New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-27
THE OsBON COUnT.mARTIAL.
Ths Dcfense--Ncwspnpcr Editor S'-
pGueed.

Court met today at IL O'clock a" '"o ~
Court were present. Brig Gen. "a'rA p'.'.reu.
b. Jenkat Of the firm Of Emott van ooa q 'o"N' -
che absence OF Judge Enot went on WIN 'ne case 40,
L.. dst.n.. Mr. :Jenks stated that Mr.. Osbon had
.n,omonea Admiral Farrssrt snd Captain Worden TO
A,stify TO bis loyalty ami the iathiu, uscisso u
duties board the Monitor ,."eiyed ai.potch to the
rnt ,bs Inv could attend ard moved ihat IL aP'
rear on the record that M usn.h was h NV, Tas
$500 for delberatiop. when 1t was decided TO ndin'
1ns rhnrI:.J Halpne was the first witness called
o. he defense He testified that be was an edltor anu
fsxyer ard that be was intimately acGuan,es VIZ u a
sccused 1862 both in TIE department "
tn Eyald with which lie (Co. iopine nou men sonle
sonnec,ion Mr.. Osbon served rs volnheet -,
vsyy under Capt worden IN 1873 WIZ siea an9 ~th
distinction at the attack on Fort AicAne''' $3.50
ahe South Atlantic Squadron ,v.p,.. oor,-. |
He knew nothing Ghont bis pnpnsnns . eo.sr
go S;h % ,oy of the gentle en who ordered these pro-
~ee0.ngs against him. IL 10 very eonmnn =; not
yor correspondents 10 furi ish Information WHICH 10 w.
iuiended to DO published ther oT peihaps az any te
rt dtor in such cases Is considered responsible Tor
such pubioaton and moi the reporter; 9
slmnel S. Conaut, assistant night cdi'of o. lns Nv,
vi linz, testified tcat he was Connected WIN mat
~s,sr ,hon twelve months: acquainted with the
xceSsed since 1852 and durirg TINT time never hesrd
hs oYaity questioned; correspondent ard reporter
~ was always valuable for his prompness. accuracy
and ability; the editors are always responsinie loi
prelcs III the papers; copies OF re I,r'ss OF zee
a.
sfed; did not see the ,ice marked 10 ms paper
tDcc I6); was an article the witness made up ron
article marked A. furnished by Fortress Monroe cor
RESPONDENT Article came from Mr.. Wltiemore cor
yas,ondeIt al Fortress MUuToe these articles con
ssned accounts Of the Wilmington expedition and con-
nentS theron. ,,o,,,,
EDITOR Mr. John Swinton. The first part ot the article
marked ID was received from tie Associteo fress "c
second part was From Mr. oSSyA nse"Scd to this
rater was note from the accused directing the editor
not 70 use the INFORMATION until the blow han peen
struek We considered that the blow had been struck
vben the feet arrived off Fort Fisher At The time OF
She publication OF the article We supposed me no~ hsu
heen struck The Tmss acted on Its ovn Judgment
Chester T. Dewey editor In. chief OF Iae CofsHe 1o'o+
Gas next called: have been connected with TIE Com
sssrciol between six and seven years ANA have known
che accused since 1860 and always believed arm 70 DC
careful correspondent undoubtedly loyal anu OF uh-
peshed character; reporters nre not Responsible Tor
srtices in the payer COPIES Of Tae Commercial were
handed TO witness which ne 'estiuea :" a. De."x
Of December IL. WAS taken fron T"s i"' me;
article Il was written in the office; { 90 IRON
IN, BALTIMORE American 10 IL so credted the accused
might have written tile article as reporter ana
may have been edoped as an editorial after Pass
oflce naval reporter soieI! al ths 'iiDe
No questions asked by tie Conri. :,
Mr. James r. Carey. city editor OF The Conn>reiGi
<doe,tsr was next examn ID by the ADVOCATE
Nave been connected since ey with that paper iast
Ta DO was editor; he knew tue accused ABOUT ~
years. as correspondent ard reporter he bele'ei MN
careful and INDUSTRIOUS anu niuouDttuii
editors are responsible fol tcles pubshedi those are
original copies Of The Commercial lpapers rendered
~tness dated Dec 10. II and L. lsoi; tie paragraph
A was condensed from tue morning papers by MIR.
