Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-26

Dnnoioloeo ana taken on TO another part OF the
fort; his head was lathered; two men held him
while others standing around prepared to shave
| his head and spoke of what Was to be done. They
drew his he al back and in effort TO put him sel
| In more con Portable position the bandag ge waa
pushed from his eyes, when witness discovered
| he was in a casemate or other large room and
| that cannon had been trained upon him, and
| that a man seemd to be in the act of firing
F, it directly at Linn. Witness was very much
| alarmed supposed they were about to kill
him, and begged for little time to make state
| ment, and meet his fate. They replied that there
vas but little time then, but they would give him
fifteen minutes. Witness stated all he knew of
the occurrences on the night of Ashburn's mur-
der ; where he was at various hours of the night;
how and when and where he heard of the killing
and affirmed most positively his own Innocence
and n entire ignorance of any fact circum-
stance going to impicate othe s. He spoke OF his
own previous character as q citizen and member
OF the church, saying he had told them the truth;
that he could not utter a falsehood to implicate
innocent persons; and that if for tbis they till
persisted in taking his life. they must do it.
Witness was finally taken back to his CELL was
left there for some days lcnger-during which he
was repeatedly interrogated-and was finally per-
mltted to walk out, and, at length, was allowed
the freedom of the fort. This privilege grant
ed, as he was informed, because the parties ex-
aminlng him believed he was innocent, and knew
nothing against others. Witness was put to work
about the fort.
The persons who blindfolded Witness and in
terrogated him, he understood, were detectives,
perhaps officers in the detective force.
John Stapler, ano her prisoner, witness learn
ed, Was put through the same process himself.
One of the detectives subsequently said to witness
that Stapler had told two tales, which contradict
ed each other. He (Stapler) WAS finally put int o
the "swest-box," and kept there from Saturday
morning until Sunday night. Does not know
| whether the answers finally extorted from him
however, that Stapler stuck to the last tale he
told, which, witness informed, referred to
Barker, another prisoner, and amounted to but
little.
Witness Uas told that if ba 1ivulood apvtbino
he saw or heard while at Fort Pulaski they would
put him in there for five years. There was some
lumber at the fort, which, the prisoners of the
4rrson told witness, had been brought tn ere to
erect gauo"s to hang the prisoners from Col
umbus.
Ex-Provisional Governor James johnson. the
present Collector OF the port OF oavannah visited
th9 fort while the prisoners were there. Heard
him AK Barker who killed Ashburn; said he
(Johnson) knew every one of the damned rascals,
and so did he, (Barker.i He denounced Dudley
Chipley and DR.. Kirksee, and other prisoners, as
damned scOundrels and assassins, and said they
were the leaders of it. johnson was very violent
and denunciatory. Barker made no reply that
witness, who was standing above, could hear.
It was reported at the fort that Alex. Stanford,
an emigrant to Liberia from Columbus, while de-
tanned two weeks IN Savannah, waiting for the
ship to sail, made several visits to Jas. johnson,
and for the sake Of money, was induced to make
| statements, the OBJ ject of which was to implicate
others and it was even said many, if not all, the
recent arrests had been made in consequence of
his pretended disclosures. Heard Johnson talk
ing to Stephens the same day he talked with Bar,
ker, but some work was going on in tie neighbor-
hood, and could not distinguish what was said
The white prisoners, at least Daniel and Betez,
were taken off and examined also, but what was
said and done witness did 1T learn.
soldier prisoner, or one who appeared to be
such, told witness that he authorities intended
to hang five Or six of the principal prisoners. and
send the others to prison for ten twelve years.
For nine days witness had no meat to eat. and
supposes the other prisoners Jared no better. His
breakfast consisted Of bread and coffee, without
sugar his dinner rice soup. Supper same
as breakfast. After the nine days meat was given
to prisoners
Some of the soldiers of the garrison were kind,
others were not. Of the latter class were two who
used to gather up the food for prisoners and
throw it to them rs if they had been dogs.
When the prisoners were taken to Atlanta from
Fort Pulaski, witness was brought aleng with
them, though in a separate car, as far as Macon.
when he vas told he could return to his home in
Columbus.
The two detectives, who seemed to have chief
control in the examna alton of prisoners said they
had come from Washington.
Prisoners had no bedding or blankets.
JOHN WELLS.
Witness
p. W. ALEXANDER.
T. SHEPHERD.
VIM KING.
JOHN MCGENDREE.