Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-01-07

dt MS tillI, anu as the trlal 10 10 Tue VI
cinity Of the place whore the offence is
charged to have been committed, witness
es may be brought in to meet any unex.
pected and inaccurate evidence produced
by the prosecution. Besides, the defen-
dant being usually at large upon bail be.
fore his trial, is enabled by due inquiry
to ascertain, more or less perfectly, the
character of the case to be presented
against him, and is also enabled to collect
anc prepare his evidence in reply.
But in my case, there was no previous pub
lie examination of witnesses before a mag
istrate, and as to part of them had no
knowledge or expectation that they would
be examined until they appeared 10 be
sworn, The trial took pl &C nearly leo
miles from my residence, and with the un-
derstood condition that should bear the
whole expense of witnesses brought by
, me in my defence. And had been held
in strict confinement from the time of my
arrest (amost two months) the privilege
: of giving bail for my appearance for trial
having been refused. had Joined several
, of my fellow prisoners in letter to Gen.
: Couch asking that we might give bail TO
appear when our cases should be tried
{ and in the meantime be allowed 10 go
J.. home. When Gen. Couch came to the
Fort he said he could not bail us and we
0 remained 10 confinement
But, as | understood before, my case
was called up, that Edward NJ Henry was
the main witnes. for the Government in
J.. the trials, and as believed him 10 be un'
|. reliable as to truth, | asked the Judge
i Advocate on the first day when | Wa,
, called up to send to Fort N lilln for JOIN
:. j. Stiles and Hiram +. Evsrtt as witness:
"a rs, which he said he would do. | ais,
, sent for my son Thomas, aud intended tc
/, oppose these three to n Henry both as /,
It his character and allcdScd statement
=. of his reported 10 me- Whcn the evidenc,
r against me was ended on the last day o
trial, by the examination Of NJ Henry II
70 4 witness, inquired for my two wtnesse
y from Fort Mtf1ln, but they were not i
r. attendance The Judsa Advocate sal
- le h,d sept for them. (SubscqnentI
v they Informed me that they had ueve
+. heard they we're wanted on the trial =
20 After consultation with my counsel, con
s,nted, very reluctantly. to let tue cas-
J. % eff without them. Blu, my SOD vi
e examined, and his testimony appears upo
of the record of the trial, with an mportal
e omission. Having testified to Edwar
- NJ 'Henry's bad character and that be ha
on heard persons speak uuiavoraby Of hin
H. he said in answer 10 a question by Il
[ Judge Advocate, that he had heard Rcl
ad ard Stiles "a witness for the prosecute,
d. declare, more thaa year previously, th
xt he would not believe NJ Henry under oat
sc, This important answer, showing an in
nd pcachmeut of one of the leading witness
to against me by another, and drawn out
the the prosecution itself, was not, | beliey
vas eptred upon the record of the trial.
for In addition to being an unreliable W
ten ness on the ground of his charaott
vas NJ Henry was Conscript who had skull
list cd the draft, and he appeared as a witne
YER after he had been arrested, and when
,Dlo. .t.,nn ;ndurompnt IN ,na
As his testimony satisfactory to the proseC
VS. ton. BY becoming witness be was e
al larged from confinement, aud no dou
in he believed his immunity from future pr
no ishmcnt depended upon the value OF
was evidence for purposes OF conviction
Hence the falsehoods stated by him, Il
'ges the political clubs of 1868 were sworn
the resist the Conscription Act, aud t
sis their ntme was "Knighs of the GolC
lerS Circle :" Hence, also, the coloring gi
led by him to the occurresces on the day
OBJ the Rantz meeting, including an OlledI
ana conversation with me. Hess, anot
va witness, became such when apI rehend
to the arrest of both his father aud himse
. D. But his testimony ls less objectionab
ons and as 10 tie other witnesses, their sti
was ments regarding the old Cub meeti
mat were not very importan! or full, and
ping far as they were erroneous are eorreC
NO by sub sequent evidence
late In another paper | shall present
fen. whole case upon the questions of fact r
f by ed by the charges against me,
All give to them full and comp ete Cxa
he nation. For the present, | shall res
par my narrative, and proceed to events s
'ose- sequent 10 the trial.
that Early in November was taken bac
he. Fort Mtlln and on tho 7th my sent
q his with the finding Of the Commission,
oronupcod IN mo thprn In was n fin,