Have our readers ever witnessed a trial by court-martial? It is not like the ordinary court of justice. First, the charge is read, as thus:
“Lieutenant Edward Wells, of Company H, Battalion of B—— C——, is charged with the willful murder of Harry Hayward, a captain in the U. S. army.
“2d.—Specification.—1st. In this, that said Lieutenant Edward Wells, did, on the night of the seventh day of November, 1861, assassinate and murder said,” etc.
Following this, in any case of the kind, would be found a list of “specifications,” setting forth in detail, all the chief events connected with the crime.
The prisoner was brought to the tent of Major D—— to answer to the charge. He was very pale, yet perfectly composed; and when the question was asked, the ready and firm response was:
The Judge-Advocate, a noble-hearted but just man, informed the prisoner that he was to act, not only as “prosecuting counsel,” but as “counsel” for the prisoner, and that he (the Judge-Advocate) must give the prisoner the benefit of any doubt that might arise in his favor.
To those of our readers not familiar with the _modus operandi_ of a court-martial, we would give the following information for their benefit:
The doors of the court are closed to all outsiders. The prisoner makes his plea, and retires. The witnesses are brought forward and examined, but no cross-examination is allowed. If a question is to be asked by any of the officers sitting upon the court, it must be reduced to writing, and silently handed to the Judge-Advocate. If he sees fit to put the question, it is done; if not, it is thrown aside.
We will now proceed to a brief summary of the trial.
“Lieutenant Edward Wells, you are charged with the willful murder of Harry Hayward, a captain in the United States service. What is your plea. Guilty, or _not_ guilty!”
“Let the first witness be called, George Swasey, colored.”
The person familiarly known as “Swasey’s nigger” took the stand. When brought forward, he glanced around as if fearful of something, and then asked:
“Is Massa William Nettletum where he can hear dis chile tell de truff?”
“You have nothing to fear from _any_ person, if you _do_ speak the truth, and _all_ the truth,” replied Major D.