Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-05
4 thrilling Incident at Libby

OF the six officers of the regular
army who found themselves 10 Libby
prison in l863-6i, one was 6ne look
ing Colonel from Indiana big bodied
and big hearted fellow, choek full Of
energy. He worked like a steam en-.
CINE until he got out of Libby. Once
he found his tunnel too small for his
burly form; once he was checked at
the outer end of it by two or three
armed Confederate soldiers, who had
been quietly waiting for him; again a
clever ruse was detected just as he
got to.the middle Of the gate, and so it
went until he had made half a dozen
attempts. But he never gave up and
fually got out, and is now a prosper,
ing citizen of indianapolis, trife
stouter than when he was in Libby
and good deal richer; but otherwise
unchanged AS Uncle Remus says
the Colonels min wuz allus wukin.
Alter two or three attempts to get out
Of Libby had failed he began TO sus-
pect that his failures were the result
Of treachery in the prisoners camp
The Colonel, after thinking each iea-
ture over, came 10 the conclusion that
some devil was selling his manhood
for a mess oil pOttage-currying the
favor which would exchange him to
his home by betraying the plans Of his
companions in arms to their enemy
He looked about him for the man.
Cautious inquiries at length gave him
such information as prompted him to
say to each of the other five regular
army officers: Meet me at such a
spot at midnight. | have found the
traitor. We will court marital him
tosnight."
At midnight the six men met in a
dark corner, and in whispering voices
organized drum head court martial
The Colonel presented the name oil
the suspect, and then his proofs. In
the ballot that followed each of the
six voted guilty" Now" said the
Colonel, this is not farce. We
must vote a sentence, and then we
must execute it. very well" said
the next man. We'll" said the Col
onel, ~ vote for death The wretch
deserves it," $50 do l." said the
next, aud so on down to the sixth "a
Pennsylvania Major. He knew the
culprit, a Pennsylvania like himself,
better than the rest. He knew that
he was quite capable OF the crime
charged against him. He had no
doubt Of his guilt. He wanted to see
him punished. de said all this to the
other members Of the court, aud then
he added "But you know we are not
a legal court martial. We have no su>
thority to act--oertainly no authority
to kill. We may slit the evidence
presented against man for our own
satisfaction, but we cannot sentence,
much less kill, him. The most we
can do is to prefer charges against
him to the War Department. We
can't kill him" Suddenly inter.
ruptipg himself, he said: Colonel,
what's that in your hand2' "The
rope," said the Colonel, grimly;
I've been plating il as we talked, p
and he passed it around. He had
taken an old shirt, torn it into
aarrow strips aud woven il into some
thing that looked like rope. Nov,
| Major" he said, when ii was handed
back to him, what you have said is
all very we'll. Il does credit TO your
heart as we'll as to your head. But
you're devoted; the majority is against
you The sentences OF the Court is
that the scoundrel shall die and die
he will this minute for III kill him
myself. Come, Captain" he said to
the brawny lrishmRn next him, you
and | will settle the rascal. "Why.
you wouldn't strange him in his sleep,
would you2" asked the Major, also on
bis feet as the others started toward
the sleeping form Of the traitor. Ger
tinly,H whispered the Colonel; why
nou He can't pray, and We cant
have any noise You never will -
said the Mailr firmly, getting in front
Of the Colonel II won't lot you
you'll have to kill me first. | won't
stand by aud see you stain your honest
hands with his dishonest blood in such
a way as that. Why, man, il would
be murder. You would be a murderer.
won't permit IT," Gliding slowly
before the rest, he reached the sleep,
ing man and sat down beside his head.
! There he sat till the gray morning