Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-04-25

O., THURSDAY,
St1istellameuns Readime.
THE HANGING OF HENRY WIRz.
Intending to leave the United States for some
time, felt it my duty, before start, to fulfil in
mart promise which few hours before his death,
i gave to nv unfortunate client, Captain Wirz,
who was executed at Washington, on the 10th
day of November, 1865 Protesting up tothe last
moment his innocence of those monstrous crimes,
with which he was charged ne received my word,
that, having failed to save him from felon's
doom, I would, as long as l lived, do every thing
in my power to clear his memory, did that the
more readily, as was then already perfectly con-
yinced that he suffered wrongfuly Since that
time his unfortunate children, both here and in
Europe, have constantly implored me to wipe out
the terrible stains which now cover the name Of
their father. Though times do not seem propi-
tous for obtaining full justice, yet, considering
that man is mortal, I viii, before entering upon
a. perilous voyage, perform my duty to those inno-
cent orphans and also to myself .....
! Twill now give a brief statement If the causes
which led to the arrest and execution of Captain
Wiz. In April, 1865, President johnson issued
O. proclamation stating that from evidence in pos
session of the Bureau of Military Justice, it ap-
peared that Jefferson Davis was implicated in the
assassination Of Abraham Lincoln and for that
reason the President offered reward of $1,000
for the capture of the then fugitive e1Presdent Of
the Southern Confederacy That testimony has
since been found to be entirely false and mere
fabrication and the suborner Conover is now under
sentence in the jail of this city, the two perjurers,
whom he suborned, having turned State evl-
cence against him, whilst the individual, by whom
Conover was suborned, has not yet been brought to
justice.
Certain high and influential enemies of Jefferson
Davis, either then already aware Of the character
Of the testimony Of those witnesses, or not think
ing their testimony quite sufficient to hang JEFF.
Davis, expected to find the wanting material In
the terrible mortality of Union prisoners at Ander-
sonvile. Orders were issued accordingly to arrest
subaltern officer, Captain Wirz, 9 poor, friend
ded in the surrender of General johnson, and, be-
sides foreigner by birth. On the 7th of May he
was placed in the Old Capital prison at Washington,
and from that time the greater part OF the North
ern press was busiy engaged in forming the unfor-
tunate man in the eyes of the Northern people in
to such monster that it became almost impossible
for Tim to obtain counsel Even his countrymen,
the Swiss Consul General publicly refused to &C
cept money to defray the expenses OF the trail
he was doomed before he was heard AN even
the permission to be heard according to law was de-
MED him. To increase the excitement and give
eclat to the proceeding and to infame still more
the public mind, the trial took place under the
very dome of the Capital Of the nation; A mill,
arbitrary and despotic generals in the country, was
formed, and the paroled prisoner of war; his
wounds still open, and so feeble that he had to re-
cline during the trial on sofa, carried before the
same. How that trial was conducted, the whole
world knows. The enemies of generosity and hu.
manty believed it then to be sure thing to get at
Jefferson Davis.
Therefore the first charge was that Of conspiracy
between Wirz, Jefferson Davis, Seddon, Howell
Cobb, R. B. Winder, and number of others, to
kill the Union prisoners The trial lasted for three
months, but, unfortunately for bloodthirsty nsti:
gators, not particle of evidence was produced
showing the existence Of such q conspiracy; yet
Captain Wirz was found guilty Of that charge =
Having thus failed, another effort was made. On
the night before the execution Of the prisoner, a
telegram was sent to the Northern press from this
city stating that Wirz had made important dis
closures to General L. c. Baker, the well known
detective, duplicating Jefferson Davis, and that
the confession would probably be given to the
public On the same evening, some parties came
to the confessor of Wirz, Rev. Father Boyle and
also to me, one of them informing me that high
Cabinet officer wished to assure Wirz that if he
would implicate Jefferson Davis with the attroci-
ties committed at Andersonville, his sentence
would be commuted. He, the messenger or who
ever he was, requested me to inform Wirz Of this.
In presence Of Father Boyle I told Wiz, next
morning, what had happened. The Captain, SIM
ply and quietly replied: "Mr Schadee, you know
that have always told you that | do not know
nection with me as to what was done at Anderson
vile. If knew anything of him l would not be-
come traitor against him, or anybody else, even
to save my life'' He likewise denied that he had
made any statement whatever to General Baker.
Thus ended the attempt to subom Captain Wirz
against Jefferson Davis. That alone shows what
man he was. How many of his defamers would
have done the same? With his wounded arm in a
sling, the poor paroled prisoner mouted, two hours
later, the scafo1d. His last words were that he
died innocent t-and so he did. The 10th day OF
November, 1865, will indeed be black stain on
the pages Of American history.
To weaken the effect of his declaration of inno-
cence, and of the noble manner in which Wirz
died, telegram was manufactured here and sent
North, stating that Mrs. Wirz, (who actually was
nine hundred miles on that day from Washing
ton), had been prevented by that Stantonian deus
er n,achina, General L. c. Baker, from poisoning
her husband. Thus, on the same day, when the
unfortunate family lost their husband and father,
cowardy and atrocious attempt was made to
blacken their character also. On the next day l
branded the whole as an infamous lie, and since
then have never heard it again. though it ema.
mated from Brgadier General of the United
States army.
All those who were charged with having con-
spired with Captain Wirz have since been releas-
ed, except Jefferson Davis, the prisoner, of the
American "Casle Chillon." Captain Winder was
let off without trial. and if any Of the others have
been tried, which l do not know, certainly none OF
them have been hung: As Captain Wirz could
not conspire alone nobody will now, in view OF
that important fact, consider him guilty of that
charge. So much, then, for charge No. l.
As to charge No. 2, to wit: Murder in violation
of the laws and customs of war, / do not hesitate
to declare what about a hundred and torty.iye
out of hundred and sixty witnesses on both
sides declared during the trial-that Captain
Wirz never murdered or killed any Union prison
ers with his own hands, or otherwise. All those
witnesses (about twelve to ifteen) who testified
that they saw Captain Wirz kill prisoner, have
sworn falsely, abundant proofs Of that assertion
being in existence The hands Of Captain Wirz
arc clear of the blood of prisoners Of war. He
would certainly have at least intimated to me a
knowledre of the alledped murders with which he