, 1865-01-10
CIR CINCINNATI LETTER.
The Weather-The Chicago Prisoners
Their ir'nrentment.Copp Lies
The Time of Trial Ef1cd-Ehe Case
OF Humphreys nnd Capt. Lyman.

The Weather-The Chicago Prisoners
The Time Of Trial Ft1cd-Ehe Case
OF Humphreys md Capt. Lyman.
From our own Correspondent
CINCINNATI, Jan. 6, 1885.
At present writing. outdoor investigation
is not the most delectab3e occupation In Gin
cinnatf,, for in all ita glory, mud reigns gu
psemc. Gotten is no longer king; its purity
has departed and its sceptrc passed into the
hands Of the argillaceous monarch who, when
ever the twain come into contact, stamps his
opponents with the marks Of Yanquishment,
II is mud on the brick sidewalks, mud of uu-
fatlomable depth in the streets, mud Oh the
hills, mud in the valleys, mud everywhere,
where it can obtain foothold, or leave the
marks Of Its impure touch, while over al
hangs like cloud damp, chill atmosphere.
There really. does nd seem to be any winter
in Cincinnati, the autumn months being up
parent1y allowed to run to seed
md drizzle out into the spring.
IT'S true that few days ago the
streets and pavcments wcro covered with
thin, slippery coating, half ice, half snow;
but even that has now melted away, and runs
down the PERCEPTIONS CUTTERS in miniature
Alpine torrents, almost .eonJurlng up IN prac-
tical minds visions Of embryo water priyi-
legea. The weather is close and unpleasant,
probably us warm rs you Chicagoans will ex.
pc13arce II couple Of months hence; were it
not4r the raw, damp mists which enyelop
the city in cloud, overroats and wrappers
would he perfect super1uity. Truly, ifthis
is the atmospheric condition Of afairs Cinein-
natians usually experience, they deserve to
live in (what their papers daily tell us they
do) the first city In the Northwest; for it
would be cruel fate which would consign O
people 10 live, commercially Us we'll as physf-
cally, always under cloud. But as Clnein-
nauan weather is decidedly uniutcresting to
CWcinpatians themselves, it cannot be sun. D.
posed to be IN object Of Importance to Chi
cagoans. Accordingly, will pass on to the
mere interesting themc-the Chicago cou-
Epirators.
I am at last able to transmit to your read
ers some difnttc intelligence as to the time of
liminaries are all completed, the sza6penus for
the witnesses, and charges Of the accused
made out, and the court Instructed to convene
for the transaction Of business Mt two o'clock
on Monday afternoon the 9th inst. As I be-
fore fhtinlated the examination will probably
open with the case Of Mr.. and Mrs, Duckncr
$. Morris, Their trial Was to hare commenced
to-day, but was unaypidably postponed bY
causes which I anticipated in my last
communication. The prisoners are still con-
fined in the Mclean barracks and are afforded
every facility to provide for their defense.
counsel and frequently by numerous friends
who have congregated here. to render them
consolation or assistance. Among their syul-
pathIzers notice one Who is remarkably as
siduous in his attentions, and loud In his de-
precation Of their conhnemoa!g The
liz f-n.1s
to me little singular, for though at one tins
resident Of Chicago, he has since worn the
stripes Of Uncle SANS uniform, and is now
the representative Of rcputedly loyal news.
paper. Truly the why's q Providence aud the
people are mysterious and past finding out.
Yesterday afternoon ming Of the male prison
ers were taken before Judge Advocate Bur-
rett and Subjected to briei and strictly pri-
yatc examination. As they marched through
the streets under escort OF q military guard,
your correspondent observed that all were
properly though lightly laadcuffed. whereas
only one VITO wore the "jewelry." The rca.
son Of this exception, understand, was his
.doggvd obstinacy in persistently refusing to
answer any questions that may be put to lin. I
The whole OF the accused are in excellent
health, and appear little injured by the con-
fincment, with the single exception Of the man
Cuntrill, who is slightly suffering from general
indslosilion. As hc was unwell previous 10
his arrt st, his sickness has not been tue result
OF aEy "brutal or inhunan' treatment he
has experienced since his confinement.
By the way, I zee TINT the article
or rather communication, which appeared in
last Sundays Post, has been translated and
published il IN even intensified form in the
German Copperhead paper in this city, known
ly its proprietors and few vino read it US
the Daily 'Ho1k*f1esntd. as these statements
a,e likely to occasion some nneasiness in the
minds Of 1ncrcitully disposed persons, it may
be as nell to inform your readers that, 10 a
great extent, they are unmitlgated fel:e-
hoods. As neither Of the writer's has ever
visited the prison quarters, nor spoken to the
prisoners, hut in the presence Of an officer,
nor written to, nor rccciSed letter from, any
veslignted by the officer in charge OF the
psison, 1t is evident that the preyaricating
scrilblers nust have drawn largely upon their
imagination for their j" facts.n The accused
themselves do not complain Of the ma7nerin
which they are treated, but appear, on the
contrary, perfectly satisfied with the conduct
Of the officers in whose custody they are.
In a previous communication said they were
treated as common priscuers Of war. This
Was slightly incorrect; no prisoner Of war re-
ceiyes Inc latitude. which Is bestowed upon
the Chicago. prisoners. The former should
only receive lwo-thirtls rations, while the lat
ter not Only ayefull rations, but, in addition,
receive whatever luxury OF dclicucy they may
wish to purchase. 1t Is fact which investi-
gation will corrotorate, that the prisoners
from your city, at the McLean barracks, are
better led than the garrison who sua.d them.
Later circumstances prove that l was cor
rect in MY suspicious regarding the lessality
oftbe acticn ol Maj. Gen. Movey, in modify
ing the sentence Of the Indianapolis court
martial IN regard to tt: punishment Of the
4:Hon." humphreys. Til: case las come be-
fore r1onr t,ilunal here for Investigation,
and though a1n not ut liberty to diyu'ye the
official action taken, think um not trans
;:cssiug iu stating that it has been deter
mined that the General exceeded his authori-
ty BY his action.
There is nothing Of importance stirring in
the city, which, considering the wind :.ad
hcayy atmosphere, Is By no means surprising,
Capt. Lyman, the Quartermastcr whose trial
by court-ma, iia1 ! mentioned in my last, has,
Understand, been released from custody on
giving bonds tor his reappearancc to the
.'1rount Of $1,000. 1t is to bc hoped that the
gentleman " i'll be able 10 re!utc the charges
pending against him. HARAlE 6. g.