ccnepl1ntors, whose arrest is SO well know
10 your readers, which was expected to CON
mencc in this city early In the present week
in accordance with the order, published in til
TRIBUNE and issued from the Headquarter
Of Maj. Gen. J. Hooker-has been uuavoitla
bly, postponed for some few days By The inter
yention Of circumstances which could not b
controlled. The collection Of the immcns
amount Of evidence necessary for psope
examination into the merits Of the case, VA
IN herculean Task, but its assortment aud ar
rangemcnt is almost as difficult labor. Th
labor Of arranging the interminable a1no:n
Of documentary evidence and of drawing ol
the proper cha:ses and specifications, has nj
ready occupied much time and attention, AM
is yet incomplete This work must be finish
I'd and perfected btforc the trial commences
It is the intention of the authorities to ex
anime every particle Of evidence which bears
upon the case; to bring to light every inct
contained in the testimony. They will
"naught extcnua,e, nor set down aught in
bottom, dealing out strict Justice to all alike.
Approaching the Importance Of the exam
nation, Major Burnett, the Judge Advocate
Of the Commission, preferred to wait until he
had arranged all prc1imfnaries, and conss-
qacntly used the authority delegated him
Of the inquiry until the case WAS perfected.
The delay will probably be but . short one.
and carly In next week, If not before, the
prisoners will be arraigned, and The cxamina-
tfon of witnesses commenced. The charges
are not yet made public, but 1t is understood
that the Confederate officers will be charged
with being spies, or rather rebel emlssaries,
hof froi a
the charge Of conspiracy.
The members Of the Court, consisting re-
Epectiyely Of Col. n. NJ. Wisewnll, 9th Y. r.
G.. Col. r. Spooner, SD Indiana Volunteers
Col. R. Il. Deha1t, 13sth 1ndiaua Volunteers !;
Col r. Williams, 128th Indiana Volunteers !;
Lieut.: Col: T. Van Rodowitz, =. ,. g. y; 5.
Lient. Col Allen Heath, Tooth Indiana Vol,
unteers, and Major s. T. Lee, 9th Y. R. c.,
arc all in the city, Us Is also Maior Il. S. Bur.
nett, Judge Advocate Of the Commission,
and Mr.. Recorder Pittman; go that on the
completion Of the documentary evidence, the
trial Will not be longer detained by the alb.
sencc Of any Of the Commission.
The prisoners are at present confined at the
Mclean Barracks, on Third street, between
Central avenue and John street. Il is q large
b,ick building, originally occupied rs tie
Glrman Half Orphan Asylum, but now con
,erttd into the principal military prison in
the city. The barracks are in cl.arge of Capt.
Mahon, Seth Iowa volunteer infantry. He
is ably assisted by Lieut.. Adolph Ahlers, 46th
Ohio infantry, to which regiment the prison
guard belong. There are no cells in the
building, and the prisoners occupy the upper
rooms, in charge Of strong and viglant
guard. The Chicago conspirators are ali con-
tined IN one large room IN the second story,
with the exception Of Mr.. and Mrs. Morris.
who, III consideration Of the relation existing
between them, arc allowed to occupy sepa-
rate apartment. Yesterday an addition was
made to the number Of the accused, in the
person of one John. Maughcr, who was for
xa1ded IN the m morning f5om Camp D9uglas,
the rest. He states that he. Is q natiTe Of
Canada. I do not know the nature Of his OF.
1eDse, but opine that he Is charged with COM
plicity in the general plot. There are now
fourteen prisoners awaiting trial on this
charge, who were forwarded to this city from
Camp Douglas. As some Of their names may
be forgotten BY your readers, have copied
Them IRON: the official record, with their re-
ported residences:
Patrick Dooley Of Chicago. George Cantrill
Of Scott county, Kentucky, Dr.. E.. ". Edwards
Of ChIcsgo, James Geazy Of Chicago, Colonel
George st. Leger Gfcnfell, C. 8. A., England;
Col. Vincent Mar1naduke, c. s. A., Saline
cago, Mrs. Mary B. Morris Of Chicago, G. ":
Patten of Chicago, Raphael s. Semmes of
Chicago, Charles Traverse Of Chicago, Ch8s.
Walsh Of Chicago, Ed. c. Waller Of Chicago.
AL are confined BY orders of Gen. Which,
Post Commandant. The prisoners appear
perfectly comfortAble-of course considering
their position and none of them complain Of
the treatment they receive at the hands Of
their guards. Most Of them are at liberty, 60
far as their persons are concerned, but four
are irpped; though not heavily. This mca-
sure may at first sight appear 1arsh and un-
called for, and as suck, it has been violently
denounced by rebel sympathizess generally.
notice that the whine Of such oppositiouists
has reached your city in the form an anony-
nous Communication; to your almost, as fir
ds the public are concerned, anonymous Cop
pcrhead contemporary Of Washington street.
The writer Of the ebullition is well known.
having been courteously supplied with
permit to visit the prisoners by
:he authorities here. With this cxcep-
tion the whole OF the men arc treated
rs honorable prisoners Of war, their
friends and counsel are readily admitted to
them, and each has every facility offered him
10 make as perfect defense as he possibly
can. The names Of the four who are mana
clcd am not at liberty to give. Suffice it to
tay that they are men whose guilt Is so con-
elusive, TINT necessity demands the use of
tyery appliance TO ensn3e their safety. Know
ing his guilt and appreclating the conso-
Quences, no means Of escape would be too
desperate for baflcd desperado to attempt,
and the interests Of the people demand that
every prisoner be awarded the just reward for
Ills misdeeds. Then again tho prison Is not
cell whose bolts and bars and solid walls defy
escape, but simply room of m ordinary