The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-23

~ ~ ally Nuc ElH4lAA1c1s DuI II kNe
prisoners desired TO take tbs matter in their
own hands they had his full permission TO
put the raiders out; that he could guard
them on the outside as well as on the inside
That morning when the rations were being
distributed Key and / went over 10 the
south side, where the raiders had their head
quarters. Determining to arrest the ring
leader. We tramped around for some time
before we located our man His name was
Dick Curtis, and he was the most blood
thirsty villain | ever knew. Fortunately
for US we found him asleep. Each had hold
OF one Of his arms when he awakened no.
litely told him while held big knife over
him that il he made any resistance would
kill him, and he evidently believed what
said, for he marched along without a
word.
passed Capt Wirz, who called out TO a
crowd that had congregated: Those who
want TO rid the prison OF this bad element
stand by these men'-meaniDg Key aud my
self. After that we had plenty Of followers
Before the day closed we had over 400 raiders
on the outside.
Now said Capt wirz, understand
me. do not propose TO have anything to do
with this affair. You will have to dispose
OF these men according to your own judg-
ment. | will guard them on the outside
any reasonable length of time
A TRIAL DECIDED ON.
THE matter was discussed in the stock
ade for two days. We finally decided to
give the prisoners a fair and impartial
trial Accordingly, regular court was
organized, every officer swearing to fulfill
the duties Of his Office to the best of his
ability. Because Of the active part had
taken in the matter l was chosen Judge
Paul Vandervoort, now an attorney Of
Bloomington, ILL.,, was one OF the assistant
prosecuting attorneys. Hon. Ivory Fl.
Pike and Edward Kerrigan, also Of Bloom
ington, were deputy sheriffs
Finally the day for the trial arrived aud
the paneling OF the jury began, which was
very slow work indeed. The prisoners at
| torneys were allowed to challenge uutil
they tired. The prisoners seemed disposed
TO treat the matter as joke at first. but it
soon dawned upon them that the matter
was decided and grim reality. Each
| prisoner had one or more lawyers to defend
him. The trial was conducted in the pres
ence Of Only officers Of the court. the Jury
and guards. Capt. Wirz lent his
presence occasionally and expressed
much satisfaction at the prog
ress being made The trial closed at the
end OF six wseks. during that lime six
raiders were convicted of murder in the
first degree, the evidence against them be-
AhB OVERWHELMING. LICK Alien, whose
home was in New York city, was the first to
receive sentence. Two others, Curtis and
Mosby, were also of New York The names
OF the others l have forgotten. One hum
dred Others were convicted OF various dep
Relations and punished accordingly.
The trial clcse on july 10. and the
hangings were set for July IL. The execu-
tlons took place inside the sto ckade over on
the south side, where the raiders had had
fhnNV hoo N...a. -
hangngs | remember distinctly. One was
the breaking of the rope when Mosby was
sprung through the trap, and the other was
the confession Of Curtis, who coollv stated
that the raiders had taken over fifty lives (:
that is, he had kept a record of that many
and then stopped.
The weapon that he used was 3-inch
iron bolt. into which was fastened a
wooden handle twelve inches iu length.
With this billy he himself crushed out the
lives OF thirty men.
AFTER the hanging regular police force
was organized. l was cleo ed chief Of police
and also acted as police Judge. The prison
was patrolled day aud night. Very few
thefts occurred after the hanging. When
one did occur a regular police court trial
followed. IL the prisoner was convicted he
received punishment according TO the de-
gree OF the crime. Flogging and gagging
we're the chief modes of punishment"
Leroy l.. Key, who acted as executioner,
was quartermaster- sergeeHt OF Company
M, Sixteenth Illinois cavalry. Ivory NJ.
Pike, ex-member OF the Illinois legislature,
Mack Wright. present sheriff of De Witt
county, Illinois, Richard NJ Snyder of Iowa
and John Belcher. now of Bloomington,
were members Of big Pete's" prison mess.
On Nov. 20 "Big Pete" was one of the 500
who were released, leaving Andersonville
for Savannah, and from there TO the bay,
where they embarked on the steamer Black
Hawk for Annapolis Nd.
big Pete" spent several weeks there and
in Baltimore, when he departed for st.
Louis, where he was discharged Jan. Z,
1865.