Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-08-26
The Wirtz Trial.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-Examination OF
DR.. Bates was resumed before the Writ
military commission this forenoon. 1t was
with reference to the condition of the pris-
oners at Andersonville. According to his
narrative the scu1vy was next to rotten
ness, with which many of the men suffer-
ed. Many starved to death because of un-
wholesomeness of the rations and in conse-
quence of gangreene. There were frequent
amputation and reamputation of limbs
The ratiens were less than twenty ounces in
twenty-tour hours. He did not know but
what man would starve to death on it, es-
pedially if the food was OF a few articles.
Monotonous. Sometimes the meat was
good, and sometimes bad. In consequence
of the paucity and EMBELLISHMENTS of ra-
tiOns some of the men starved to DEATH
The amputation and reamputation, owing
to gangrenous wounds, were numerous
There was plenty of wood in the neighbor-
hood which might have been cut to ans
swcr all demands. There was on one
occasion an alteration between DIR.
James and Capt. Wirtz; on going into the
hospital DIR. James learned that hiss chief
clerk had been arrested and ordered to un-
tlergo buck and gag. The clerk was bucked
and was set ont side of the gate. On inquiry
DIR. James found that the clerk had neglect
ed to report a man who was missing. DR..
James wrote letter speaking of Wirtz's
tyranny, and the clerk still continued to be
punished.
|, A sketch in pencil drawn by one of the
inmates of the prison was exhibited to the
witness, who said: There is DR.. Bates No. /,
examining the quality of beef. Here is
DR.. Bates No. 2, giving meat and bones to
oripples. 1t was his duty, as officer of the
lo,t To tba Uhan
were to be issued he would frequently go
to the place. Sometimes twenty or hund-
red would surround him emploring for
bones. He was represented as distributing
bones. That was of frequent occurrence.
The sketch was accurate as far as it went,
but 1t was not filled In. There ought to be
20 or 40 figures in the space where only one
appeared. The men as sketched hobbled
along on crutches, others crawled on the
ground with tin cups in their mouths, be-
cause they could carry these articles in no
other way. They wanted to mash up bones
to procure their contents for food.
Mr.. Baker remarked that DR.. Bates look
ed much better on the witness stand than
he did in the sketch. Witness thanked the
gentleman for the compliment. l-.
The Judge advocate proposed to offer in
evidence morning report of the surgeon
acGlnR as OHcer OF Cne Gay, anu asked VIII
ness If he knew the handwriting. gs ...
Mr.. Baker objected, saying the prisoner
was charged with conspiracy and murder.
If defendant conspired with other parties
these must be before the court. No court
could put in testimony in relation to other
parties, and try them in their ABSENCE
Whatever was put lin must bear on the per-
son before the court. He asked whether the
court could try persons not beforeitP The
evidence sought to be introduced was not
strictly applicable to the defendant. There
was nothing to connect Capt. Wire with
this morning report and with the Surgeon
in charge. a-A
The Judge Advocate supposed the gen.
tleman was perfectly aware that parties to
a conspiracy couId be tried singly. To save
time, he would recommend to counsel Rus
SCI on crime and Starkey on evidence. " .
b Mr.. Bsker replied These authorities
showed that where the conspirators were
to be tried the court might on application
of counsel elect to separate and try the par
ties separately. But in this case the alleg-
ed conspiretors have never been before the
court to ask for a separation. They were
not even in custody-they were at large.