Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-31

lhe prlbOneFh.s 80 hc dueotioh he'u'eaJ
arises, upon what foundation were the
arrests based OF the twenty-five per.
sons arrested on aud since the 18th OF
May, four we're snborned by bribery, tor
ture and threats. y. i. ...l.I .-rf--
Nine, after confinement in felon's cells
and much suffering, were released without
any explanation whatever. The remain
ing nine are the signers Of this card.
The prisoners arrested in May were ut
Fort Pulaski before their removal 70 At
lania. Their cells were as dark as dun
geons, without ventilation, and but four
by seven feet. No bed or blanket was
furnished. The rations consisted OF q
slice OF fat pork three times each week,
and beef too unsouud to eat the remain
ing days. A piece Of bread for each
meal, soup for dinner and coffee for
breakfast finished the bill Of fare. An
old oyster can was given each prisoner,
and in this vessel both coffee and soup
were served.
1t may be said that the soldiers re-
ceiyed nothing better, but these citizens
were not soldiers, and their friends were
able, willing and anxious to give them
every comfort. Why we're they denied
the privilege? Refused all communities
ton with their friends, relatives or coun-
sci, they we're forced to live in these hor-
rid cells night and day, prostrated BY
heat and maddened by myriads Of mus
quitoes. The calls Of nature were at
tended to in q bucket, which was re-
moved but once in twenty-four hours.
At AtMcPhersonBarracks we were placed
10 cells Eve feet eleven inches wide by
ten feet long. These cells were afterward
divided, reducing their width to two feet
ten inches. This is terrible, but true.
Upon the arrival Of the officer sent from
Washington to investigate the arrests,
the partitions were removed Neither
bed nor bedding was furnished for from
two to five days. We were not permitted
to see our friends, families or counsel
until after memorials to Congress had
aroused the whole country to the enor-
NIFTY of the outrage. Even after this,
our letters, breathing the affection and
sympathy Of wife or mother, we're sub
jected to inspection. The prison 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 us breath of fresh air to soothe our
distended, bursting veins, we would ask
him to close the door, preferring to risk
suffocation rather than endure the intol-
cradle smell.
During all this time we were ignorant
of the charges against us. OF course we
accepted the common rumor that our
arrest grew out of the murder of Ash
burn; but after our counsel was permit
ted to visit us no definite line Of defense
could be planned in the absence OF all
specifications.
We were furnished with copy of the
charges against us on the 9th day OF
June, our trial having been set for the
goth. The intervening day was Sunday,
and we we're one hundred and forty miles
from the scene of the murder and the
residence 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
disrespect.
Recent developments new to us have
shown him to be infamous, and his treat
ment of suborned witnesses will be proven
by those who know the facts. Our friends
and the press have not exaggerated the
barbarity with which we were treated,
but they should not throw the responsi-
bility upon a contemptible detective who
would only glory in the notoriety his IN
fanny would give him. We fly for higher
game. Gen. Meade told Gen, r. ii.
Chiffon (during the war Gen. Lees
Adjutant), upon the eve of his departure
from Atlanta, that he had left full instruc-
ton with Gen. Sibley concerning the dis
position of the Columbus prisoners.
These instructions controlled our treat
ment, and leave no issue as to the ques-
ton of responsibility. At the proper
time, and in q manner that will not
intrude upon your valuable space, we
will make good our position, and will
show conclusively that this unparalleled
persecution was attempted solely for
political purposes.
The officers and soldiers of the garri-
son were as kind as their orders would
permit, and respectful, with but few ex-
ceptions. Gen. Dunn's courtesy during
the trial, especially after Dukes abb,
was in strong contrast with the Nvindic'
tive, ungenerous, unmanly and ungen-
tlemanly conduct of Joe Brown.
OF the able and untiring efforts of our
counsel we cannot speak in too high
praise. y
To the people of Georgia, and espe7
cislly to our good friends in Atlanta, we
return sincere thanks for their sympathy
and assistance.
@. G. BEDELL.
X. A. WOOD.