Judd was written by witness. and c IS credited to
che correspondence Of The Baltimore A'ssrsean. No
questions by tie Court 49, -
Have been connected With tie paper Three years. have
been correspondent for about Six MONTHS was IN such
capacity last October anu Knew te sccuseu i"r GIN
years ss loyal citizen and good reporter eutofs
are always responsible for articles IN newspapers;
<ss in Norfolk. Va. III the months Of November anu
December 1874 heard OF the expedition Icing nted
not at the time from II the edit OF The World,
Mr. Croly; 1t vas spoken generally 81 ut Fortress Aon,
noe sav Admiral Porter at Hampton Roads on board
his flag ship: cOnyerseu with him In reference 10 the
matter; this was In October 1t was understood gene
ssy that tie expedition WIS going 70 WDmiEgton pat
Admiral Porter did not say that At was gong 10 tba1
place
once 10 the number If ships FIRST saw y. WIN IAe
S5>rad spoDdeut those orders wan naval OH
rers ard ooers the latter plrt ~ October nut no naval
officer showed it me- at the Natioual Hoe. IN Nor
tolh an officer took ont st and read oil the number OF
ships i've or SIX persons beng psisent at tue nme
she names read off formed part of the expedition
against Wilmington; communicated these iacts 70
abe editor OF NV paper the latter part OF octooer
rtber newspaper Yo.dents hac the same lists
and might lave sent item. -. Al.
There were no Rebel prisoners there az tnat ume
shat i kow Of except surgeon, who was Nst'hg 70
70 baek nv flag of truce; taken in the shenan-
toab Valley; he he surgeos) conyersed WIN citI.h
Dos tor in the hotel Hampton Roads about its des'
Ainstion being Wilmington; ] do know that there
we're auy opportunities Of furnishing contrnpand news
90 the enemy at that pace my Impression ~ nat l'
Ssrs and nav al officers cOnvesed with civilians about
chs expedition; will uOi IA! that u wac TIER hapi
She ,e COW saOus TOOK place III October hDl Deeh
ber. I po,se1s 10 information W 10 the exchange OF
AewspapeIs with the enemy. -
Files Of The World for DECEMBER. 1854 were handed
witness which he certified as original.
By Col Horne--I merely wish 20 know " bat Admiral
Porter STAGED TO you about the expedition
The Question was objected 10 by IalOr wallace.
Gen. Warren, President, SAID ne cOnio not see the
object or the relevancy oil
Gsjor Boes dvocsie. held that In regard TO
Susad las right to Object On legal grounds.
The Court cleared ioi deLoefaii0n, ava recess
xs.eu on the reopeaDg VI the Court tho objection
was Overrued =.
t. Crounse night editor Of The Isce, was offered by
e1e Judge Gyocate. Ii stated th0t Mr.. Osbon vas
naval reporter for TIE TINS and had been careful
n To the information furnished Ii then referred 10 ine
f,fnrnafion relative TO she Wilmington Expedition.
He considered him loyal man. ana discreet As 10
everything Furnished Dy him. This was Endorsed by
Mr.. Swinton Of III: Times.
Mr. SwinOn SAID the letter was oorfe"t W tps V-st
Of ls belief
no question. asked by the Court
Mr. D. H. Wardeil testified that be was formerly con-
u.ced with The Hrald IN charge Of tie Rebel news;
g. October November aud December, last year. he was
IN the field Hes Gd pOndeDt 10 y as acquainted
9Th The accused March, lrGi and never heard
ss character for loyalty doubted by All DOth ut home
and AT fortress Monroe among Naval officers; 10
ass 6Doien Of as Il loyal MAJ; ds nt'el
correspondent mud reporter be was considered
one OF the best; The editors are fespoame ior what
.n,eara correspondents usually SEND prrotc letters
A. well ~ the ordinary cOTTespOACencc. Was st
FORTRESS Monroe during the months Of NoseIHber aud
IpcceinbeI aud heard that there was naval expedition
Ibc3 fitting out 81 that yiace, and tht Jts objective
Lint ,ro. Wilmington; il ordinarily spDscii about;
sIn not positive that heard naval onictfs speak
,b,qi II; Iheard military officers speak sboa' ~ tho
en- .fsrce % hat they said that such an expedition
nd 4 tPr.fA "A a.