Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-10
The ASHBURN PRISONERS IN
GE0RGyk
Interesting Report OF General Meade.

Major General Meade has made a report of
his action, and that OF the military officers
under him, in the matter OF the arrest and
manner ot treatment of prisoners charged with
completely in the murder of Ashburn. who gas
KILLED III a quarrel at Columbus. Georgia on
the 5Gtn day OF March last. IL VIII b. recon
lected tnat some Of the parties TINS arrested
have published statement OF cruelties and in
human treatment they allege thar they Were
subjected 70 whilst under arrest, aud that
Reed one OF the detectives enaployei by Gen
Meaoe ana Gen Grant TO o"work up the case
mas also recently made an afiida Wit Intended to
show that certain persons amcag the prisoners
Were subJected TO bar barous treatment. under
authorlfy Claimed 10 have been received from
the military commander. As yindIcation of
himself against these allegations. Gen Meade
mas asked ana received authority 10 publish
an account of his doings
1t appears that the murder of Ashburr who
had been a member OF the Georgia cOnsIitu-
tIcnal convention. caused great deal of ex
CiteInent, which Ultimately assumed the form
OF POiitcal controversy. II was charged
thatGeneral Meade and some OF his subordi-
mates entered into the pursuit and tria! of the
alleged mUrderers in part for the qualification
OF partlsanS and 10 make political capital The
report shows that the civil authorizes AZ a..
lunibus had undertaken 70 ferret ont and bring
10 trial the persons that killed Ashburn, and
that ne military commander, whose head
quarters Were IN that place at first commend.
I'd the action OF the civil officers, bat after
wards recommended that the military take the
CaSeln hand ThereuPOn Major Gen Meade
ordered military commission TO try such par
ues as might be arrested and charged with tns
~ NE y number Of srrests We're ma te upon
the suggestion OF various parties, but Is pacl-
ally upon the direction OF the detectives, Whit
ney and Reed, who were employed by the ad
wee of Gen. Grant, anu n the request OF g IN
Ms ade.
The officer in charge of Fort Pulaski csrti-
fiss, officially, that TO discover whether two
eolOred men wells and Stapler) Were IN pos
session Of information maternal 10 the case,
1.-The detectives thought proper 10 Operate some.
what upon their feelings This operation upon
the feelings consisted IN latheTing their heads
preparatory TO shaving them, blindfoiding the
prisoners and placing them on a easement o.
the fort There me bandage was taken off. and
before the prisoners view there stood q soldier
ready 20 fire OF a cannon which was pointed
Al th0 accused. Whilst these threatening oper-
aiIU ssGeEe gOl9g on the detectives endeayo.ed
totOrce ME prisoners 20 make some disclosures
ne murder, but in vain, for they pro-
reSu hey knew nothing of the killing. They
were men placed IN a ''sweat boz" They were
allowed 70 remain here thirty three hours,
during which time they were nearly suffo-
Gated, and again questioned, but with no sue
Cess.
The prisoners having written letters COM
blaming or small size of tie cells IN which
they were confined, they Were forwarded u
the commanding general, who shortly after
gave instructions that ssif these prisoners will
give bonds not 10 attempt TO escape, or 10 hold
intercourse with any persons but such as are
authorized by the commander of the sub dis
trict OF Georgia, The prisoners can be removed
10 the officers quarters and be made as COM
surveillance
Another charge of the released prisoners is
mat they were arrested without affidavit or
warrant or charge, ana Were not permitted 10
confer with counsel friends. The report
upon This point shows that in the first instance
and for some days. the order was that The pris-
oners be not permitted 10 converse with any
persons whatever; but that al a later period
Jhey were allowed TO confer with counsel
The report shows further that after the ar
rests had been made on the 3Uth OF June last
trEnETAl VI informs md d-,..
Secretary OF War thst upon leaving Washing
ton he was OF opinion that civil prisoners
might and should be turned over 70 The civil
authorities upCn the admission of the State
hut the Developments OF the Ashburn murder
case nave modlIiec this opinion, and he thinks
th;it al military commissions pending when
the State Is admitted should be carried ont by
the m ltary authorities, and asks If Congress
can take action in the matter.
four days prIor 10 the foregoing commuuica-
ton, namely, on the 10th OF June, Gen. Meade
sent 20 the Secretary of War the following COM
munication: II ceem ~ of the utmost import
aDCe not only tor the ends OF iustics, but for nv
personal vIndication, that the Ashburn MUIR
deTers should be tried by military cLmmiss ssion,
and j have accordingly ordered the trial for
Monday next. Before going North retained
EX-GoY. Joseph Brown as counsel for the
Government. 1 deem his services of great i'm
pCTtance, not only for his legal ability, but for
The mn uence his position in the State will give
the prosecution He has been actively EN-.
ployed during my absence, but to-day, on my
ASKING him v hat his fee would BE-, he replied
nye thousand dollars. 1 stated i did not feel
authorized 10 pay such an amount without the
sanercn OF superior authority. He expressed
his willingness 10 withdraw and not 10 COM
munieate any information he had obtaiped.'
Gen. Meade then ad vlses the employmeu, of
Governor Brown. in view Of the inportane,.
of ihe case and the fear that the defendants
would hire HIM, and concludes by saying the
evidence Is OF the most positive KIND, and
lsaves no ground 10 doubt the conviction of the
principal actors