Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-04-25
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM CAPT,
WlRZ'S COUNSEL.
where Does the Responsibility for the An.
dersonville Horrors Restf

,yhere Does the Responsibility for the An
dersonville Horrors Restf
a TO the American People:
Intending to leave the United States
N for some time, feel it my duty before
u start, to fulfill, in part, promise
(which, a few hours before his death, /
gave TO my unfortunate client, Cap
= Rain Wirz, who was executed at Wash
Ington, on the 10th day of November,
lS65. Protesting up to the last mo
ment his innocence of those monstrous
crimes with which he was charged, he
received my word that, having failed
TO save him from a felon's doom, /
would, as long as lived, do every
Il thing in my power to clear his men,
q Ory. / did that the more readily, as
Il was then already perfectly convinced
Y that he suffered wrongfully. Since
u that time, his unfortunate children,
both here and in Europe, have con-
stantly implored me to wipe out the
terrible stains which now cover the
name of their father. Though times
do not seem propitious for obtaining
full Justice, yet, considering that man
is mortal, will, before entering upon
perilous voyage, perform my duty
to those innocent orphans and also to
myself.
l will now give a brief statement of
the causes which led to the arrest and
execution of Captain Wirz. In April,
1865. President johnson issued a pro-
clamation stating that, from evidence
in the possession of the Bureau of
Military Justice" it appeared that
Jefferson Davis was implicated in the
assassination of President Lincoln,
and for that reason the President of
fered a reward of 100000 for the
capture of the then fugitive ex-Presi-
dent of the Southern Confederacy.
That testimony has since been found
to be entirely false and mere fabri-
cation, and the suborner, CoDover, is
now under sentence in the jail of this
city, the two perjurers, whom he sub
orned, having turned States evidence
against him, whilst the individual, by
whom he 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 testimo-
nv of those witnesses, or not thinking
their testimony quite sufficient to hang
jeff. Davis, expected TO find the want
ing material in the terrible mortality
of Union prisoners at Andersonville
Orders were issued accordingly TO ar.
rest a subaltern officer, Captain Wirz
q poor. friendless and wounded pris-
oner of war, Che being included in the
surrender Of General Johnston,) and
besides foreigner by birth. On the
18th of May he was placed in the Old
Capitol Prison at Washington, and
from that time the greater part Of the
Northern press was engaged in form.
ing the man in the eyes OF the people
into such a monster that it became
almost impossible for him TO obtain
counsel. Even his countrymaD, the
Swiss Consul General, publicly refused
to accept money to defray the expen
ses Of the trial. He was doomed be
fore he was heard and even the per
mission TO be heard according to law
was denied him. To increase the ex
element and give ecldt to the proceed
ing, and to infame still more the pub
lic mind, the trial took place under
the very dome of the Capitol Of thC
nation. A Military Commission, pre-
sided over by one Of the most arbitra
ry and despotic generals in the coun
try, was formed, and the parolod pris
oner of war, his wounds still open
and so feeble that he had TO reclin,
during the trial on q sofa, carried be
fore the same. How that trial wat
conducted the whole world knows
The enemies Of generosity and human
ity believed it then to be sure thing
to get at JEFF Davis.
Therefore, the first charge was tina
of conspiracy between Wirz, Jefferson
Davis, Seddon, Howell Cobb, r. B
Winder and number Of others, t
kill the Union prisoners. The tria
lasted fer three months, but unfortu
nately for the bloodthirsty instigator
not a particle Of evidence was pro
'duced, showing the existence Of sucl
conspiracy vet Captain Wirz wa
found guilty of that charge Having
thus failed, another effort was made
On the night before the execution o
the prisoner telegram was sent 4
the Northern press from this city
stating that Wirz had made importan
disclosures to General l.. C. Baker
the well known detective, duplicating
JEFF. Davis, and that the confession
would probably be given to the public
On the same evening some partie
came to the confessor Of Wirz, Rev
Father Boyle, and also to me, one o
them informing me that high Cab
net officer wished TO assure Wirz tha
if he would implicaie Jefferson Davi
with the atrocities committed at An
dersonville, his sentence would b
commuted. He, the messenger, o
whoever he was, requested me to in
form Wirz of this. In presence O
Father Boyle, / told Wirz next morn
ing what had happened. The Car
tain simply and quietly replied, "Mr
Sohade, you know that / have Away
told you that do not know anythinI
about Jefferson DAVIS. He had n
connection with ne as 70 what wa