Trial of the assassins and conspirators for the murder of Abraham Lincoln, and the attempted

92 Pages·2009·11.34 MB·English

Co.
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OF THE
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ASSASSINS AND CONSPIRATORS
FOR THE MURDER OF
(SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.)
• POSTEAIT OF MRS. SURRATT.
The Evidence in Full, with Arguments of Counsel on both sides,
and the Verdict of the Military Commission.
PHILADELPHIA:
BAECLAY k CO., 602 AECII STEEET.

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PORTRAIT OF DE, MUDD.
PORTRAIT OF MRS, 8UREATT,
livvAtL iu)a
TRIAL
OF THE
4-
ASSASSINS AID CONSPIRATORS
FOE THE MURDEK OF
ABEAHAM LIISrCOLlSr,
AND THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF
VICE-PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND THE WHOLE CABINET.
THE MOST INTENSELY INTERESTING TRIAL ON RECORD.
CONTAINING
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THE EVIDENCE IN FULL, WITH ARGUMENTS OF COUNSEL ON BOTH
SIDES, AND THE VERDICT OF THE MILITARY COMMISSION.
CORRECT 3L,IKIElSrESSES
AND GRAPHIC HISTORY OF ALL THE ASSASSINS, CONSPIRATORS, AND
OTHER PERSONS CONNECTED WITH THEIR ARREST AND TRIAL.
PHILADELPHIA:
BARCLAY & CO, 602 ARCH STREET.
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Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1866, by
BARCLAY A CO.,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Eastern Dietriet off
Pennsylvania.
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PRINTED BY SMITH & PETERS,
Franklin Buildings, Sixth Street, below Arch,
I'hi'.adelphia.
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THE TRIAL OF THE ASSASSINS.
black. On his knees he rested his manacles,
APPEAKANCE OF THE COffSPIRATOKS-
which, like those of Arnold, were connected
with an eight-inch iron bar. Atzerodt is a
THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM.
man of some five feet six inches in ffeight,
Court is held at the old penitentiary in
and had it not been for his manacles might
THK
Washington, in an upper room, with two win-
have been taken for a mere spectator. He
dows at the east and two at the north. These
possesses a style of face most common in
windows are ironed with flat bars. Along
Southern Germany. His hair and beard are
the wall, on the west side, on raised seats,
of a reddish, sandy color. His eyes are light.
were the prisoners. Dr. Mudd, David C. Har-
One police-officer sat beside each prisoner.
vold, Lewis Payne, Edward Spangler of Ford's
Mrs. Surratt is a stout, buxom widow,
Theatre, Michael O'Laughlin, Atzerodt. and
fitting Falstaff's ideal—"fair, fat and forty"
Samuel Arnold. Sitting outside the paling
—though it is ascertained she is far be-
was Mrs. Surratt, leaning on a small green
yond that period of life, having nearly
baize table. Beyond Mrs. Surratt, on the
reached her grand climacteric. She was
other side of the table, near the northern
dressed in black, and looked a little flushed :
windows, sit the counsel for the accused, who
but we failed to notice that "cold, cruel
are as follows—Mr. Thomas Ewing, son of the
gleam in her gray eyes" which some of
Ohio ex-Senator, Attorney Stone, Mr. Walter
the gentlemen of the press have attributed
S. Cox, the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, and
to them.
Messrs. Aiken and Clampett. Dr. Mudd
The charges against the conspirators accuse
looked calm, collected, and attentive, leaning
them of conspiring together with one John
on a table as if to relieve his wrists from the
H. Surratt, John Wilkes Booth, Jefferson Da-
weight of the handcuff's that incumbered
vis, George N. Sanders, Beverley Tucker.
them. Arnold was restless, raising his hands
Jacob Thompson, William C. Cleary, Clement
to his hair with a nervous twitching, and con-
0. Clay, George Harper, Cieorge Young, and
stantly varying the direction of his looks—•
others unknown, to kill and murder Abraham
now glancing from face to face, then bowing
Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and Ulysses S.
his head upon his hands, which he supported
Grant, President, Vice-President, and Lieu-
on his knees. His handcuffs were somewhat
tenant-General of the United States. The
peculiar, not being connected, as usual, with
specifications accuse Harrold of aiding Booth
a chain, but by a bar about eight inches in
to murder the President; Payne of an assault
length. Payne, dressed in a gray woolen
on William H. Seward, Secretary of State,
shirt and dark pants, seemed more intent in
F. W. Seward, A. U. Seward, E. W. Hansel,
trying to obtain a full view of the sunny land-
and G. F. Robinson, with an intent to mur-
scape through the barred windows than of
der ; Atzerodt with an intent to kill Andrew
confining his attention to the details of the
Johnson; Michael O'Laughlin with an intent.
proceedings. As he looked, a strange listless
to murder Ulysses S. Grant; and Samuel Ar-
dreaminess pervaded his (ace. His dark hair,
nold, Mary E. Surratt, Samuel A. Mudd, and
irregularly parted, hung over his face and
Edward Spangler, with aiding and assisting
often clouded his dark-biue eyes. His thick
the conspirators in their designs. It appears
and somewhat protruding lips were as if glued
from the minutes of the Military Court that
together. His legs were crossed, and his
on Saturday, Samuel Arnold, through his
ironed hands rested upon his knees. O'Laugh-
counsel, Thomas Ewing, Jr., set up the plea
lin was keenly observant of every move made
that this Military Court has no power to try
in the court. He leaned back with his head
him on the charges preferred, for the reason
against the wall, fully exposing his broad but
that in these times of peace, resort should be
not high forehead, crowned with a full bushy
had to the civil tribunals. The Court, after
head of black hair. He has dark eyes, and
deliberation, overruled the plea. Arnold then
