Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-11-16
Execution of WirZ.


Execution of WirZ.
WAsuISGroS, Nov. 10--Captain Wirz was hung
betree ten and eleven O'Clock this morning. On
the gallows he declared his innocence. He died
without exhibiting any symptoms of fear. This
morning Father Boyle administered the sacrament
to Wirz, and FathesAWigget, also OF the Roman
Catholic Church, then placed upon the prisoner a
black cambria cap, remarking, rs he did so, 81
hope this will be turned into white one in the
other world" At twenty minutes past ten o clock
Wirz came from his cell in the Old Capitol prison,
by Provost Marshal Russell and other
officers, and by Fathers Boyle and Wigget, and
passing between the military guard, they assembled
the scaffold. The prisoner was then seated. The
scaffod was twelve feet high, and twenty-five feet
to the top of the beam, with a trap twelve feet
rom the ground. The guard consisted Of the
I95th Pennsylvania vols, and three detatchmcnts
Of the Veteran Reserve Corps, under command Of
Captain Walbridse, military department OF the
Old Capitol prison. There were several hundred
spectators present, besides the military, the
civilians having been admitted on special passes.
ORDER OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Amid profound silence Provost Marshall Russell
proceed TO read the order of the War Department,
founded on the verdict of the court martial which
tiled the prisoner. He was charged and convicted
OF combining, confederating and conspiriaS with
-ffersoh Davis ]. A. Seldom, Howell Cobb. John
n Windcr, Richard b. Winder. Isaiah White,
W S Winder, w Shelby Reid, X. Y. Stevenson,
s. r. Moore, Kerr late hospital steward at Amber
s-nville, Jas. Durean Wesley, w. Turner, Benz.
Harris, and others whose names are unknown,
and who were then engaged in armed rebellion
against the United States, maciousy, trait rousy
and in violation of the laws OF war, to impair and
inure the health, and to DESTROY the lives, by
subjecting to torture and great suffering, by con-
ming in unhealthy and unvholcsomc quarters, by
exposing TO the inclemcncy of winter aud to dews
and burning sun of summer, by compelling the use
of impure water, and ty furnishing insufficient and
unwhoesome food, of large numbers Of federal
prisoners, TO wit: tho number of about 45,OOO.
held as prisoners OF war at Andersonville, within
the lines OF the called Confederate States, on or
before the 9th of March, 1861, and at divers
times between tiiat day and the 10Th Of April,
1865, to the c.id that tire 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 comiorted,
etc. etc. The order also states that tho prisoner
was found guilty of the second charge, namely,
murder, in violation OF the laws sndscustoms of
war, and guilt, of all the specifications except ng
tae fourth tenth and thirteenth, which three set
forth hat he killed 4 prisoner by shooting him
wi tievolver; that he ordered sentinel to fire
NJ neither with n revolver, snd that he shot
er with revolver SO that he died. The
order concludes a. follows:
SENTENCE.
And the Court do therefore sentence him. Hen
ry Wirz, to be hanged by the neck until he be
dead, at such time and place as the President OF
the United States may direct, twO-thirls of the
members of the Court concurriDg therein. The
Court also find the prisoner, Hensy Wirz, guilty
Of having caused the death, in manner as alleged
in specification charge ,, by means OF dogs. OF
three prisoners of war, in his custody, ana soldiers
ofthe United States, one occurring on or about the
18th of May, ls6i; another occurring on or about
the llth day Of July, 1861; another occurring or
about the lst day of September, 1861; but which
finding, as here expressed, has not and did not
enter into the sentence of the Court, IA before
given. 81. The proceedings, findings and sen
tence in the foregoing case, having been submitted
to the President of the United States, the follow
ing are Lis orders:
PRESIDENTS ORDER.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. 3, lS6J.-Thc pro
ceedincs, findings and sentence Of the court in the
within case arc approved, and it is ordered that
the be carried into execution by the officer
in command OF the Department of w ashincton, or
Friday, the 10Th day OF November, 1850. between
the hours Of six O'Clock in the morning and twelve
O'Clock noon. ANDREW JOHNSON,
President Of the Uu:tcd States.
T1irf-sfaior General c. C. Augur, comman
ding the Department Of Washington, is command
cd to cause the foregoing sentence in the case o
Henry Wirz to be duly executed, in accordance
with the Presidents order of tho 3D.. The Militia
ry Commission, of which Major General Levi:
Wallace, U. 5. ", is President, is hereby dissov
cd
By order Of the President Of the United States.
(Siensdj f. ID. TOWNSEND, A. A. c.
HOW wIRz APPEARED.
When the reading Of the order was completed
Wirz conversed with those on the platform will
seeming confidence and self possession, and it wa
remarked that he had a smiling coun.cnance by
his spiritual advisers.
WHAT lie SAID.
He said al am innocent; | have to die; but
can die like man. 1 have hope in the future.
have nothing more to say"
THE EXECUTION.
Ills legs and hands were tied, the moose passc,
around his neck, and black cap placed over h
face lie stood erectly, without falterng, evident
ly having nerved himself for the solemn event
Those on the platform retired to the railing, leay
| ing the doomed man in the centre of the struct
ure. After few moments of profound quiet, tn,
drop, at preconcerted signal, fell.
rHK CROWD OUTSIDE.
The sound thus occasioEed having reached tn
cara of the promscuous crowd outside of the oil
capitol grounds, but who were not privileged 4
view the execution, was responded to by rcpeate
shouts ofapprobation. The convict, directly afte
falling, was considerably convulsed in his legs, bu
his agony was soon over. He hung about iftecr
minutes, and then was cut down. His body wa
laid upon stretcher and conveyed to the prison
where il WAS placed in a coffin and transferred (
Father BOYLE Sr interDent. Ilisncck was broker
by tho fall All proceedings occupiedabou three
quarters of an hour.