Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-11-11
.Qrtltgrap9it,
Execution of Capt. Wirz.

Execution of Capt. Wirz.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-Capt. Wirz was
hung between 10 and IL O'clock this morn
ing. On the gallows he declared his
innocence. He died without exhibiting
any symptoms OF fear. This morning
Father Boyle administered the sacraments
to Capt. W., and Father Wigget, also of the
Roman Catholic Church, then placed upon
the prisoner black cambric cap. remark
ing, as he did so, that he hoped this will be
turned into white one In the other world.
At 20 minutes past 10 o'clock Capt. Wrz
came from his cell in Old Capitol Prison,
accompanied by Provost Marshal Russell
and other officers, and by Fathers Boyle
and Wiggett, and passing between the mil
itary guard they ascended the scaffold.
The prisoner was then seated. The scaffold
was IL feet square and % feet to the top
beam, with drop II feet fall from the
ground. The guard consisted of the 195tb
Pennsylvania Volunteers and three detach-
ments of the Veteran Reserve Corps, under
command of Capt. Walbridge, military SUI
perintendent of Old Capitol Prison. There
were several hundred spectators present
besides the military, civilians having been
admitted on special passes.
Amid profound silence Provost Marshal
Russell proceeded to read the order OF the
War Department founded on the verdict of
the court-martial which tried the prisoner.
He was charged and convicted of combin-
ing, confederating and conspiring with
Jefferson Davis, j. A. Seldom, Howell
Cobb, Jno. Ii. Winder, Richard b. Winder,
Isaiah White, W. s. Winder, w. Shelby
Reed, II. Il. Stevenson, S. Ii. Moore, Kerr,
late hospital steward at Andersonville, Jos.
Duncan, Wester w. Turner, Benz. Harris
and others, whose names are unknown and
tnp tl.a,, To- I'LL
against the United States, maliciously,
traitoriously and in violation of the laws OF
war, to impair and injure the health and to
destroy the lives, by subjecting to torture
and great suffering, by confining in un-
healthy and unwholesome quarters, by eX-
posing to the inclemency OF winter and to
the dews and burning sun of summer, by
compelling the use of impure water, and
by furnishing insufficient and UNIV wholesome
food, of large number of Federal prison.
ers-to wit, to the number of about $4,000
held as prisoners OF war at Anderson
vile, within the lines OF the so-called Con-
federate States, on or before the 9th of
March, 1864, and at divers times between
that day and the 10th of April, 1865, to the
end that the armies of the United States
might be weakened and impaired, and that
the insurgents engaged in armed rebellion
against the United States might be aided
and comtorted, ETC., etc.
The order also states that the prisoner
was found guilty of the second charge,
namely, murder, in violation of laws and
customs of war, and guilty of all the speci-
fications excepting the 4th, 10th and 18th,
which three set out that he killed prison.
er by shooting him with revolver; that he
ordered sentinel to fire upon another with
revolver, and that he shot another with a
revolver so that he died.
The order concludes as follows:
Sentence-And the court do therefore
sentence him, Henry Wirz, to be hanged by
the neck until he be dead, az such time and
place as the President of the United States
may direct, twO-thirdS of the court concur
ring herein. And the court also find the
prisoner, Henry Wirz, guilty of having
caused the death, in the manner as alleged
in specification 1lth, charge I'd, by means
of dogs, of three prisoners of war in his
custody and soldiers of the United States
one occurring on or about the 18th of May,
| 1864; another occurring on or about the
llth day of July, 1864; another occur
ring Oh or about the 1st day OF
September, 1864; but which finding, as here
expressed, has not and did not enter into
the sentence of the court as before given.
I'd. The proceedings, findings and sem
tence in the foregoing case having been
submitted to the President of the United
States, the following are his orders:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. 3. 1868.
The findings and sentence of the court in
the within case are approved, and it is or
dered that the sentence be carried into ex-
ecution by the officer commanding the
| Department of Washington, on Friday, the
10th day of November, 1865, between the
hours of o'clock in the morning and II
o'clock noon.
| [Signedl ANDREW JOHNSON,
| President of the U. S.
Sd. Maj. G. G. Augur, commanding De-
partment of Washington, is commanded to
cause the foregoing sentence, in the case of
Henry Wirz, to be duly executed in accord
ance with the Presidents order.
4th. The Military Commission of which
Maj. Gen. Lewis Wallace, United States
volunteers, is President, is hereby dissolved.
| BY command of the President of the
United States.
TSignedl Z. d. TOWNSEND, A. A. G.
When the reading of the order was COM
| pleted Wirz conversed with those on the
| platform with seeming confidence and self
possession, and it was remarked that he had
a smiling cOuntenance. To his spiritual
adviser he said, II am innocent. L have to
die, but die like man. i have hope in
| the future. have nothing more to say"
His legs and hands were tied, the moose
passed around his neck, and the black cap
passed over his face. He stood firm, with
out faltering, evidently having nerved him
| self for the solemn event. Those on the
| platform retired to the railing, leaving the
doomed man in the center of the structure.
After few moments of profound quiet, the
drop, at a preconcerted, signal, tell. The
sound this occasioncd having reached the
ears of the promiscuous crowd outside of
Old Capitol grounds, but who were not
| privileged to view the execution, was
responded to by repeated shouts Of appro-
| baton.
The convict directly after falling, was
considerably convulsed in his legs, but his
agony was soon over. He hung about fif-
teen minutes, and then was cut down. His
body was laid upon stretcher and convey
ed to the prison, where 1t was placed in
coffin and transferred to Father Boyle for,
interment. His neck was broken by the
fall. All the proceedings occupied about
three-quarters of an hour. i.6 '..
Pardon Seekers-I'he Order Mus
terinp Ont seuernI Omicers-Ex-