Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1865-03-08
st(stsllancous.
How Prisoners Of War may be
Discharged
from the Washington Union, Feb. "a

From the Washington Union, Feb. "a
During the present week young gem
tlenIan from GiLson county, ennessce,
c;tne 10 this city Tor the purpose, II posi-
ble, ui procuring the discharge of tive
prisoners of war ut military prisons lii
the Northwest He brought letters 10
Hon. J.. Anderson, OF kentucky, invo-
king his assistance. This morning Mr.
Anderson started him 10 .he President
with ii statement III the following words
and figures
PRISONERS OF WAR.
Benjamin Bobbii. Camp Mortoa.
5. ID. Anderson, 6 IS
a. v Afford, g g
". l. Eastwood, Camp Douglas.
JAS. +. Thomas, - -
am not personally acquainted with
the above named persons, bat they are
recommended by ten true men with
whom L am personally acqusliuted) rs
proper persons TO be permitted to take The
oath and return home From the recon-
III, ndallons and information received, L
ask the President To permit them 10 be
released Oh taking the o;,ih OF December,
1865
(Signed) LU. ANDERSON.
IL the forenoon of to-day, the young
gentleman referred TO appeared at lie
Presidents with tins paper and asked 10
be permitted 10 present II. He Was IN
lOrntcd 10y {. y l-e;try, who Is III charge
ui the door OF the Presidents, office, thai
he could not be permitted TO enter. Sub
.equently, upon being informed ot the oO-
Jcct OF lie call. he was taken aside and
told by O'Lcary that II he would pay him
fifty dollars, he (O'Leary,) would lake
charge OF the pap,rs and procure the
Presidents order for the release of these
prisoners that otherwise lie would have
TO remain fur many days without any pro-
babiiiiy of having an interview with the
President. lie saw two other persons on
II similar eiTand pay mon,y 10 O'Leavy,
and SAW the desired papers, a few minutes
afterwards, gwen by q Leary To such per
SONS The Young gentleman had bat iIt-
tie money at the hoicl; nothing like that
amount with hin. He lett the papers,
however, with o Lrary and reported the
i'tttS s'DoNc ltNltTNl ~ tlt-
| went with him Immediately To the
Presidents house, intcrdn. TO play Il
simple ana rustic part. With some dIili-
cHlty | succt cded iii dIsarmng him UI all
suspicion, ana arranged with him TO pay
the fifty dollars so soon as the Presidents
Ur,ier Tor the discharge of these prisoners
should be handed to the gentleman above
Tamrd O!.eary promised 10 meet Inn
at his own room at the National Hotel, !
Uakin" the numdcr,) at precisely three |
. clock to-day, when he was to bring the i
order OF the President for the release oi
the prisoners and receive the amount stip- |
ulated. | remained out Of sight until the !
order for the discharge OF the prisoners was |
delivered and the money paid. just as |
O'Leary was huwiug himself out, | inter |
cepted him, forced him back into the |
room, denounced him as swinder. and |
caused him to surrender the money (thirty |
dollars shat being the amount which lie !
had agreed to take finally, because of the !
assurance that nothing would be advanced !
for two or three OF the prisoners, and the |!
inability of the gentleman to pay more for /
the others.
The order of the President for the re-
lease of the prisoners is written on the |
paper which was signed 10y Mr.. Anderson,
and is in the following words
"Lct these men take the oath of De |
ccmber s, 1868, and bc discharged.
A. LINCOLN"
February %, 1865.
just as O'Leary was taking his leave
ne gave to his supposed victim his address, !
and urged him To inform the relatives and |
friends OF prisoners of war, that they
could have them released from coniine- |
ment by applying to him and paying ten
dollars IN each case. He gave hls ad-
dress which | have in his own hand !
writing:
c. O'LEARY,
Executive Mansion,