The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-29
THE WIRZ TRIAL.


him with g revolver, merely because he
asked to take little fresh air. The wit
ness for demonstrating against this act Of
cruelty, was fastened with ball and chain,
bu1 1got loose and made his escape.
Sergeant Corbett gave an account of the
prison, representing it to be depository OF
filth. Men were lying around in swamps
in the most horrible condition, and one
died, he believed. from the effects of lice.
Msggots and flies gathered in their sores.
Their food was insufficient, even when the
prisoners received double rations The wit
ness testified 10 his own experience of be-
ing chased by blood hounds. Two brothers
named Trown, having been examined tes-
tilted to instances cf cruelty by Wirz.
The counsel for the prisoner taking some
offence at remarks made by the Court aban-
doned the case and retired.
Ih9 cross examination of Robert d.
Kellogg was resumed by Mr.. Baker.
Witness said he entered the U. s. service
on the 18th of March, 1862, and was dis
charged on the lst of June, 1865.
Were you at any other prison than An
dersonville?
Twas at Charleston and Florence.
Was the treatment in those places any
different from that at Andersonville?
The Judge Advocate objected.
Mr.. Baker-I thought my question was
little out of the way, but thought no OBJ
lection would be made.
Judge Advocste-This matter of cross
examination cannot be tolerated, if the
counsel persists ask for the enforcement
of the rule and that he reduce his ques-
tions to writing.
Mr.. Bsker-The intention of my ques-
ton was to show that the treatment of
prisoners was equally as good at that place
as at other prisons.
Judge Advocate is apart of your
defence, but not proper in cross exsmi-
nation.
Mr.. Baker-The Indictment charges
Captain Wrz with acting contrary to the
laws and usages of war. This is the gist Of
the whole thing. No matter how destitute
the prisoners were or how they suffered, if
it wss shown that nothing was done con-
trary to the laws and ussges of war, then
this man can't be punished, as we think
Judge Advocaie-The question is i'm
proper. There is no evidence rs to the
treatment in other prisons, and the court
sustained the objection.
Cross examination was, resumed and
long continued, during which the witness
sai1 unless the men sent out to cut wood
we're strongly guarded, they would over
power the guard, and they would have been
fools if they had not attempted to escape.
The proper guard for squad of twenty
men would be an armed corporal and Elk
men. He did not know of his Cwn
knowledge that Wirz prevented men
from getting out to cut wood. Knew that
men dug one we'll with whatever they
could get-hslf csnteen spoons, &c. There
was not room to dig sll the wells which
were needed. Space was required Tor
the prisoners. He never knew Capt.
Wirz's order 10 take away from the pri-
soners anything which contributed to
their health or comfort. He thought that
police regulations might have been better.
On one occasion Capt. Wirz did him
a kindness. He had been in the woods,
and mad left his knife there, and
Capt. WiTz was the means of recovering
it. He did not himself know, from his
own observation, of any inhuman or wilful
act by Wnz.
Thos. Q. Allcock was sworn, and said he
soma part of December, 1864. On arrlV-
inc there he was searched by Capt. Wirz.
Ths prisoner a. the bar, whom he knew
aid recognized, took from him his belt,
containing $3.50 in gold and $3.50 In green
backs, i4ck-knite, q bresstpin, gold ring
and his pocket book. They were never re-
turned him. On one occasion q weak man
q ked Wiz to let him go out for sometresn
air. WIZ asked him what he meant, and
turning around pulled revolver out OF his
Dock.t and shot him down. The man died
in two OF three hours Rfterwsrd. Witness
smoke in condemnation of the act to Wiz,
who said he would put him in the same
Mace. Witness replied he was not afraid
of it. Wmz then called corporal and
two guards, who put upon him ball and
CLAIM. He freed himself, by working
gradually at the ball and chain, OF the
Seigbt and then made his Escape. The
man that was shot was named Wright OF
the s,h Missouri The prisoners some
times got water from the brook by attach
inc vessels to the ends of poles. While sc
doing they were often hred at with shells
Cross examined by Mr.. Baker;
@. Where did you get $3.50 In gold.
A. l captured it at Jackson, Miss:
Mr. Baker-Cspt. WiIz captured it from
YOU; had he not right to do so2
A. No. Laughter
Mr.. BakeT-Thst is your opinion.
The witness on being further interrogs
ted said he found the gold at the root OF
tree in the woods; q negro showed hin
where the money was. Did not know u
whom the money belonged. The witnes
was native of Ohio, where he lived whel
he enlisted. The man to whom he haC
referred as having been killed by Wlrz
went up in the usual way and saluted Tn
csptsin and asked that he might go out 0
the crowd to get some fresh air. Captain
Wirz ssked what he meant. The maj
murmured something when Wirz said L
the Dutch language, "Look out" In
man wss only a few PAGES distant and fac
20 face when Wirz drew his pistol an
shot him: he died soon after from the ei
fects of the wound. The witness rename
at the prison two months after this.
Sergeant Boston Oorbett testlhed tnst .
was in the United States service, and WI
captured at Oentreville and taken to Al
dersonyiIle, where ne arrived In Jul.
Before entering the stocksde, having wal
cd some time, they were divided into d
tsehments. He was exceedingly thirst
and asked a'msn near Captain WIz Tor
drink. Another man was sick in the stoe
ade and asked the Lieutenant OF squad
he could not bs sent to the hospital ~
! officer informed him that nothing could
done for him then, and that he must
into the stocksde with the others. Ait
he entered he found nine men Of his col
nsnv. ak of whom had been brcug
to the prison-pen three months preVlo'
Within two months six of these men die
OF fourteen men who we're taken TO
prison where he was only two return
t alive. He was one of the two survive
= himself. When he reached there ne 81
q forts and guns. he noticed several m
o near the headquarters in chains and Ds
q exposed to the hest of the sun. DE 81
II bore the marks of the effect OF the 81
| He had seen the stocks but didn't rememl
, seeing any persons in them. The oe
l. lima was q slight wooden structure three
four feet high, running twelve or hft'
feet from the stocksde. The place VII
the stream entered the stockade
broken down. He had seen men snos
!: killed there. The prison was In horri
ID condition Of fifth. The swamp on ei
l. side of the stream was SO offensive,
" the stencil 60 gseat, that be wondered eV
d man there did not die. It was the CO
" of the death of many OF our men !
Is msggotts were foot deep. When
n --;,73(ss mas sick in the stockRde no mt