The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-13
IHE WIRZ TRIAL

THE WLRZ TRIAL
d WASHINGTON, September IL.
= Mr.. Baker, in accordance with the ruling
of the Court, yesterday, presented partial
, list of witness, whom he desired to have sub.
p@ned first, j. Ormsn of Atlanta, Georgia,
. He was Adjutant from the middle of july,
1864, TO April, 1865, and could give tull
and minute accounts ef sll the transactions
while at Andersonville. Jas. Armstrong,
of Macon, Ga, was one of those whom the
procurstor could not find. He was Com
missary of the post before Captsin Wirz
was placed in charge of the prison, and un-
til April, 1865, excepting one month, and
could state the condition OF the commissary
supplies. NJ jOr Proctor, of Mammoth
Cave, Kentucky, acting Commisssry dur
ing Armstrong; sickness, could swear
that no supplies could be purchased
for hospital, Is the So 600 due from the
commissAry 10 the hospital fund, could not
be procured.
Lieut. Jamble, of Tallahassee, Fla, who
was in command OF battery, could swear
that guns were not fired by order of Capt.
WirZ. but in pursuance of those issued by
General Winder in person, aud that many
OF the sentinels were put under arrest by
Capt. Wirz for firing at Union prisoners
contrary to orders
Lieut. Thomas Of Tsllshasses, connected
With the post, would swear that orders for
firing on Union prisoners came from the
commanding officer of the post, and Capt.
Wirz had only to obey them; and he also
knew that Capt. Wirz had preferred
charges against sentineis for shooting
contrary to orders.
Bngadier General L. j. Gartrell, of Geor-
gis, commanding the guard forces, would
swear that no sentinel ever obtained fur.
Tough for shooting Union prisoner, and
that no body connected with him ever
heard of any such thing.
DR.. Perryman, surgeon of the Georgia |
militia would swear that the health of the |
militIs was no better than that of the Union |
prisoners, and that they died in ss large |
proportion. The sick men had the same |
rstions and medical trestment as Union
prisoners, and Captain Wirz could not help
or improve their condition.
DR.. Mudd, of Springfeld- -IEJs---L-----
inside OF the hospital, and often conversed
with Capt WiIz on the condition of the hos
pitsl, would testify that Capt. Wirz often
tried to get relief for the prisoners but
could not obtain what was needed.
Dr.. Delano, Of Montgomery, Ala, Chief
Assistant Surgeon, could testify as to the
total deficiency met in the department
Captain Wirz had often inquired for arti-
cles for the use of the Union soldiers. The
things could not be procured. The doc
tor also explained everything relating to
the supplies from the sanitary commission
for Union soldiers.
The two Drs. Collins who were st An
dersOnville when Captain WiTz first came
there, could testify as to the entire subject
of the vaccination, and that Captain Wirz
had nothing to do with it.
Captain and Quartermaster Barnardine
could swear that Captain Wirz applied to
him from day to day for transportation for
the comfort of Union prisoners, but it
could not be had at that post
James II. I eullmons, of Bardstown, Geor-
gis, who was in the Quartermasters De-
pSrtment in charge of the carpenters and
blscksmiths, could testify as long as there
was any lumber there, it was used for cof-
fins, and one time shed was torn down
for that use. Captain Wirz frequently
complained of the fewness of tools and
urged new ones for those which were
broken.
Several others whom Mr.. Baker named
all in mediAtely under Captain Wirz, could
testify as to searching Union prisoners.
Mr.. Baker said what he had stated would
show the materislity of these witnesses.
He had only selected those deemed most
important. The list was not yet complete.
The Court said that what several of the
witnesses could swear to was not proper
evidence.
Mr.. BAker-I suppose that is for US to
Judge.
The Court-Thst is for the Court.
n D.l. II ]
us every consideration.
Ccurt-We will give you whatever is
proper.
Mr.. Baker-We can show hundreds of
other things by these witnesses.
Felix De- Lsbomic, of the 79!h New
York, testified among other things of
Wirz firing two shots st two men who
were drawing water. he said one of
them was in dying condition. Csp-
tain Wnz accompanied the act
with the exclamation "Thsfs the way
get rid of you id sons of bitches. Wit
ness related other preparations Of cruelty,
such as keeping men for long periods with.
out water, putting men in the stocks, fast
ening with ball and chain, bucking and
gsgging, and the hunting by the hounds.
He saw two men killed at the dead line.
AS for himself, when he was conveyed to
prison, he weighed l5S pounds, but when
he lett he weighed only 80 pounds, and
Wss mere skeleton. He owed the saving
of his life to DR.. Bates, an acting assis.
tant surgeon at the hospital. Owing
to the starved condition of the prisoners
rats were q great delicscy. DIR. Bates
managed to get them something to eat and
therefore no more rats were caught.
Rev. Father Hamilton, of the Roman
Catholic church, residing st Macon, testi-
fed in relation to his acting as missionary
at Andersonville prision, and gave many
points of interest similar to those before
selected, including the distressing condi-
tion of our Union prisoners. The witness
stated that General Howell Cobb asked
him what he would recommend should
be DONE He advised theCfieer to parole al
prisoners on their word of honor, and send
them to Tallahassee, Florida. He gave
General Cobb, particular account OF the
prison affairs. A publication on this SUBJ
iect appeared in all the newspapers of the
South.
Judge Advocate Chipmsn-The law
protects you from disclosing secrets of the
confessional. Please state if you feel su-
thorize6 TO do so, to what cause sick men
under your n Illustrations ascribed their
dying condition.
Father Hsmilton-I cannot answer that
question for the confessional is enc of most
sacred and inYiolsble of our institution. l
do not decline to answer because l want to
take any advantage but because outsiders
might charge me with violating the con-
tessionsli therefore l respectfully decline