Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-10-05
The Wirfz 'I'rinl.

q WASHINGTON, Get. 4.-!tt the Wirtz trial
this morning. A. Morsuer, a prisoner, testi-
fled that rations were stopped from squads
of prisoners whenever a man was missing
until he was accounted for Boxes sent by
the Sanitary Commission and friends of the
prisoners arrived several times, but their
contents were never distributed inside the
stockade. One lot contained clothing, and
Wirtz gave about $50 paroled men each
suit, except shoes. There were only about
so paik of shoes, and these he gave to those
most needing them. The other things
were turned over to the hospital,
when Wirtz had nothing to do with them.
Wirtz furnished tools for the prisoners to
dig wells. There were about forty or fifty
boys in the stockade, and Wirtz requested
DR.. White to take them into the hospital
He said if he (Wirtz) had his way he would
send them into the Union lines, as they
would only get sick and die. He finally
sent them to pick blackberries for the SICK
Witness learned, however, the nurses made
pies of the berries, and the sick got none.
DIR. White ordered vaccination, and Writ
said to man who refused to be vaccinated,
that he died not care if he died, as the order
was not given by himself. The chain-gang
was formed under Winder's orders. When
a plot to escape was discovered Wirtz would
abstain from shooting as long as he could,
Wirtz was sick in July and August, and
Lieut.. Davis was in command. In Septem-
ber Wirtz came back very sick.
Witness never heard of anybody dying
at Writes Headquarters, nor of his having
beaten, killed or shoot man.
Mr.. Parker asked the witness il such
thing had been done, was he not in such
relation to the prison that he would have
known OF the circumstance.
Colonel Chapman objected to the ques-
ton, for the reason, mainly, that the ac-
ceptance of the answer would be placing
too much reliance on the MIGHT'VE testimony
of the witness, which was simply an opin-
ion.
Mr.. Baker briefly argued that the ques-
tion was q legitimate one, and one which
in all criminal prosecutions could be asked.
The Court sustained the objection of Col.
Chapman.
The witness, among other things, testified
that hospital attendents serenaded Captain
Wirtz and Surgeons Stevens and White. ,
The witness went on to speak about some
other matter, and had evidently commenced
a long story when Col. Chapman requested
him to confine himself to the question.
Mr.. Baker wanted him (witness) to be
given an opportunity to explain. If the
gentleman (Chipnian) did not treat witness
ses fairly, he Baker, would put no more
upon the stand.
Major General Geary thought Mr.. Baker
ought to have more sense. He was becom-
ing tired of the course of the counsel for
the defense, and would not. stand it any
longer At every turn the counsel threat
ened the Court. 1t was little too much,
and he was disposed to stop it, If nobody
else would. 1t was an outrage on the Court.
Cross-examined by the Judge Advocate:
Witness came from Germany in 1862, and
gave the particulars of his entering the
United States service. He applied to Capt.
Wirtz for clerical duty, stating in his letter
that he was acquainted with about four
language. Wirtz had the power to both
issue and to stop the ratiohs of the prison
ers, and he exercised it. Wirtz never sign
ed or approved the acquisitions for hospi-
tails, as he did not exercise control over Che
rations for them. ''js
Judge Advocate Chipman here asked wit
ness question relative to Gen. Winder's
order about the chain-gang. IN a
g Mr.. Baker replied that he had not threat
ened the Court. .1s +. llsts,i.sssis "a q
L The President informed Mr.. Baker that
he had been repeatedly told he must make
his objections to the Court, not to the Judge
rAdvocate.C hSpigI ~ rrrrB wvfaa9se
The cross-examination of the witness
was then resumed.- The witness testified
positively that Captain Wirtz was not OH
duty at AndersonFille from the 4th to the
Both of August. sc 8GI