, 1865-02-23
DER CINCINNATI LETTER.
= The Chicago Conspiracy Case.


The Chicago Conspiracy Case.
lFron orr Own Correspondent
C1NcnHA71, Feb. q,
As your readers are already aware, Colonel
| Benjamin Il. Anderson yesterday afternoon
made most desperate attempt to " shuttle
off this mortal coil !" and from the condition
be now liz in, there ts every probability that
czc leng his rnsh wish will be consummated.
and his body consigned to the solcnaur-
de1ers' grave. Shortly after noon ono Of the
prison guards acting as barrack policcma
was passing through the Large room in which
the cprisone1s were confined, when Anderson
suddenly snatched a pistol from the soldicr's
holster, and re1reat1ng to the end Of the
room, deliberately cooked it. At first II was
supposed that he intended to shoot some one
else, probably the guard, but the desperate
man soon undeceivcd all, by pointing the
weapon to his oHn heart. One Of the prison
ers seeing the action and knowing from the
character of the man that he was In earnest,
spFang towards him and attempted to wrench
the weapon from his hand, but, without Sue
= cess, and the next moment the sharp dis
charge Of The pistol rang on the ears Of the
awe-stzickcn spectators, As the smoke curled
away, Anderson vas seen lying on the ground
we1tering in his gore, and with the fatal
weapon firmly grasped in his hand. The in-
reference Of the ft1loW-prisoner caused some
deviation In tho aim OF the Inte1dcd suicide,
1or the bullet instead Of penetrating his heart,
as he intended 1t should, entered the center
Of his stomach and lodging in the bowels,
fatal results. The injured man was instantly
diea1med and carried to bed, where he was
soon visited by the 6uTgenon of the barracks.
That officer, after b1ief examination, saw
that the injury Was fatal one. Owing to
the position Of the bullet its extraction is
perfectly impracticable, SO that all that can
be done to alley the suderings Of the patient
Is to keep down Inflammation as much a. nos
sible and make his dying bed as paialess as
circumstances will allow. Immediate into1li-
genee of the affair WAS conveyed to Muior n.
L. Burnett, Judge Advocate OF the Depart
me1t and OF the court martial before which
Anderson had been arratgned on the charge
Of completely In the Chicago conspiracy. and
in short time after the occurrence that wor-
thy officer repaired to Mclean barracks and
had an interview with the wounded man,
as found him I'M entering Il, the most intense an
faculties. On recognizing his visitor Ander.
son said. HI hardly know Major whether
should shake hands with you or
not" but On MaJor Burnett replying,
~ is for ,,.y yGn q III, Colonel to decide
the hand and cyinced considerable satIstac.
tion At the visit, On one or two subjects he
seemed hardly desirous Of conyersing. though
On the whole he VAS quite communicative
especially considering the fearful agouy
Re must hare been In at the time. An
de,son exhibited no cont1ition for the crime
o,her hand seemed satisfied with the reasons
he had for committing the act. He said he
felt the trial was going against him, and
there we're one or two things adduced by the
prosecution which he could not explain
away: He denied any completely in the Camp
ever considered the scheme to be visionary
and impractieable, but acknowledged that Ia
many respects be had acted foolishly and un-
wisely, concluding his remark with this curl
GUS aphorism,. Though had only been
foolish, loolishness frequently: becomes in
itself crime"
He seemed anxious to explain the letters
which hare been presented By the Govern
ment in evidence against him, and, while he
admitted their authenticity, denied that they
we've written with any treasonable intention,
being chiefly inltted In = spirit Of Jest, With
carrying out the obligations they contained.
Regarding the evidence Of ME. Stidgers and
others to the effect that he intended to 20 to
Mexico to be able to return to the rcbel
States, Anderson, though he admits that
the Witnesses have testified correctly, SO far
idea. He intended to 20 to Mexico, but
only, he reiterated, with the intention Of en-
listing In the Mexican army.
This morning Captain nnd Adjutaut Potte:
had an interview with the wounded prisoner,
and describes him as being In even d weaker
condition than yesterday. The surgeon who
attends him states that though bis patient
may die ere few hours may e1apse, lie may
llDger for several days before the fatal hem
crrhage ensucs. Anderson regards his ap-
preaching dissolution with ca1mncss almost
rematkahie; be expresses no desire to see
any Of his friends, nor does he wish any medf-
cal attendance, simply asking for rest and
quietcde. BE is III he still 9lves, though in
all human probability ere this notice reaches
the eye Of your readers the spirit Of the rash
young man will have passed before the higher
tribunal, where it will have to answer for tie
deeds done in the flesh) young man Of thirty
four or five yeas OF age, tail, OF gentlemanIy
exterior and polished manners. He isa scion Of
an old Kentucky family, and has served in tn:
rebel army With distinction.
Mr.. Langhorne who knew him when he WAS
Colonel ol the Sd Kentucky trebeD cavalry,
describes him rs soldier Of Considerable
skill and undaunted ability. Abont yea7
ago be came North, and took bonds In Ken
tricky not TO- take up arms against tae Fcd. q.
eoma Of the t:ait0rous undertakings Of the
eons Of Liberty, Col. Anderson occupied
very unenviable position. he WAS repud,ated
by bis secesh relations and ftieuds for giving
bonds to the Federal authorities, and at the
same time suspected BY his brother "Sons of
Liberty" Of being Government spy. H. WAS
arrested in Louisville for complleity In the
Chicago conspiracy. aud the evidence against
him has been OF = very serious nature. In his
interview with Major Burnett, yesterday, An
derson asserted that he never intended to re-
join the South, as he Was In favor Of the resto-
ration Of the Union, but I nn sorry to.sec,
that this assertion conflicts with the testi-
mony Of gsod and reliable witnesses who have
appeared in the trial now pending in this
city.
With the death Of Col. Anderson, there
will only be three prisoners On trial before
the military commission now In session. OF
the original eight. Cantrill was granted a
seeerance, Daniels has escaped, Mar1naduke
and semmes are already disposed Of, though
the finding Of the court Is not yet made pub
Tic, leaving Judge Buckner s. Morris, Charles
Walsh, and Colonel G. st. Leger GEenfell to
prepare defense to the charges against
them.
The defense IN the conspiracy case COM
mcnee the examination of their Witnesses
next Thursday afternoon, and will probably
occupy two or three weeks, as they have d
large number Of witnesses to produce.