Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-08-19
COLUMBUS PRISONERS.
Account of their Arrest, Imprisonment,
Treatment, &c.

following Drlef account OF our arrest and
confinement bv the military authorities.
During the night of the 3Oth of March,
George w. Ashburn was assassnated IN a
low negro brothel in Columbus, Georgia
On the 9th day of April thirteen citizens
were arrested by Captain Mills, of the
United States Army. On the 3Oth they
were released under bond. Four of their
number have never been rearrested The
man Mills stated that he did not know the
charge against the party arrested, but no
one believed him, and the fact is only men,
toned to show the character of TIE pro-
ccedings. On the 18th day of May four
arrests were made, on the oath four, on
the I'd of June four more, on the 10th sew
en-, followed the next day by two others
On the 18th another, and the last arrest oc-
CARED. These arrests were made by the
order of General Meade. Several Of the
undersigned have 10 their possession writ
ten orders which show this fact. The ar
rests were made without warrant, affidavit
or charge. We were kept in total igno-
rance of the er pQrte evidence against us,
and the name of our accusers were con-
cealed from us. No one who has followed
the trial will be surprised at this apparent
neglect.
While we were clamoring for the char
ges against us, Joe Brown, Whitley, Ma
ior Smyth and others were suborning Betz,
Marshad Bennett, and Amanda Patterson.
The evidence for tie prosecution ackDowl-
edged that disclosures were made under the
acts of Imprisonment. This is bad enough,
but worse feature is that the date of
these disclosures is placed by the witnesses
themselves subsequent to the arrest of a
majority of the prisoners. The question
naturally arises upon what foundation were
based ? OF the twenty, two persons arrest
ed on end since the IA tn of May, four were
suborncd by torture, bribery and threats
Nine, after confinement in felon's cells and
much suffering, were released without any
explanation whatever. The remaining nine
arc signers of this card. The prisoners ar
rested in May were at Frot Pulaski before
they were remove to Atlanta. Their cells
were as dark as dungeons, without vcntila
ton, and but four feet by seven. No beds
or blankets were furnished. The rations
consisted of slice of fat pork three times
each week, and beef too unsound to eat the
remaing days. A piece of bread for each
meal, soup for dinner and coffee for break
fast, finished the bill of fare An old oys-
ter can was given each prisoner, ard in
this vessel both coffee and soup were served.
1t may be said that the soldiers received
nothing better, but these citizens were not
soldiers, and their friends were able, will
ing and anxious to give them every com
fort; they were denied the privilege. Re-
fused all communication with friends, rcla
tives or counsel, they were forced TO live
in these horrld cells night and day, pros
trated by heat, and maddened by myradS
of mosquitoes. The calls of nature were
attended to in a bucket, which was re
moved odce in twenty-four hours.
At Mcpherson Barracks we were placed
in cells 5 feet 10 inches wide. By 10 feet
long. These cells were afterwards diyi-
ded, reducing their width to feet 10
inches. This is terrible, but true. Upon
the arrival of the officer sent from Wash
ington to investigate the arrests, the par
tions were removed Neither bed or bed
ding was furnished for from two to five
days. We were not permitted to see
our friends, family or counsel until after
memorials to Congress had aroused the
whole country TO the enormity of the out
rage. Even after this, our letters, breath.
ing the affections and sympathy of wife
or mother, were subjected to inspection.
Fhe prision sink was immediately at our
cell doors, and emitted stencil that was
horrible.
AT times when some humane soldier
was willing to transcend his orders, and
give breath of fresh air to sootbe our
distended, bursting veins, we would ask
him TO close the door, preferring to risk
suffocation rather to endure the intolera-
ble smell.
During all this time we were ignorant
of the charges against us. Of course we
accepted the common rumor that our ar
rest grew out of the murder of Ashburne,
but after our counsel was permitted to
visit us no definite line Of defense could
be planned in the absence of all specii-
cations. We were furnished with copy
of the charges made against US on the q
of June our trial having been set for the
30. The intervening day was Sunday,
and we were ore hundred and forty miles
from the scene of the murder and the
residences of our witnesses.
Several of the undersigned never saw
the detective Whitley until weeks after
their arrest. When they did meet him
he never presumed to treat them with
disrepect.
Recent developemants, new to us, have
sworn him to be intaTous, and his treat =
ment of suborned witnesses will be proven,
to those who know the facts. Our friends
and the press have not exaggerated the
barbarity with we were treated. but they
should not throw the responsibility upon
a contemplate detective, who would only
glory in the notoriety his infamy would
! give him. We fly for higher game
General Meade told General r. II. Chill
ton, (during the war Gen. Lees Adju-
tant, upon the eve of his departure from
Atlanta. that he had left full instructions
with General Sibley concerning the dis