The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-05-08
THE HANGING OF HENRY wIRz.

Intending to leave the United States
for some time, felt il my duty, before
start. 10 fulfil in part a promise which a
few hours before his death, l gave to my
unfortunate client, Captain Wiz. who
was executed at Washington, on the o h
day Of November, 1860. Protesting up
TO the last moment his innocence Of those
nonstrous crimes, with which he was
charged, he received my word, that. har'
Ing failed TO save him from feon's doom,
l would, as long as lived, do everything
In my power 10 clear his memory. did
that the more readily, as I was then AL.
ready perfectly convinced that he suffered
wrongsulty. Since that time his unfortu,
nate children, both here AMI in Europe,
have constantly i,np'oted me TO wipe out
the terrible stains which how cover the
name Of their father. Though times do
not seem 2ropi,'ous inr obtaining full jusr
tice. vet. considering that n man is NOR,
tai, | will. before entering upon periions
voyage. perform my duty to those inno
cent orphsns aud also 10 mvself.
will now give brief statement Of the
causes which led to the arrest an d execur
tion Of Captain Wuz In April. 1865.
President Johnson issued = proclamation
stating that, from evidence in possession
OF the "B,uean Of Military Justice" il
appeared shat jefferson Davis was impli'
Gated in the assassination Of Abraham
Lincoln. and for that reason the President
offered \ tewarl Of $1,000 for the cap
turs Of the then fugitive ex,President Of
the Southern Confederscv. That testir
mory has since been found TO he entirely
false and = mare fabrication, and the sub
ofner Conove- ia now under sentence in
the Jail Of this citv. the two perjurers.
whom he sub"rned having turned State
evidence again., him, whilst the individ
uAl, by whom Conoret was suborned, has
no, vet heen brought To justice.
Certain high aud influential enemies Of
Jefferson Davis, either then already
aware of ,hs character. ofs,he testimony
OF those witnesses, or not thinking their
testimony quite sufficient to hang Jeff.
Davis, expected To fluid the wanting ma
terisl in tho terrible mortality Of Union
prisoners at Andersonville. Orders we're
issued accordingly to arrest a subaltern
officer. Captain Wirz, a poor, irisndless
and wounded prisoner Of war. (he being
included in the surrender Of General John
,on. and. besides, = foreigner by birth.
On the 7,h Of May he was placed in the
Old Capital prisSn at Washington. and
from ih.t time the greater part Of the
Northern pre-" WAS busiIy engaged in
forming the unfortunate man in the ewes
Of the Northern people into such mon
ster that il became almost impossible for
hi,u m Obtain counsel. Even his coun-
trymen, the Swiss Consul General public
lysrefussd to accept monsy to defray the
expenses OF the trial He was doomed
Gefore hs WAS heard and even the per-
mission to be heard according to law was
denied him. To increase the excitement
and give eclst to tho proceeding, aud to
iuA.me stil more Che public mind, the
trial took place under Tho very dome Of
the Capital or the nation. A military
commission. presided over by one Of the
nos, arbitrary ard dsspo,ie generals ip
tho soa.try. Was formed, and the psroled
ptisonsr Of war, his wounds still open,
and so feeble that ho had to reclins dur.
ing the trial on a sofa, carried before the
Name. How that trial was conducted,
The whole world knows The enemies Of
generosity and humanity believed It then
10 he sure thing TO get at Jsdetson
ID vie.
Therefore, .hs first chargs was ,ha, Ct
conspiracy between Wirz, Jefferson Davis,
Seldom, Howell Cobb, II. b WiDder. and
= numbs, Of Others, to kill the Union
prisoners. The trial lasted for three
months. but, unfortunately for bIood,hirs,
~ in.,igntors, not = particle ot evidence
wa. produced showing the existence Of
such conspiracy; yet Captain Win
was found guilty Of that chargel Hss
ing thus faiea, arolher effort WAS made,
On the nigh, before the execution Of the
prisoner, telegram wss sent to the Nor
therp press from this city, stating tba,
Wirz bad made important DISCLOSURES to
General L. G.. Baker. the well known de-
tec,ive. duplicating Jefferson Davis. and
that the confession wOoh probably be
given to the public. On the same even
ing, some parties came to the co"fr.sor oI
Wirr. Rev. Father Boyle. aud s.o to