The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-12
Sentenced to BE Hanged for the Al
legged Crime, Under q Secret
Agreement, mt Indianapolis.
COMPUTATION OF SENTENCE
SECURED FROM JOHNSON BY Eff
FORT OF EDWIN NJ. STANTON.
Supreme Court Reviewed the Case
and Reversed the Commissions
Decision-A Few "Reminiscences.
Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
HUNTINGTON, Ind, Dec. n.-Coi.
Lambdin p Millgan. whose connection
with the Knights of the Golden Circle dur
ing the civil war led to his trial and con-
viction on the charge Of treason. but who
was saved from the gallows through the In
tercession of Edwin M. Stanton, Governor
Morton and others. is dying tonight at his
home here. He has taken no nourishment
for several days ana his physicians say
death is only question Of few hours"
Lambdin p. Milligan was born near st.
Clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio. March
"a, 1872. He was reared on a farm in
sparsely settled community and his oppor-
tunities for education were limited, but at
the age of nineteen he had received, for
that period, a fairly good education. He
taught school a number of years and read
law with Shannon Alexander. Of st. Clairs-
vile. In the class with him, and one of his
first antagonists in lawsuit, and after
wards to figure strongly in his own career,
was Edwin NJ. Stanton. Mr.. Milligan prac-
ticed law in Ohio until 1s45. when he came
to Huntington county and engaged in that
profession. He lived on a farm for a while.
but during such time he continued the
practice In Huntington and Wabash coun-
ties. From that time until 1860 he was
recognized as a strong lawyer. comparing
favorably with Colerick. Coombs, John U.
Petit, Daniel d. Pratt and John r. Cof-
froth. and was known throughout the State
as man of ability and learning as a law
yer He was not remarkable as an advo-
a1n ov,1
forceful speaker. He endeavored always to
convince and not merely to please. He was
held in the highest esteem by the judges
and fellow members of the bar, and was
known as simply lawyer. Little was said
or known of him politically outside his own
county until the eventful campaign of 1860.
He then became distinguished an ultra
leader Of the Breckenridge wing of the In
diana Democracy and was strongly opposed
to Stephen A. Douglas and with this began
and prepared the way for the events rap
idly following that made him known all
over the world
Mr.. Milligan believed there was no con-
stitutional power to prevent secession, or
to coerce the seeding States and from the
beginning of the war of the rebellion con-
stantly opposed the administration at
Washington. He, however. attracted but
little attention until early in the year 1864
when he became a candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor of the State
of Indiana, but was defeated by Joseph E.
Mcdonald in the convention held July u.
1864. During the campaign Mr.. Milligan
made number Of speeches In which he
uttered sentiments that attracted the at
tention of the government. He was charged
with being member of what was known
as knights of the Golden Circle" and on
the 5th of October, 1864. he was arrested
at his home west of Huntington by order
of Major General Hovey. military command
ant of the District of Indiana, and placed
in the military prison at indianapolis.
PLACED ON TRIAL.
On the 21st day Of the same month he
was placed on trial before a military COM
mission comprised of the colonels of eleven
volunteer regiments, the president OF the
commission being General Silas A. Col
grove, afterward well-known circuit judge
OF eastern Indiana. He was brought before
this commission, which had been detailed
and convened by General Hovey, upon
charges of conspiracy against the govern
ment of the United States. giving aid and
comfort to rebels against the authority of
the United States; melting insurrection, dis
loyal practices and violation of the laws of
war. The specifications were. without CIV
ing them in great detail that he had joined
and aided at different times, between Oc-
tober, 1862 and August. 1864. a secret So
ciety known as the Order Of American
Knights. or Sons of Liberty. for the pur-
pose of overthrowing the government and
the authority of the United States; that
he held communication with the enemy;
conspired to seize munitions of war stored
in arsenals and to liberate prisoners OF
war; resisted the draft, and that all was
done at a period of war and armed re-
bellion against the authority Of the United
States at Indianapolis and other named
places in Indiana, a State within military
lines of the army of the United States and
the theater of military operations. which
had been constantly threatened by the en-
envy with invasion.
Mr.. Milligan appeared before this COM
mission in person and by John r. Coff-
roth, his attorney. For his plea he said he
was not guilty, and he presented a special
plea to the commission that such commits
sion had no jurisdiction 20 try him nor TO
sentence him, for the reason that he was
not a resident Of one Of the rebellious
States. nor a prisoner of war. nor a soldier
but a citizen of Indiana. who was never
in military or naval service. but was. while
at his home. arrested by the military power
Of the United States and imprisoned. He
also asked for a separate trial. This mo-
tion was overruied. His plea as TO juris-
diction Of the court was presented in a
strong argument. This was also overruled.
two Of the members Of the commission only