Punishment of a newspaper publisher.
March 31.--
Edmund Ellis, publisher of the
Boone County (Mo.) Standard, was tried before a military commission at
Columbus, Mo., on two charges:
First, the publication of information for the benefit of the enemy, and encouraging resistance to the government and laws of the
United States.
Second, violation of the laws of war by publication within the lines of the troops of the
United States, in a public newspaper, of articles and information intended and designed to comfort the enemy, and invite persons to rebellion against the
United States. One of the criminal publications was styled, “Letters from the army ;” another, “
Root, Abe, or die;” a third “News from
General Price.”
The commission found the prisoner guilty of the charges and specifications, and sentenced him to be placed and kept outside of the lines of the
State of Missouri during the war, and that the press, types, furniture, and material of the printing-office of the
Boone County Standard be confiscated and sold for the use of the
United States.
Gen. Halleck approved the finding and sentence, and directed the printing-office to remain in charge of the quartermaster until further orders; that the prisoner be placed outside the
State of Missouri, and that if he returned during the war, without permission, that he be arrested and placed in close confinement in the Alton military prison.
The proceedings being returned to the War Department, they were approved by the
Secretary, and an order issued that the form of procedure should be adopted in like cases by the commanders of all the military departments.
