Smyrna times., 1865-08-23
The Trial Of Wire, the Keeper of the
Anders0nville Prison.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2l.-The Special Mill
tary Commission convened this afternoon in
the Court OF Claims room, at the Capitol-Ma
jor General Wallace President, and Col Chip.
man Judge Advocate. At ID O'Clock Captair
Wire, the prisoner to be tried, was brought
into the room, guarded each side by soldier
Inc prisoner was requested to rise, when
Col. Chapman said
Captain Wirze, you are to be tried bv the
objection TO any of its members?' y
Judge Hughes, of the counsel. said they nro:
posed to make no objection of personal char
acter. They would, however, at subsequent
stage OF the proceedings, ask to be heard or
the plea OF general jurisdiction, especially OBJ
lecting to the mode of constituting the Court
but II the prisoner was to be tried bv a Militia,
ry Commission, he would as soon be tried by
this one as any other. "
The Judge Advocate informed the prisone,
that he was arraigned for trial under the name
OF Henry Wirze. Was that the name;
The prisoner replied that it was
Inc charges against Wire are, that he con.
Splred with Robert K. Lee James A. Seddon,
ooil1 II; ~, ,Wlnder, Lucius ID. NOrthrop, Rich
ard b. Wlnder, X. II. Stephenson Moore. and
others unknown, to injure the health and des
troy the lives OF soldiers in the military service
OF OF the United States, prisoners of war within
the lines OF the so-called Confederate States
oy SubJecting them to torture-contining them
IN unhealthy quarters, exposing them to the
weather, giving them impure water and nm
wholesome and insufficient food, at Anderson.
VILE. Georgia, between March |. 1864. and
April ~, 1850; that he stamped upon, beat
and bruised with the heels of his boots a sol
uler VINO was prisoner that he shot two pri-
soners with pistol and killed them; that he
n har xarakh L. =,
and cham; that he tied the hands and feet of
the prisoners together, claiming them TO stakes
tnat he ordered his men to fire upon and kin
IN tne prisoners; that he set blood hounds upon
them, who tore and killed them; that he beat
ana bruised the prisoners with the butts of pis-
t9ls' and that by his cruelties he murdered
them by thousands.
Ihese charges were of great length. and be-
ing read to the prisoner, he was asked to make
answer. HIS counsel unsuccessfully asked for
some delay, and then filed the following pleas ::
FIRST; Denying the jurisdiction of the Court
TO try the prisoner, it having no authority to do
SO; el'her by statute or well established usage.
Second. That the case is not brought before
1t by competent authority.
Third. That the prisoner is naturalzed c;-
tlzen, and was never in the land or naval SER
wee OF the United States, and that the United
states now being at peace and civil war ceased
there Is no authority to punish.
:, Inc prisoner protests that he ought not.
therefore, to be tried, but discharged from ems,
t3Sdy lie also claims that just before the time
OF OF ms arrest at Andersonville, Captain Moves,
On uuty near that place, applied to him
TOR information, which he cheerfally communi- uni
Gated GATED to him, and he accompanied Captain
Noyes to Gen. Wilson's quarters, the former
promising him safe conduct, and giving him
an an assurance that he should not be arrested ted
IN 1he prisoner relied on the good faith of Can't
N'oyes, but notwithstanding the above repeat
ed assurances, the prisoner was seized. held in
connnement, and brought to Washington. The
prisoner further protests that he oug ght not to
oe held any longer for the reason as set forth
at length that he came within the terms of the
capltuatlon between Generals Johnston and
Sherman. The defendant also asks the Court
TO quash the several charges and SPECIFICATIONS
because they are each and every one uncertain
ana indefinite as to the time and the offence and
the allegations are so indefinite and yague that
ne ought not to be tried ON them and further,
that they do not charge him with any offence
puhlshable under the laws of war. The Court
then adjourned till tomorrow