Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-21
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
ELF-Pz0BABLE FATAL kEsgLTs-HIs IsTER.
yIKw WITH THE JUDGK ADVOCATE

Yesterday afternoon Col Benjamin II Ander
son. one Of the prisoners coDtoed in Mclean
Barracks, in this city, for completely in the Chi
cago conspiracy, made a most desperate attempt
to commit suicide Between IL and O'Clock
in the afternoon. a. one of ,he guards engaged
az barTack policemen in the room in which
the prisoners confined, Anderson suddenly
snalched a pistol from The soldiers belt. and de
liberateiy cooking it pointed the weapon 4; his
own head. One of the fellow prisoners, seeing
the action OF the intended suicide made a mo-
ton to wrest the pistol from his hand. but failed
in the attempt, and before others could interfere
the pistol was discharged AMI the unfortunate
man lay on the floor bleeding proiusey. The
interference of his friends had somewhat altered
the aim OF Anderson. for the bullet, instead OF
lodging in his heart. he evidently intended il
should. penetrated the center ofhis stomach,
causing a fearful wound, which will certainly
result fatally.
Medical assistance WIS Immediately summon
ed, but the surgeon, after the most cursory ex
animation, saw that his aid was unayailing
that the man must die From the very position
of the wound. the extraction of the bullet is
almost mpracticable, and though the sufferer
NAV possibly linger in intense anguish for a day
or 50. it is more than probable that ere this no
tice meets the eve of our readers, the spirit Of
the rash man will have pissed unbidden into the
presence of its Maker Immediately upon hear
ing of It's occurrence, Major r. L Burnett, the
Judge advocate of the department and OF the
military commission before which Colonel An
derson was arraigned, repaired TO the barracks
and bad an interview with the evidently diving
man.
On recognizing bis visitor Anderson said, IL
hardly know, Major whether | should shake
hands with you or not. but almost Immediately
oh fha hv he ham Il
most glad to see him Although he seemed hard
ly disposed TO enter into the particulars of one
or two occurrences, the sufferer was quite com
municative. considering the intense agony which
Was racking his entire frame He denied con-
plicity in the Chicago conspiracy. hut scknowl
edged that he had acted unwisely and foohshly
in many particulars. adding with much earnest
ness. Though | were only foolish | know that
fooshness often becomes a crime"
Regarding the letters which have been produced
by the prosecution during the trial. Anderson sd
mitted their authenticity, but urged that be wrote
some of them 10 a spirit of jest never intending
to fulfil the obligations they inferred, while some
were emanstions when he was inebriated, and
hardly knew what he was writing.
Anderson asserts that after he took bonds moi
TO take up arms against the federal government
he was ever in favor of the restoration of the
uPion, and consequently never intended 60 reion
the rebel cause Ii was his intention be states
of going TO Mexico, and serving in the army OF
that country, though he admits that he might
have told some people that he simply wished 20
go to Mexico EASY way OF regaining the
rebel states. When Major Burnett saw him, the
wounded man. though evidently suffering fearful
pain, was in full possession of his faculties
He evinced no contrtion or even dissatisfac
ton at his rash deed, but stated in extenuation
rather a reason for his action, that "he fell
the trial was going against him, aud there was
one or two things adduced bv the witnesses oil
the government which he could not explain
away. Col Anderson is young man of thirty
four or FIVE years of age, of gentlemanly eIte
rior, and possessed Of much natural abilit, HI
was originally colonel in the Sd Missouri OF
Kentucky cavalry. The witness Maurice Lang
horne who knew him when in the rebel service
testified that he was one of the most efficien
and popular officers in the service He ar
rested in Louisville, and the evidence agains
him before the court martial has been of a yer,
serious nature.
At the present he seems 10 look upon his ap
preaching death without the least fear. He ex
presses no wish 10 any of his friends nor doc
ne want any medical attendance only asking
to be allowed to die in peace With the dealt
of Colonel Anderson, there will only be tire,
prisoners on trial before the military commission
now in session. OF the original eight. Cantrii
wa. granted a severance. Daniels has escaped
Marmaduke and Semmes are already disposed
of, leaving Judge Buckner 5 Morris. Charlie
Walsh, and Colonel G St. Leger Grenfell {,
prepare a defense TO the charges against them -
Cincinnati Gazette.