Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-11
Grant Winlda tho Sword.

election. The interference Of the Presi'
dent has been solicited over and over,
but to no purpose. II Mr. johnson is
powerless, he should justify himself by
saying so. II he is afraid Of injury TO
himself, the prospect OF many sufferers,
dealt with by the military in those quar-
ters, is gloomy indeed Men are not
only arrested, and tried without warrant
OF law, and convicted on er parte tesii-
mony, without privilege for fair defense,
but besides being punished for petty Of
fenses with unhsard of cruelty, they are
abused and outraged before trial, as If
to strike terror to as many as possible
Besides the numbers OF cases heretofore
made public as sent to the Dry Tortugas
and otherwise punished, We copy the fol-
lowing letter Of Mr.. L. S. Cody, describ-
ing his arrest and brutal treatment for
nothing. Is the President so weak, or so
comfortable in the White House, that he
cannot attend to such matters2 Will be
permit such infamous tyrants as Meade,
Pope and Swayne to crafty and safe
their Internal malice at will2 The fol-
lowing is copied from the Atlanta (Ga.)
Constitttionalist:;
On the night of the 2Oth Of April last,
soldier was killed in n negro house OF
i'll fame in Warrenton; this was during
the election. / had been engaged all
that day at the store of H. Martin; at .
o'clock / went to my room, where l
usually slept, and at about ii or IL
| o'clock that night a soldier came TO my
door. where myself and two other citi-
ems we're sleeping, and demanded en-
trance; the door was opened and the
frst salstation was lone Of you move
and | will blow your Cd Id brains
OUT" a musket was presented and
cooked at our heads. | was ordered to
get up and dress. demanded the cause,
and the reply was, "You will find out at
the courthouse" | was conducted
to the courthouse and placed an
der a stronE guard in room.
Still no informa ton of the cause OF my
arrest. Soon after the body Of the de.
ceased soldier wa, brought in and laid
by nv side. This and conversations
] heard induced me to suspect the cause OF
I my arrest. Next morning coroner
Jury was summoned, as j was informed.
| i was kept in confinement during the
whole examination in another room, and
not allowed to see friends or counsel
| kept in the presence o. an ohcer'
Two lying negroes, of bad character,
were the witnesses against me, and no
counsel allowed to be present to cross
examine them. Under what influences
these witnesses we're induced to swear
away the life Of an innocent man have
not been able to learn. =,
On the 28th following, was carried
by r,,ilroad to Milledgeville pnder guard,
and then put in low, damp room IN the
basen aent of the old McCombs hotel,
and then, by the order of Capt. Knapp,
adult. mt commanding the post, manacles
we're put upon my legs. In the room
we're placed four or FIVE soldiers, under
arrest; they attacked me, kicked me,
abus ed and blooded me, until was
rescued by the sergeant OF the guard
/ was informed that application was
made to General Meade for
transfer to the civil authorities, pronls-
ing to let me be sent to prison, or to be
releas ed on bail, and also to apply to
Judge Reese to call special term of the
court for my trial, which was refused /
learned that after the refusal q day was
set for my trialin Milledgeville-the 18th
day of May-without notice to me or my
counsel. This order was countermanded,
and was ordered in irons to Atlanta for
trial.
On the 18th day Of May, two days after
notice to my counsel, | was marched on
foot, with shac kles on, from the new bar
racks to the city, about a mile or more
distant to the court. There | was ar
raigned in irons, and plead not guilty.
Justice to humane officer, MeJ. Bray
ton, com mander of the barracks, compels
me to say that he caused my irons to be
removed, and they were never put on me
any more. The room | was confined IN
was n small, narrow cell, with but one
small opening in it; the heat and stencil
of sink, within few feet of my door,
made the confinement almost intolerable.
/ was, however, allowed to consult my
counsel here, and receive provisions from
my friends at home.
For twenty days after the trial begun
l was confined there, being marched by
my guard every day to the court tor trial
The court consisted of Gen. Saxton, Col.
Swinney, Col. Sullivan, Major Brayton
and Major Maley; of them l have not
one word of complaint to make-they
gave me time for trial, and after a fair
trial found me not guilty. In the mean
time the negro witnesses against me were,
from first to last, in military custody,
liable to be iRmpered with and induced
to swear against me. What suffered Is
only knowssto myself and God.
All this arrest without affidavit or
warrant, and suffering and trial ended
in acquittal, showing that this loss OF lib.
erty was not only without authority OF
law, but wrong in fact / will add that
this arrest and imprisonment was made
with free knowledge Of the facts. and
which was proven on the trial, that l was
about three hundred yards from the
place of killing when it took place,
in bed and asleep, and that 1t was
not possible for me to have been
there. At one time during my con-
6nement in Warrenion ! was guarded
by a citizen Of the town, who was my
enemy, and who pressed a negro man
with a gun into service, tn aid him in
prerenfing my escaped This task was
no doubt pleasant one to the white man,
but an unpleasant one TO the poor negro,
Who could not refuse These statements
are all true. and will not be denied; il
they are, they can be established to the
satisfaction Of everyone who has feel
inc for the oppressei. Z. S. CODY.
kVarronton Ione ~ 1863.