The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-08-31
! Tlia Rirz TrIHi

il M.
4could see no necessity for such rigid
treatment, especially as the prisoner Is
always attended by guards.
l Col. Chapman explained that the
ihandcufhng was at the instance of the
counsel for the prisoner, as on the day
his counsel deserted him, he said he
1 would never again appear in Court. he
seeming to mediate Suicide.
Mr.. BakeFnow saw no necessity for
lhapdeut1ng the prisoner, and presum-
/ ed that the continuance of It arose from
misapprehe psion, and would not be
repeated from anything heretofore said
blythe prisoners counsel. ~ NJ
post Mt ,Andersonville, showed that
Rirz WINS assigned to the prison by
Gen. Winder, and had fill control Off.
NNAsHINaToHg,t. Aug. 30.-The record
of yesterday having been read, Gen.
Thomas, n member of the Court, said
he understood that the prisoner, had
been handcuffed at night while in.
prison; the accused should be Mt liberty
to prepare his business previous to his
attend ance before the Court; hetdid not
know who had charge of the accused
but as he was attended constantly by
guards, he could see no necessity for
the rigid treatment; he made thissu
gestion with the view that the condition
OF the prisoner might be ameliorated,
Col. Chapman stated that the rigor
alluded to- was adopted as a matter OF
precauHon, suggested by the counsel
1or the defence, who said that otherwise
the prisoner might commit suicide; the
conversation occurred the same day
the gentlemen returned as his counsel:
acting upon their suggestion and upon
his own Judgment, he asked the tailor
10 put the handouts on the prisoner: IL
was not unusual for persons accused ms
the prisoner was, to be kept in close
confinement and handcuffed.
he was sure such treatment was well
known to the prisoner himself; it seem-
/ ed the court should not dictate what
treatment the, prison-keeper should
adopt; the court was responsible for
him only While he was here: he did
not want to subject the prisoner to cruel
treatment; if the court thought TINT no
such treatment as that complained of
should be continued, he felt satisfied
that Colonel Colby would accommodate
hlmself to their wishes; he repeated
that the hand cutting was only a matter
OF precaution for the reasons stated; he
was sorry that the hand-cuffs injured
the prisoner last night, but, it was GER
tainly unintentional, and could not
nave been known to Colonel Colby; the
General then said he would distinctly
state the matter was brought to his at
tention by the counsel for the accused
Alr. Baker said that on that day the
'AiS ~! was 30 ulslFdSleu IN mlnu limit
ne hlmself did not know what he would
do. The prisoner threatened ifrequent-
~ to himthat If the COUNSEL did not re-
turn or, had deserted him, he would
never again come into the presence of
the court.
During the confusion and excitement
of the Prisoners mind, in speaking to |
the Judge Advocate, he made the re-
mark that he did not know what the !
prisoner would do unless the counsel
returned, He did not know but that
now he might be confined closely.
however, when there was no neees-
sity for it, the prisoner WINS hand |
cuifed. IT WINS only intended for tenn
poraFy circumstance. III he had more
calmness ut the time he might perhaps
not have made the suggestions. ICwns |
proper to say the prisoner nude no
cQmplnintof bad treatment. From what |
he had seen of the guards in attendance |
tention demanded. There was no ne I
Necessity hereafter to put him iii any
confinement HE was |
rather sorry That his associate suggest
ed anything of the Kind. If it had come !
TO his knowledge, he would let il pass, /
II the prisoner had not ibeen in an un-
healthy condition, no injury would |
lyye occurred to him by the treatment.
No one, however, is to hlnnie for it.
The Judge AdSbcate said the Governs
ment must take its own course.
Mr.. Baker presumed the placing of
the prisoner in hnndeuffs would not
again occur in consequence of any |
statement of his own.
Alexander w. Parsons being sworn
said thnt he served as licutenGnt-colo-
mel of the 55th Georgia volunteers; was |
ON, duty at AndersoIiville from some
Time IN February, 1854, till June LIST, |
same year; was first sent there to COM
mand troops, and nfterwari was as
signed ms post comInuUdcr; Capt. WirZ
came direct from Richmond, by order
OF Gen: Winder, 10 command the
prison; tho lntter, in his letter or order.
said that Capt. Wirz was an old prison
otticeri Reliable md therefore capable of
conducting the prison.
Witness undertook TO erect additional
shelter, and WINS just about to do so by
hauling timber, when he was relieved
ana never went back except as counsel
Tor some of the men; the timber lntlil
been cut down from within the prison;
the witness drew a bill of injunction to
aDate the prison nuisance, owing to the
stencil and etiiuYia, and unhealthy in
huence; the Judge to whom he applied
said heswould appoint a day to lieiiir the
argument, and Chambers and the wit
ness made preparations accordingly:
General Howell Cobb commanded the
department. of Georgia; senthim com
mnnlcation, asking hime whether the
Dill was to be charged to him or against
the government; Cobb replied tint he
deemed ~ inconsistent with his duty as
q Contederate officer to take such legal
proceedings.
Discovering that he would be court
martlalIsd e he Perseyered he said TO
Gen. Cobb If you deem 1t unofficial like
1lwfu abandon the cisess He chose to !
do this rather than BE dff7en' nom the |
case. This was in July or August, 1854. |
Gross-eNnhlinsd by Mr.. Balxer-The
capacity of the prison was for 1O.O mn
men and beyond that number. No
man ought to have been placed in the
guard even AFTER the enlargement.
Capt. Wirz was not to blame for the
Jap@ Van Yal1kenburg, residing 70
miles from Macon, Ga, testified that
the crops were moro than an average in |
1854. Macon is 85 miles from Ander-
sonvtlle and Americas miles from the |
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