Year: 1865




The court met pursuant to adjournment, but
as its session was deliberative and with closed
doors until its business was completed, of
course no report is possible.


CLOSING SCENES.


Tho verdict was made up and the doors
ness having been completed, General Dudley
arose, and in few pertinent and we'll chosen
words thanked the members of the Commits.
SION, each personally, for their uniform cour-
tesy and kindness toward himself and for the
patience with which they had met and per
formed their peculiar and trying duties, stating
. that he had never met on Commission or
Court Martial q moro agreeable party of off,
GERS, or one with whom his personal acquaint-
| ancc had in so brief time become so pleas
ant, especially for himself and the other mem
| bers of the Board, he extended thanks to
| the Judge Advocate for the able and efficient
manner in which he had performed all tho du-
ties pertaining to his laborious position, and
assured all that he should ever cherish an
agreeable memory of the period of their asso-
citation


When the General had finished these re-
marks, Col. Barnard, for the Commission,
thanked the President for his kind remarks,
and said that speaking for himself he was sure,
he but spoke the sentiments of every other
member of the Commission, when he said that
all fully and heartily reciprocated the kindly
sentiments to which the General had given ex-
bo ri,
press their admiration for the energy, system
and thoroughness which had characterized the
Presidents administration; they were con-
vinced that to his efficiency and devotion to
business it was owing, that the Commission
had accomplished much work in so sh ort a.
time. al on the Commission, he thought.
must have acquired q lesson by his example of
faithful and untiring public service.


The Judge Advocate followed in few re-
marks, thanking the members for their for
bearance toward him, and stating that W hen
ever he had been obliged to differ from their
opinion it was as J udge Advocate, and not
personally.


The Commission then adjourned SINE die.
The President, however Immediately asked
the members Of the Commission together to
hear paper read, which it was proposed by
| the Judge Advocate to submit to the public,
and which it was thought best all the members
Of the Commission should hear read, in order
might be corrected. This paper was as fol-
lows:


TO THE PUBLIC.


Whereas, a newspaper published in the city
of ST. Louis called the Democrat, in its issue
OF October Il, 1865. contained statements
respecting the treatment before tho Military
| Commission convened at Columbus, Ky,
| for the trial of Emerson Etheridge, of the re-
porter Of the Missouri Republican, which state.
| ments are calculated to mislead the public, by
umputing unfairness to the action of the Com
| mission in the instance cited, aud were in
other respects.erroneors, desire to present thu
following correct statement of The facts:
No representative of the press appeared to
make report of the proceeding OF this Com
mission until the second day, when one was
announced at the commencement Of the ses
sion. Since it is a right of military courts to
Withhold any publication of their proceeding un
til the conclusion of their sessions, the Presi
dent of the Commission at once informed ths
members present, that a reporter had arrived
and desired to know whether they had any
objections to the daily publication of RECORD
of the proceedings. 1t was not asked by any
one, nor was it known to q majority of the
Commission what paper was represented by
the reporter. The Commission decided thai


there was no objection to the publication o


reports, provided they contained no garbled OF
distorted statement of the evidence calculated
to mislead or prejudice the mind of the public


and to guard against such al evil, it esta bishel


a regulation that all reporters should subject


ifit was deemed necessary, their notes of tes


timony to the Judge Advocate for comparison
with the official and sworn record kept by him


The reporter present on that day, acceded tc


the terms of the regulation, and was admitted
to every privilege consistent with the charac


ter of the tribunal, and had extended to hin
!. every facility possible, by the Commission aat


its officers.


On the third Gay another gentleman was


present at the session of the Commission. whom


since he sat at the same desk with Mr.. Etheridge


many members supposed to be clerk he hat


EMPLOYED. When it occurred 10 the Judge


Advocate that the gentleman might be repol
ter for the press, he, in strict conformity wit


his duty, and not in a discourteous manner, a
has been alleged enquired whether he wa


Mr.. E,heridges clerk. He replied that The wa
not, but that he was reporter The Judge AG


vocate said, 'Rerporter for what?'' He reptile
ssFor the Missouri Republican. The Jude
Advocate then informed him he would.bs oblige
, to conform to the regulation the Commission ha


established with regard to reporters. This


replied that he would not do. The Court wa


then cleared, and having determined to abid
by its rule already previously established an
, enforced with respect to representatives
other papers, he was informed, when til
a Court opened, that unless he could conform
Q the rule he would be excluded as a reporter
4 and was requested to leave with the Judg
d Advocate the notes of testimony which he ha
8 already taken.


It This is the simple statement of the facts re
y latng TO that occurrence and the Commisslo
1t finds ample confirmation of the wisdom of tn
1t regulation established, in comparison Of I'll
e simple, accurate and dgnified report publishe
rs in the Cairo DAILY TINES, which Mr.. Ell
le cridge, the accused, has daily compllmentt
l. for its truth to facts and libcrallty of spri