New-York daily tribune., 1865-11-09
Moral and Physical Condition OF the
Prisoner. ..+
HE INDUCES IN LETTER WRITING.
Efforts Of Counsel in His Behalf
HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
pecial Dispatch to The N. Y. THoune.

WASHINGTON, wednesday. Nov. q lsco
The busy hammers of workmen have been
ringing all day long in the construction Of the gaows
upon which Henry Wirz ex Rebel butcher Of defense
less Union prisoners Is to exate his revolving crimes
on Friday next The arrangements for the execution
are going on under the superntendence Of Major Rus
sell, Provost Marshal OF the District, who has the
issuing Of passes to limited number OF the curious
multitude who all day long have thronged his ONCE
The press will be literally supplied with tickets OF 3D.
mission and but few Of those who desire to be present
out of feeling of curiosity will be admitted.
Mr.. Schade the prisoners counsel during his trial,
to his credit be it said, is untring in bis efforts in be-
half of Wirz and to-day again besought the President
for bis pardon. He carried with him nx afidayits
from former Union prisoners impeaching the test
mony Of the witness claiming to be the gran dson of
Gen. Lafayette and asserting that he Is German Jew
from New. York. This witness, it will be remembered
swore positively that be the prisoner murder one OF
our men in the stOcGade.
Wrz still maintains air Of sang froid and does NOT
fear in the least the physical pain of DEATH He
will die he says with but two regrets-one because
Of the ignomiDy which will recoil upon his relatives
and ends-and the other because he fears that he will
die with feeling of resentment against his ao-caed
prosecutors.
Inc WOunQ on DIS arm tllIi painful ieYuh'
ing surgical attention. and last night he slept but little
attrbuting it, however not tohe dread Of his rapidly
approaching DOOM but simply to the painfnness Of bio
arm
He AYERS that he does not feel the slightest resent
uent against the President the courmartial which
convicted him. but finds it at times almost impossible
to reprcss simar feelings toward the WITNESSES who
testified against him.
He is more diligent than formerly IN looking siief
his religious interests and has finally discarded Ger
man novels for books Of o more serious nature no
COMPLAINS OF the injustice of the Government in net
staying the proceedings Of the court until IA OF he
most important witnesses could reach here and eays
their evidence would have materially modified the cor
clusion Of the court.
He emphaticaIy denies the recently published STATE
ment that he was formerly railroad agent In Switsei
land and was discharged for fraud and asserts posi-
lively that when he left that country no railroads wer
in operation there He claims the title Of NJ D. having
he says graduated at Medical College in Switserland
and also received diploma in this country He is sti
in receipt OF letters from all parts Of the country some
Of a sympathizng and others Of denuncatory charac'
ter Among the latter recently received was one from
Nev.York In which the writer, after saying thst he
considered him the greatest criminal that ever cursed
earth urged him to prepare himself for death. He
closed by quoting several passages of Scripture not OF
very conso.atory character. To this letter Wirs
thought proper TO reply yesterday telling the writII
that as a specimen Of presumption and impudenee, by
letter was unequaled After referring briefly to the
evidence In his case, Wirz says: 49,, q
In conclusion my dear sir let take the liberty 10
follow your example aud quote Scripture. The passage
10 which would especially commend your attention -
this Judge not that ye be not judged
This alone exhibits the extreme nervous irritaoihy
Of the prisoner. He denies that there is want o' az
fection between himself and wife, and says that when
she hears Of the paragraph recently published relative
TO her feeling toward him, 1t will cause her much pain
He asserts that she le for Georgia simply 70 look after
her children who had been left unprotected by the de-
cease of their temporary guardian. He had intended
to pray the President for respite of few days to en-
able his wife to reach here previous to his execution.
but has finally reconsidered his determination. \
The following brief sketch of the OF Henry
wrz now under sentence Of death for the murdef Of
Union prisoners at Andersonville may be interesting
to the public. 1t was received from his own lips BY
gentleman who visited him today, and, in point Of,
accuracy. is perfect:
II was born in Zurich, Switzerland; oame to .ae
United States in ls49. at which time uusbla r.
speak English tried to obtain position ss assigtaft
to physician. but failed. Landed In New York
City afterW aru went 10 COnnectlcu from wnlch State
went to Lawrence. Mass. where l was engaged in
shawl factory. After remaining there for several
years. went to Kentucky, where married atS{-
ward went TO Philadelphia, and thence to Q plan
tation in Louisiana where I was employed o. ply
scian remained there until the breaking out Of tho
war. when enlisted In an independent company a.
private; was aferward made Clerk Of the Richmsnd
prisons. was soon after made Captain and Assistant
Adj General on Gen. Winder's STAFF; was wounded
at Fair Oaks (the wound from which be now sufeIs);
was then made Provost Marshal of Manchester, va:
was then sent on an inspecting Of the prisons In tho
South.
I'm 1869 went to Europe for the benefit Of my
health where remained three four months: on my
return was put In charge Of Andersonvlc Ga, until
the Confederscy bursted up. admit that prisoners
were brutsly treated but deny that an the guilty
party; have never shot man In my life"
Gen. Gardner. the photographer, viii be present at
the execution and take number Of pictures illustrating
the scene.