The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-09-23
BY TELEGRAPH.
From Washington Thrilling Scene IN, the
Werz Trial. Is
TO THE DAILY PRESS.
WAsHrre.o, Gov. 70

From Washington - Thrilling Scene -s,,-tys,-
Wers Trial.
WAsHNeToN. Sept. 16.
The PRESIDENT to-day granted pardons to
six Virginians and ninety three North Caro-
linians, including ex-members of CONGRESS
Kenneth Raynor and Alfred Lockery. Also
to seven South Carolinians, Including ex-,nem-
Der OF Congress John Mcqueen. and the same
number of MiBsissippians. -, - = -
~ our consul at SMYRNA, in letter to the
state department, dated Aug. 10Th, says the
its progress alarming.
IL IS stated in another communication that
the cholera has appeared at Maioria, and our
consul says The scourge is still advancing east
ward. There is no doubt that 4 number of
cases have occurred at Port Mahon.
Our consul at Barcelona reports to the State
Department that from the oath to the 3lst of
august, the number of deaths from cholera in
tnat CITY averaged about twenty -four per day.
On the lst OF September there were forty-two
deaths.
James Duncan, who had ill-treated some of
our prisoners at AndersoVle, causing the
aeath OF one of them, and who was arrested
IN the court room yesterday, has been COM
mitted to the Old Capitol Prison.
AT the close of proceedings of the Werz trial
to-day remarkable scene took place. The
witness on the stand, an Indiana cavalry man
named Geo. w. Spray, had been testifying to
some Of the outrages on the part of Werz that
had not been put in evidence before. He said
that party OF prisoners, in whose company he
arrived at Andersonville, were ordered to PLACE
their blankets, hayersacks knapsack, &C., in
one place, when an officer mounted on gray
horse rode up and told the confederate soldiers
to help themselves, and lei the prisoners have
the remainder. The confederates helped
themselves and there was nothing left. Was
not certain whether the mounted officer was
Capt. Werz or not. In June or July, 1864, the
witness and a young soldier named Under
wood, of the Indiana cavalry, his own regi-
ment, went to the sutler tent Werz was there !;
Underwood asked for something to rub his
wound with, and the slltler said he would give
it, when Werz said he cannot have it unless
he pays me dollar" Underwood gave Werz
his only money which was a ten dollar bill !;
when he asked for his change Wirz kicked
him out of the door. Witness was put in, the
stocks four days for attempting to escape. He
knew man to die in the stocks in August or
September, 1854. Negroes took him out of
the stocks after he was dead, threw the body
into a wagon and hauled it off, He knew
Werz toishoot young fellow named Stewart,
belonging to the 9thSM Minnesota Infantry. He
and witness had gone out of the stockade with
a dead body which they had begged when they
met. Capt. Werz rodebup to them after they
left the body in the dead house, and asked
them by what authority they were out there
Stewart replied that they were there by proper
authority.
Werz said no more, but drew his revolver
and shot him. After he was killed the guard
took from his body twenty or thirty dollars
Wirz took the money from TIE guard and
made of, telling them to carry witness to pris-
on. 1t was witness determination to escape
If he could, and for that reason he had gone
out; but he was not attemptipgito do so at
the time. When prisoners were being remov-
ed to the cars for exchange, Werz gave orders,
to Lieut.. Davis to bayonet any man who laid
down on the road, and witness had seen men
who were crawling on their hands and knees
to the cars bayoneted by the guards. Witness
heard one of the surgeons ask Werz when he
was going to remove the Yankees, and Werz
reply was, "damn the Yankees; they viii all
be dead in few days, anyhow" He said
one prisoners who had been caught by dogs.
had part OF his cheek torn off, and his arms,
hands and legs ground up SO that he only lived
twenty-four hours. The first time he had
known Werz personally, was one day when
he heard Lieut. Davis call his name at the
gate. M s fo
Judge Advocate Chipman-Capt. Werz, will
you be good enough to stand up? d
The prisoner, who had been lying all day on
a lounge, squirmed round, partly raising him
self, till his eyes Lit up with wild, haggard
expression, and yet daring and defiant, like
that of a wild animal brought to bay.
Col. Chipman-Wit do you recognize
that man as the man who shot your comrade?
Witness, slowly and emphaticaly- is
the man.
The prisoner here made an effort to contra
dict the witness, muttering incoherent express
sions about having been seen by witness with
Lieut.. DAVIS. He was with difficulty restrain
ed and silenced by the officer in charge.
The Judge Advocate, apparently satisfied
with the opportunity which witness had for
Identification, asked the prisoner to rise -.
Gathering up as well as he could, his loose i'll
jointed frame, which appeared as if it might
fall to pieces, the prisoner tottered to his fees.
and was supported in that attitude BY the Off
Ger of the guard. His eyes had a wild express
sion, and it was hard to repress sympathy with
the unfortunate man. ,sl9lh
Again the Judge Advocate repeated his
question to the witness, who reply: this
time, was more hesitating. Is that The
man 2? Another wild and fruitless attempt at
contradiction was made by Werz, when he
was partly drawn and partly sunk on the
lounge, where, by order of Gen. Wallace. he
was furnished with water, and famed by the
officer. The Court, therefore, adjourned, Gen.
Wallace ordering the room to be cleared in
stantly, so that the fainting and apparently
dying man might have breath of air. The
hall and lobbies were lined with persons wait
ing to see him as he was carried past
The prosecution will probably close to-mor-
row; but it is doubtful whether Werz will live
10 4I,aa Ill