a pale bloodless complexion, and wears a
asked that he be tried separately from the
heavy mustache and wide imperial, both very
others, but this request was also denied.
(21)
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THE TRIAL OF THE ASSASSINS.
person who first called his attention to Atze-
FIKST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
rodt's occupation of the room as a suspicious
On Saturday, the 13th instant, the Court
character was a clerk or private watchman in
engaged in the trial of the assassination con-
the building. [Lee's testimony was afterwards
spirators at Washington altered one of its
corroborated by the evidence of Robert R.
rules so as to admit the reporters for the
Jones, the clerk who recognized Atzerodt as
press. The testimony taken heretofore in the
the man who hired the room.]
(.•ase of the several parties arraigned was a
portion of that which the government deems
THE SURRATT FAMILY.
it necessary, for the present, to withhold from
Lewis A. Weichmann was then sworn, testi-
the public. When that testimony had all
fying that he made John H. Surratt's ac-
been rendered, Brigadier-General T. W. Har-
quaintance in the fall of 1859, being together
ris stated that he.arose to object to the ad-
at Charles county, Md., until 1862; renewed
mission of Reverdy Johnson as counsel plead-
his acquaintance in Washington in January,
ing before that court, and that he did this
1863 ; commenced boarding with his mother
upon the ground that, in an opinion delivered
in her house, No. 541 H street, on November
by Mr. Johnson, that gentleman had expressed
18, 1864. Witness then identified Mrs. Sur-
his disregard of the sanctity of an oath. After
ratt. Became acquainted with Dr. Mudd
an explanation by Mr. Johnson, General Har-
about the 15th of January last. Met him
ris withdrew his objection, and the court then
while walking Seventh street with Surratt;
proceeded to the examination of witnesses.
Surratt introduced witness, and Dr. Mudd in-
troduced J. Wilkes Booth, who took the party
ATZERODT'S BOOM AT THE KIRKWOOD HOTEL.
to his room at the National Hotel, and fur-
A. W. Lee, a military detective, being
nished wine and cigars, after which Mudd and
sworn, testified that on the night of the 15th
Booth went out in the passage and held a pri-
of April, by orders, he examined the room of
vate conversation. Mudd soon returning and
Atzerodt at the Kirkwood House ; a friend
calling out Surratt, leaving witness alone some
told him that a suspicious person had taken
twenty minutes; when they re-entered, Mudd
the room a day or two previous, and he had
apologized, saying he had private business
better go and look ; he found in the register,
with Booth, who wished to purchase his farm ;
badly written, the name of " E. A. Atzerodt;"
witness saw no maps on the table, but Booth
he then went to the room, No. 126, with one
at one time cut the back of an envelope and
of the proprietors, and, as no key could be
made marks on it with a pencil; should not
found, burst open the door, and saw a coat
consider it writing, but marks alone; they
hanging on the wall. Colonel Burnett here
were seated at a table in the centre of the
ordered a bundle to be passed to the witness.
room; just saw the motion of the pencil;
This bundle, on being opened by the Colonel,
Booth also came to witness and apologized,
was found to be a coat, rolled in which were
and said he wished to purchase Mudd's farm :
sundry small articles. Witness recognized
Mudd had previously stated that he did not
the coat, and testified that he took out of the
care to sell his farm to Booth, as he was not
pockets thereof abook containing an account
willing to give him enough for it. After this,
on the Ontario Bank for $455; in the back
Booth frequently called at Mrs. Surratt's to
of the book, was the following: " Mr. J. Wilkes
see John Surratt, or, if he was absent, his
Booth, in account with the Bank of Ontario,
mother ; these interviews were always apart;
$450." Witness took three handkerchiefs when witness was in the room with the Sur-
from the pocket of the coat, one marked ratts, Booth frequently called them out for
"Mary R. Booth," a second "F. A." or " F.
private interviews, which would sometimes
last for several hours. AVitness then identi-
E. Nelson," and a third " M. II.;" a new pair
of gauntlets, three boxes of pistol cartridges, fied Atzerodt, saying that he visited Mrs.
a spur, a pair of socks, a piece of liquorice, Surratt's ten or fifteen times, always inquir-
and a brush were also taken from the pockets
ing for John II. He first came there three
of the coat. Underneath the pillow or bol- weeks after witness formed Booth's acquaint-
ster of the bed witness found a revolver bound ance ; never saw him in the house with Booth.
with brass, and underneath the mattress " I
The ladies in the house called him " Port
got those bowie-ktiives." Here a knife was Tobacco." Met him once on the corner of
shown the witness and handed to the vari Seventh street and Pennsylvania ave _ue ; it,
T
ous members of the court. It was a long, was about the time that Booth played Pescara,
stylus-shaped, like that used by Booth, horn-
in the Apostate ; Booth had given Surratt two
handled and sheathed in red leather. The
complimentary tickets on that occasion, and
room was over the one occupied by Vice- they went down and saw Atzerodt; we told
President Johnson. On cross-examination, him where we were going, and he said he was
witness testified that he had never seen Atze- going along, too, and at the theatre we met
rodt to his knowledge ; that he did not find David C. Harrold.
any signature of Atzerodt in the room, and [Here the witness was asked if he knew
Harrold, at which Harrold inclined his head
that he had no other evidence of its being his
room except that of the hotel-register. The and laughed.] ' Witness answered in' the
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