New-York tribune., 1868-07-03
THE KU-KLUX KILN.
TRIAL OF THE PRISONERS CHARGED WITH THE
MURDER OF GEORGE w. AsHBURN.


ATLANTA. June 30 1863
The Military Commission of which Brig. Gen.
Caleb c. sbley is President assembled at Mcpherson
Barracks, Atlanta, Ga, the 29th OF June, and pro-
ceeded with the trial Of Elisha Xirkscey. Columbus O.
Bedell, James w Barber. William A. Duke Robert Hud
son, William d. Chipey, Alya c. Roper James L. Virgins
Robert A. Wood, Henry Hennis. Herbert w. Blair, and
Milton Malone for the murder Of George W. Ashburn on
tho 3lst day OF March last.
cutiOn by the Hon. ex.Gov. Brown and Capt. smyth.
u s. A. while formidable array OF Legal talent wa;
the Atlanta Bar; Martin j. Crawford formerly mem
Der of Congress. and the Hon Alexander H. stephens
Great excitement exists I'm the South regard 10 this
trial, and items from Washington papers thus add
fuel to the flame for It & seems a. Il sSGatc "a Sts%Ps s
fearful state Of affairs existing at the South.
Col Lamar who hs. been here ard ., EerYo 10 tie se Of To.
Columbus prisoners leaves homewan tonight Prominent wyen
S. t.a at 4s: the &c S Sq 1 % % S G
Sehoe TIE Pre,dia iS GTsns tSs as' S he %Sysa
s himself Si'''r affecting the Columbus '''A' 'A' "' "
The stories in regard TO the cruel treatment Of the
prisoners false aud unfounded The prisoners have
signed voluntary statement setting forth among other
things that their treatment has been and IL all that they
could desire In regard to the theory advanced that In
OF the respectabty OF the prisoners ana the POSI-
Of testimony against them t Is best answered BY the
fact that Col schOfediwho attended the trial. with it is
after listening to portion Of the testmoDy-the casa
proceeding as usual without interruption.
In order that THE TRIBUNE readers may more readily
understand the developments that Will be made on the
trial. let simply recapituate the facts preceding ana
connected with Ashburn's muder.
Ashburn was member OF the Georgia Constitutional
County. He was thoroughly Southern man-southern
by BIRTH residence and education But he was also n
cause led him to Rebel prison He the unfinching
and constant friend of the freedmen and their
to them. The d-d scalawag has unbounded influence
with the nggers and should be got rid Of was the re-
Columbus. large, tall man. with couDtenance serious
to aud beard and hair Of iron gray might
bav lin
into the Georgia Convention He was noted for his appt
cation, industry steady attendance, and enthusiasts
at the hands of the Rebels OF the last acts Of his life
disabilities incurred by the Rebellion. He threatened
with DEATH through anonymous letters he returned 10
Columbus and it is said he fingered Ia Atlanta before
Driven from every hotel Columbus he sought refuge
a mulattO woman The house is small. with but three
en- suite and he occupied d ths third from tue
forty came 10 the house. AS many as could,
%
ted says one witness They were NICE dandy young
flushed through the house broke down Ashburns door.
2d % an an os or TeSs sO red mp %
down on his knees and shot through the legs OF the
The Col Lamar mentioned in the dispatches Is editor on
The Columbus sun and Times. Here Is his account OF the
murder. published April l:
Yesterday morning the city startled by the intell
gence that G. W. Ashburn, notorious radical adyen-
turer and who hoped by the aid of scalawegs and
negroes 10 reach the United states Senatorshlp from
Georgia, had been murdered on the previous night Tho
man thoroughly detested every white person hada
most profound contempt for him. socially and poticay
yet indignation melted in the public mind that such
foul blot should be cast upon the fame OF our city Thai
respectable white men should body plan murder was
incredible and the suggestion was cast aside as unwor
the Radical clique who thus endeaver iDnre quiet cit
They hated him most cordially. Wen venture
man in Columbus was engaged in the affair"
The thus describes Ashburns appearance as he lay
He had on only black overcoat and an undershirt
A bloody sheet had been thrown over the body The
,,Iaxy aftn hlaaHtN "
placid-wearng, however, bitter, hateful expression
even in death Between the br9ws was c9tted gore
Blood was gathered in little puddles around the body.
There were only RTee m soSt SoISs IN e 81
balls found-One in the bed aud number In the
the dead was covered with short: grizzly beard"
1t appears that Dr. Elisha j. Krkscey. one OF the prs
oners charged with the murder present at the
oners inquest assisted the autopsy and gave the fol-
i'"i"e COLUMBUS, GA, M-ch 81. Issa
GrSTEssS: A county physician having been er,niss
the body OfG Ahburi found the body prssenng ss .oooa.
caused By shots rom sIsar@' supposed 70 o pistol, one S y sS ess
which in ny opinion direct his death Two ehi
% Sn Rs % ssDs S' S% 'T Ai % lI ' s
three inches S a1 m AS % II s @ @ ss % 5 oa aGs St .
midway the knee and ankle The direction o. this ball indicated
forehead could bar proved ata g sa
@ sGd al. ss a S%s ma ~ have " HSS S s @ T Rs
the 1'S s%cerex frst that DE- Kirkscey will be able to
make appear that such GOODNESS s the cooness OF In
| nocence. -,
the assassination expressed by the Georgia newspapers
was neither very deep very energetic Here are Two
specimens single extract from Milledgeyle paper
Ashbrrn Of Columbus rather notorious AieAufe Georgi
and e delegate Muao Convention who rendered h!ssD
REGULARLY obno1ous killed Monday ught the @ alt. BY par
lies unknown They number 10 l went to his abSa
and broke and shot elm three umrs be sh
the mort wound AZ the Inquest no one eae r
;e.s s;n y S pee bad band some %
hsrs Of the Radical party for an object But all wrapped ~J"
On Tadsv morning the city was startled BY IN. intelligence O.
aid negroes reach the United states SenAionhp 10"
eors had murdered the previous night The nan was tAs
b soca and poucay; gaaon melted IN the public
nina that such shoa the fame Of the ot Thai
unworthy ofcredeuce for second sa
pon clearly pou Radical clique Sho thus endyor to asns
aeDty be respectable white mA0 IN Co!aoba ~
ote sufficient You see he was scalawag, and that.
after ALL IL was most probably the Radicals who Killed
him. . . - - =, .,,us
with all the life and property saving paraphernaua OF
NIayor Aldermen Marshal, police, ana watchmen, sncn
murder committed by party OF % men, says one & VII
gather from so different houses 10 one spot on sa
pleasant night, band together, consult mareD, preak
open doors and amid curses pistol nrlng, ana Womehs
shreks kill man. and then return with lplsto1s, anu
marks each the way he came, unseen unhearu uhho0oo
| OF police or watchmen.
| Surely 'twere strange II II were so -,
Yes the combined police and municipality were shaoe
10 detect suspect any one OF murderig hsou,
except indeed the id Radicals and it was not CON-
yenient TO accuse any particular one among them.
trial are respectable in appeata,os
and most Of them Of the best social position whefe n''
T6ey will have fair trial, and II they are innoeen,
God speed their acquttal MORE AsoS'
"