The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-13
A LIRBY PRISON STORY.
An Indiana Officer VINO Made Court
Martial of Himself and Wanted to Kill a

AH Andlanh OMCGr VINO MbuG u COuFB-
Martial of Himself and Wanted to Kill a
Traitor.
Washington Letter in Philadelphia Record.
OF the six officers of the regular army who
found themselves in Libby prison in 1S63-e4,
one was q tine-lOoking colonel from Indiana
choekfull of energy. He worked like a steam
engine until he got out OF Libby. Once he found
his tunnel too small for his burly forms once he
was checked at the outer end OF 1t by two
or three armed Confederate soldiers, who had
been quietly waiting for him: again, q clever
ruse was detected Just as he got to the middle
OF the gate and so 1t went until he had made
half dozen attempts. But he never gave up,
and finally got ont. and Is now a prosperous cltl-
zen of indianapolis, trifie stouter than when
he was in Libby and good deal richer, but other
wise unchanged. As Uncle Remus says. the
Colonel's min wuz allus wukkln':" After
two or three OF his attempts 10 get out of Libby
had failed he began TO suspect that his failures
we're the result OF treschery in the prisoners
camp. Exchange, like kissing, went by favor.
The Colonel, after thinking each failure over,
came to the conclusion that some poor devil was
selling his manhood for mess OF pottage
-currying the favor which would "exchaDge"
him to his home by betraying the plans of his
c0Inpanons-in-arms to the 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 mid
night. Ihavs found the traitor. We will court
martial him tonight" At midnight the six
men met in a dark corner and iu whispering
voices organized drum-head court-martlal.
The Colonel presented the name of the suspect
and then his proofs. In the ballot that followed
each of the six voted guilty" 'Now," said
the Colonel, "shis Is not farce. We must
vote a sentence, and then we must execute it. !"
VERY WELL" SAID the next man. "Well," said
the Colonel, 81 vote for death, The wretch de-
serves It," $50 do l." said the next, and 50 on
down to the sixth-a Pennsylvania major. He
knew the culpIlt, 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 He said all this to the other mem
bers of the court, and then he added: "But you
know we are not legal court-martial. We have
no authority TO t-certainly no authority to
KILL We may sift the evidence presented against
a man for our own satisfaction, but cannot
sentence, much less kill him. The most we can
do is to prefer charges against bin to the War
Department We can't kill him" Suddenly in
terrupting himself ne said Colonel whats tn at
in your hand2" 1.-THE rope" said the Colonel,
grimly; 1--WE been plating it we talked
shirt, torn it into narrow strips and woven it in
60 something that looked like rope. NOW, Ma
lor, he said, when It was handed back to him.
what you have said Is all very well. 1t does
credit TO your heart as well as to your head. But
you're outvoted; the majority is against you.
The sentence of tine court is that the scOundrel
shall die, and die he will this minute, for I'll Kill
him myself. Como, Captain" he said to the
brawny Irishman next him, "you and 1 will
settle the rascal" "Why, you wouldn't strangle
hun In his sleep, would youl" asked the Major,
also on his feet as the others moved toward
whispered the Colonel, "why not9" He
can't pray, and we can't hare any noise" "YOu
never will, said the Major firmly, getting
in front of the Colonel; II won't let you-you'll
have to kill me first-I won't stand by and see
You stain your honest hands with his dishonest
blood in such way that. Why, man, it
would be murder. You would be a murderer
won't permit it," Gliding softly before the rest
he reached the sleeping man and sat down be-
side his head. There he sat till the gray morn
ing came stealing through the chilly atmos-
phere. Long before that time the Colonel and
his companions, baffled and disgusted, had
stolen away to their sleeping places, carrying
the plated rope with them. AS soon as the
Major could see the traitors face in the dim
light of the dawn, he walked him aud told him
all that had occurred. Now, SIR" he said
sternly, 81 saved your life last night, although
believed you worthy OF death. 1 won't do iL
again Isaved your life for my sake, not for yours
My advice to you is that as soon as the guard
comes in for roll-call, Won get out of Libby, and
soon as you get to Washington, get cut OF the
army If you're in the army when get out I'll
prefer charges against you, and if meet you
I'll kill you" Trembling with excitement, the
wretch, without word OF denial or pailIatIOn
got up, and, as soon as the guard came in, got
out The stalwart six forwarded charges against
him from Libby. When they got out Of prison
they found him out of the army, so they dropped
the matter. The traitor is in the army now, re-
1nstated by act of Congress, 1 believe, bnt the
Major, who prOmis ed to kill him on sight. is un-
der the green sod of the prairie. Still, the Colonel
would make things lively for the traitor ii they
met face to face