Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-05-08
LOCAL N h ws.

TRrAL OF THE UxwoRrHY MEMpER op Coz.
aREss-HAREn DEnuRs TO THE JuRrsDIcTIox ov
IHR CounT. The Court. Martial, Of which Major
General Poster IL President, and Major WIN
| throp Judge Advocate, met at their rooms, No
go Fourteenth street. this morning, when tho
trial Of Benjamin O. Harris, the member Of Con
gross from Maryland, was resumed. After the
| minutes Of the Saturday session were read and
approved, Harris arose and read the following
paper, addressed 60 the President aud Gentlemen
Mr. President, and Gentlemen AZ tie Com.
| mission! The undersigned respectfully states to
| the Commission that he has been advised by
counsel since the commencement Of this trial,
and since be plead "a. the charges and specihca.
| tions, that he ought to have made a formal ex-
cepton to the Jurisdiction Of this tribunal 20 take
cogniIanee tho charge made against him and
which he has been required 70 answer here
And he respectfully further suggests that whilst
| he could hardly hope by any views he might be
able 10 present In support Of this exception TO In
duco this Honorable Court to sustain the same,
IN the teeth OF the various decisions in support OF
the jurisdiction Of similar tribunals in like cases.
land to " hich decisions in the absence Of some au
thentatye Judicial position Of the lAwl this tri
5unsl wonld naturally accord the highest aud In
deed controlling respect yet he Vised that the
suggestion OF want Of Jurisdiction made at any
lime, In any manner, however informal, win
Tor all ulterior purposes, be equally available Rs
y the sane had been made by formal plea or In
The undersigned therefore respectfully asks
the benefit Of the exception which he desires TO
be made parcel o. the record taken by him to the
Jurisdietion Of this tribunal. RI. .
The undersigned respectfully further states
that he has been advised, aud he respectfully
suggests. that the two sPeeineatiOHs % the charge
against him do not nor docs either of them, show
an offence embraced within either clause Of the
my sixth article Of war. No such facts are al
legged AZ would or could, n proved, amount to
| sueh offence, or any such offence, a. IL made
punishable by OF under said article and he hopes
that he may have the benefit Of all exceptions 10
said sPetihoations a. " he had In fact demuTred
TO the same snd to each Of them respectively.
| The undersigned docs not ask pcrmission, at
this stage Of the trial, to be heard In support OF
these exceptions, but respectfully asks that this
| paper may be received and be made part Of tho
proceedings In the eAuse,-to avail hereafter in
such manner aud TO such extent a. Justice aud
| right may require. BESJ, q. HARRIS.
The Judge Advocate stated he bad no objection
to the paper being aled, as the question would be
| fully argued ut the close Of the caae.
| The accused asked leave to Introduce as one Of
| his counsel Mr.. Frederick Stone, OF Maryland to
whom no objection was made by the Court.
Judge Crane, one u the counsel for accused,
demurred to the specihcption under the charge,
| ON the ground that It charged no particular house
In which Harris had harbOred the paroled rebel.
| Tho Judge Advocate stated these questions
would he argued at the close Of the case.
The accused offered as evidence tho order Of me
| War Department Of April -, No. ~, relative TO
Paroled prisoners being furnished with transPor.
tation.
Harris stated that his witnesses could be got
before o-morrOw morning. lie therefore asked
the Court TO adjourn until then. The Judge Ad-
yOeate stated that the necessary ahldAyits must
be hled before the case could be continued. Har-
| ris then made the afhdayiis, and the Court adj
Journed until tomorrow morning nj ten clock.
Mas. PERRINn.-The trial Of Mrs. Per
rine daughter Of the late Judge z. Collins Lee)
| Of Baltimore, whose arrest we noticed few days
since, commences to-day before Military Com.
mission Of which Gen. q. II. Chapman L. Prcai-
dent and Col. Spencer is Judge Advocate. We
understand she Is charged with violating the
laws aud customs Of war, by knowingly aud will
| fully giving aid aud comfort to the enemy, by
encouraging and aiding him In plundering and
pllAging the trunks Of passengers on the railroad
| train while passing from the city Of Baltmorp 10
the city Of Philadelphia, or about the 18th day
| of July, 1854, In the State Of Maryland, and by
osher conspicuous demonstrations Of sympathy
for the robels and the rebel cause, In q tiino Of
rebellion, and to the great injury and peril Of the
military service, all while she was resident Of
the city Of E...umoFe, In the State Of Maryland
within the lines Of the Federal army, and under
the protection Of the Federal Government,
Court met At their rooms, Occidental Building,
Fourteenth street, this morning, when the case Of
Mrs. Perrine, Of Baltimore, was taken up,
The charge against her Is for violating the laws
and customs Of war
The specification states that ahe Mrs Bessie
Perrine, a resident Of thu city of Baltimore aud
oltlIen Of the State Of Maryland within the lines
ol the Federal army and under the protection Of
lhe fedefal Government, did, on or about the
l2th day Of July, 1854 In the State Of Maryland,
while the railroad train was passing from the
city OF Baltimore to the city Of Philadelphia,
knowingly aud wilfully give aid aud comfort 10
the public enemy then In rebellion against and
making war upon the Government aud people Of
the United States, aud did then and there eneour-
age and assist the military forces Of said rebels
enemies Of the United States In their warfare
/ Aforesaid, by encouraging aud aiding them In
Violently seiring and breaking open the trunks of
tho passengers and citizens Of the United States
on said train Of cars, and felOniously taking, Ap
| propriAtng, and carrying away the contents Of
said trunks consisting Of money Jewelry clothes,
and other articles Of great value, tho property
OF the citizens afore1aid, aud by other aud. con-
lhpleuouA demonstrations OF sympathy foT the
rebel cause this in time Of rebellion, aud to
tho great injury and peril Of the military ser,
| vice,
The arst wlineIs erlied was Dr. Bloodgood, OF
the nEyy, who test ded tlAt he was on tin train
from Baltimore to Philadelphia last summer, at
| the time the rebels under GilmOr attacked the
train TeeOg gniIed the accused as the female whom
he saw on the trRtp pointing out the officers
| baggage to the rebels accused seemed very eN-
liberated with the rebels, and seemed very much
pleased.
the passengers on the train from Baltimore 10
| Philadclphta saw accused thero talking with
| the rebels accused said u was right 10 break
open the trunks and rob from the Government.
| witness said TO accused that II was wrong 10
break open the trunks and destroy the railroad.
Accused replied, the road was used for the pur.
pose Of carrying troops aud supplies for the Gov
ernnent Accused was sitting on a trunk with
| a rebel oiieer
/ The counsel for the accused asked that tho case
be postponed until Friday morning Ia order that
he might prepare the defence. The case was
PostPOned until Friday morning, eleven o'clock.
the accused