The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-05-26
THE CONSPIRACY.
Continuation of the Trial.
Examination of Witnesses
Evidence Agaiast DR.. Msdd, &c.
iPress Dispatch.

| Evidence Agaiast DR.. Mudd, SC.
iPress Dispatch
| WAsHINGToN, May 25.-This morning
a witnesswas called who testified that
on the 18th of April he searched the bag
gage of Arnold short distance from
Fortress Monroe, and fonnd papers,
clothing and navy revolver. The court
here produced the pistol, which witness
identified. 1t was loaded then as it was
this time. The court ordered the pistol
to be discharged.
Two other witnesses testified as to the
shocking treatment of sick and wounded
Union prisoners, both in the hospital and
at Libby Prison. They were told by
Major Turner, the keeper of Libby Pris'
on that the treatment was good enough
for Yankees. Ont Of forty sick men
brought in, eight or twelve died the first
night The weakness and emaciation OF
prisoners was owing to the bad charae-
| ter and insuff1ciency of food.
Another witness testified that the Lib
by Prison was mined, and that Major
Turner informed him that he had seen
General Winder on the subject. The fuse
was ready to fire at the time Of Kilpat-
rick's raid.
Another witness named McGee was
called, when the Judge Advocate Gener-
al asked him whether Arnold was ever
in the rebel service.
Mr. Ewing objected to the question
The Judge Advocate General briefly ar
gued that the interogatOry was peril
nent, as history had proved the connec-
ton between treason and the assassina-
tion of the President. The assassination
was manifestly political offense and
was the consequence of dislOyalty
Mr.. Ewing responded. when the Court
decided that the question should he an
swered.
The witness then replied that he saw
Arnold in rebel uniform in the city OF
Richmond in the beginning OF the war
Three colored persons testified as to
their acquaintance with DR.. Mudd said
his conduct showed him to be rebel
sympathizer, and stated that he has as
sisted rebel soldiers.
A young man from Georgetown testi-
fed that the morning after the assassin.
alton, he loaned Atzerott ten dollars and
received from him revolver as security.
The pistol was produced, which witness
identified. 1t had been loaded ever
since.
WASHINGTON, May 25.--On the open
ing of the court for the trial of the con-
spirators this forenoon. at the request Of
Mr. Cox the record was corrected by ex
cluding from the evidence the oath of
allegiance purporting to be signed by
O'Laughlin, as witness couldnot swear
positively to signature.
Randall testified that he knew the
prisoner Arnold had found on his car
pet-bag some papers, letters clSthing.
a revolver and cartridges The revolver
was handed to him.
Major Marsh testified that he was an
officer in Maryland regiment from 1861
to March 3lst, 1864. He was prisoner
of war in Libby Prison from the 5th Of
June, 1863, until the 2lst of March, 1864
I was detained, when captured, two
weeks at Winchester on account OF i'll
health My health improved aud vas
compelled to march to StauntOn was
treated kindly OH the road by the es.
cort At first, the rations at Libby
Prison were very fair, but after
four months, meat as regular thing was
stopped Then we were deprived OF
wheat bread and furnished with what
was called corn bread, which was very
coarse have known prisoners to be
without meat three or four weeks at II
time. We had few potatoes OF the
worst character A meeting of prisoners
was held and remonstrauce sent to the
authorities. Colonel Ould replied that
the treatment was good enough. After
being there five months, | was taken
sick with dropsy and sent to hospital
While there / saw prisoners from Belle
Island in a starving condition, and out Of
fifty, at least twelve died the first night
The surgeon told me their condition was
produced by want of proper treatment,
Two of our prisoners escaped, which
made Major Turner, in charge of the prls
on, become passionate andinsulting. He
removed us from the hospital to Libby
prison and put us in wet room. Some
of the sick were in dying condition.
We were compelled to remain there
twenty-four hours without cots or a
morsel to eat, as punishment for the es-
cape of two officers.
A Colonel Fowler, on being remonstra-
ted with, said: The treatment was too
id good for you Yankees" A man
could not possibly live on that which
was called bread, which appeared to be
meal and bran mixed and baked iii a
rough condition
Capt Emory, another prisoner, testifi-
ed substantially to the same treatment
The money belonging to prisoners was
taken from them, and therefore they
could not buy food. The bearing of the
keeper was very rude, cursing and abus-
ing the prisoners. After the battle of
Chickamauga. fifteen or sixteen of the
sick were tied on cart to keep them
from falling off I thought there were
ambulances near by not in use. They
were tied on like sacks of grain. The
committee of the rebel Senate knew Of
their horrible treatment, but did not no.
tice them on their visit.
i Benjamin Sweeney, formerly color ser
geant in the army, and prisoner of war
for four months on Belle Isle, in 1863.
testified that there were about 1900
prisoners there. 1t was in winter. About
half had shelter They had about half
enough food to live on; had seen men
starved to death Tne bodies of those
who died were allowed to remain for
DAYS in trenches without being buried
They would not allow us to bury them
The witness had asked special permis-
sion TO do so and been refused, He help