The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-08-31
The Wertz Trial.
Washington, Aug. 25.


ing, and after the reading of the record OF
yesterday, DR.. A. w. Barrows, who having
been sworn, identified certain paper of
fered as in the handwriting of John Ii.
White.
| The Judge Advocate accordingly moved
to amend the charges on which the prison
er is arraigned by substituting the name
ofJoseph White as one of the persons with
whom the defendent is charged with con-
spring to cause the death of Union prison
| ers.
Mr.. Baker objected to the motion to sup
ply the misnomen. He argued that the
prisoner was arraigned on these charges
by order Of the President; that until the
original authority should supply the def
cheney no further testimony could be &C.
cepted affecting DIR. White and the prisoner
at the bar.
The Court over-ruled the objection, when
the name of DR.. White was corrected: Mr..
Baker said that the name of John II. Win
der also appeared as one of the alleged con-
sprators. The fact was however notorious
that Winder is dead, therefore the Court is
| y
istence. He moved to strike out the name
of Winder.
The Judge Advocate-Do you appear for
| Winder?
! Mr.. Baker-No.
The Court-Do you hold that Winder is
on trial2
Mr.. Baker, hold that Winder, who is
dead, cannot be tried for conspiracy.
The Judge Advocate-We have not been
informed that Winder is dead.
Mr.. Baker--lt is notorious fact, OF
which the world has taken cogniZance.
| Judge Acknowledgment was dead when
the other cOnspirators were tried vet in
that case the Counsel for the defence made
no objection to Booths name being in the
charges.
Mr.. Baker-A military commission could
do many things not competent for civil
courts to do, but they could not try Il dead
man.
The Court overruled the motion to strike
out the name of Jno. Ii. Winder.
DR.. Barrows further testified that at An
Jacksonville, prisoners We're corrected for
buying green corn, which the Guard took
away from them. Corn is an anticrobatic
in cases of scurvy and is a useful diet. The
Stops of the cook house were thrown into
the stream which ran through the prison,
the exhalations from which were terrible
and very unhealthy; besides the sinks
oVertiowed often, owing to rains, rendering
the premises still moreintolerable. Human
bodies sometimes lay unburied for three
days. The stencil was terrible, sensibly
affecting the atmosphere; and was worse
| than that from any dissectng room. Com
! plants of these things were frequently
made in high quarters. Dead men were
| frequently in the morning found among
the living. The largest number of deaths
in the stockade for one day in August 1864,
was 207. The witness found Capt. Wertz
in charge of the prison when he went there
and left him there. At the time he made
| his escape rationS were cut Off from the en-
tire number of &c, 600 prisoners, for an en-
tire day, owing to the alleged offences of a
| few Others The witness remembered that
Wertz said to him that he was of more SER
vice to the Confederate government than
any of the poor rebels in front.
| Cross examined by Mr.. Baker-Was a
medical student ut Amherst, Mass, on the
breaking out of war, and had been licehs-
ed since he was mustered out on the 7tV OF
Dec last. The witness had never seen our
nor had he seen them punished in any 9TH
er way than by detention in the guard
house. lie had seen men in our hospitals
affected with syphilis, but none of the
cases were so bad as those at Anderson
VILE. Our cases were primary, while those
in the .reRellr nrse cYK8ere ssc2,n6dlarrX
was further continued to show thatther eb-
| edes.
The court then at one o'clock took a re-
cess till two O'Clock.
1t is proper to say that Mr.. Baker did not
| voluntarily appear as counsel for the de-
| tense as has been stated, but entered upon
the duties of counsel after consultation
with Judge Hughes, who had just retired
from the case.
On the reaSSembing of the Court, the
cross examination of DR.. Barrows was re-
sumed. Lying in dirt and owing to insult
hclnt medicines and the dirt, the chances
Oh recovery were against those who had
syphilis. The questions and answers were
numerous Oh the point involving treat
ment of Diseases
Asst Judge Advocate Hosmer here said
that he did not see the revelancy of these
questions.
Mr.. Baker replied he had asked witness
with what disease patients suffered, and
how disease manifested itself after the pa
tents were sent to the hospital, and wheth-
er syphilis was owing to the vaccine mat
yer USED upon them. lie was cross-eXam-
ming witness upon this very point.
The Court: You do not give witness an
opportunity to answer. You frequently
put words into his mouth
Mr.. Baker: have a right to thus draw
from him any information he has.
Inc Court: We are disposed to be very
liberal, but you must not suppose at the
same tline we Will not take exceptions as
TO the manner of examining witnesses.
Mr.. Baker: will pursue the cross-ex-
summation IN proper way; i'll do not, the
Court will xecuse me.
The Court The witness must answer in
his own words.
Mr.. Is. l must pursue the course laid
down in the books or must stop.
The Court: Go on.
The crosS-eXamination was further con-
tlnued, when the Court interrupted coun-
sci by saying, here is another lecture, alto
gether un becoming and uncalled for.
Mr.. Baker: beg the Courts pardon.
The Court: You beg pardon-it is grant
Mr.. b hope you will not hold me
strictly to the rule.
The Court.-Sav nothing more about
that but go on.
Ihecross examination was then resumed
and finishing, the Court interrogated wit
ness, who said the rebel force at Anderson
vile was between 900 and 5000 men; the
luei lor them was cut by large force Of
colored men; there were axes enough to
supply our men for like purpose. The
witness gave as his honest opinion that if
there had been proper food, clothing, quar-
tiers, and other necessary supplies, from IS
to 50 per cent. of the deaths might have
been prevented. In the dispensary he had
seen some supplies which had come by
way OF Richmond, such as dry beef, say
200 or 300 pounds, and some bologna san-
sages. He saw several boxes of clothing
at the depot; nobody in his ward saw any
thing of the clothing; once or twice little