Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-12

near she warnings of the birds around
ahs VI and occasionally the growing OF \
COCK. and. as fcrts and bastilcs slat: oeei,
| TO date the order Of proceedings. l judged
had at last found a home in a dun
| geon at Fort Washington
1t was relief to think that had at
| last arrived at my final destination or
| resting place, as every movement 50 far
| had been attended in each Instance with
! increased pain and suffering. The canvas
| bag still continued unon my head, ] never
! having been allowed Its removal, to wash
! my swollen face. ] had been but a few
| days incarceratcd al this place when
was aroused at midnight in my cell by
| MaJor-Gencral Hartranft. holding in his
| nand lantern and some papers, which l
saw after the removal OF the hood from
my head
He asked me IL ] could read, to which
/ replied in tho affirmative. He then
| placed in my hand a paper containing the
charge and specifications against me and
others. which perused in that silent mid
night hour by The dim slinlmer Of a IAN
tern. after which the hood being replaced
upon my head he retired, leaving me to
ponder over the charge alone in my
cell.
The next morning l was removed from
| my cell and conveyed up several flights of
stairs. TO be seated upon a bench when
the hood was removed: and I found myself
in the presence Of :: Number of the mar
tai heroes of the United States. decked
III their slittering uniforms. and on either
side victims like unto myself. weighted
| down with chains and irons.
THE MILITARY COURT.
The court Of military inquisition was
convened. the charge read to each by
Assistant Judge Advocate Bingham. who
asked if we had any objection to any
member of the court. AS it was useless
to object, each replied in the negative.
! pleaded mot guilty TO the charge.
After the pleading of cacll~ of those ar
raigned was over the hoods were placed
upon cur heads as formerly before re-
noval from court, and / was removed
amidst The clanl.ng of irons again to my
cell TO wait there until the next morn
ing.
The next day ] was taken from my
cell my clothing and the hood removed,
.,1lu was ordered to battle myself. can
not conceive how escaped from receiving
my death as tho water used was as cold
as ice itself, ii having been taken from
the barrels used for making ice-water.
My whole frame shook and trembled from
contact with this cold fluid. until my
limbs nearly shook from beneath my
body
\ detective, seeing me shivering and
trembling i'll such manner, inquired
what allied me, if 7 were III. etc. when
he knew within his own vile heart the
causes Of my suffering. After the bath
Il change of clean clothing was furnished.
! was taken back TO my cell, when
found that differently constructed hood
had been prepared for a head cover of
much more torturous and painful pattern
than the one formerly used.
1t fitted the head tightly. containing
cotton pads which were placed directly
over the eyes and ears. having the ten
doncy TO push the eyeballs far back in the
sockets. One small aperture allowed about
the noce through which TO breathe and one
by which food could be served TO the
mouth, thence extending with lap ears
on either side of the chin. to which were
attached eyelets and cords the same eN-
tending also from the crown Of the
head backwards to the neck. The cords
were drawn as light as the. jai!er in
charge could pull them. causing the most
cNcruciatng pain and suffering, and then
tied in such a manner around the neck
that it was Impossible to remove them.
HOODED AND 1RONED.
Thus hooded and douDly ironed. / re-
11laincd day after day. until months had
circIed themselves away, condemned I'M
heard crime imputed and branded as
guilty before guilt had been established
even by that irQuisition court, q military
commission. before which ! was after
wards tried in rnocsery. This manner of
treatment continued uninterrupted, the
hoods never being removed except when
/ was brought before the courI and al
ways replaced on exit. if but a mon1cn,
Interviewed from on or ABOUT April ., 10
June 10. 1868.
The surgeon III charge expressed his
opinion that the hoods had the same
effect upon the head and brain as if it had
been cncased in a poultice. These intlic-
tons Of punishment and torture We're
practiced upon nearly all of the others.
They have all passed to the bar of God,
suffering in earth ended, and silently
awaiting justice at the hands Of the
Almighty III whose presence truth shall
be revealed. Man can hide it from his
fellow-,nan. but the truth Will be estah-
lished before the bar of God
This was the justice netcd to me be-
fore trial What could be expected when
the trial itself took place. During the
period Of orr suffering AtzeroGt was daily
taken from his cell into the outer prison
ward his irons and hood removed. ac-
co1npanied by detectives and h!reling
spies holding out TO him hope of life III