The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-06-02
The ASSASSINATION Trial.

The ASSASSINATION TRIAL.
THURSDAY.
Capt. George Cottingham, special Of
ficer in Major O'Burnes' board of enroll
ment, and engaged in making the arrests
after the assassination, testified that he
saw Lloyd after his arrest he was put in
his care at Surrattsville. He denied
knowing anything about it and for two
days continued to deny it; finally witness
was satisfied that he knew about it, and
told him he had it on his mind, and the
sooner he got rid Of. it the better; he said,
"Oh my God, if l should make a confess
sion they would murder me-" Witness
asked who would murder him, and he
said "those parties in the conspiracy"
witness told him if he was going to free
himself by letting these parties get out of
it it was his business, and he then put him
in the guard house; he seemed much ex-
cited-the lieutenant went to Washington
for reintorcements, and Lloyd then stated
to witness that Mrs. Surratt had come
down to his place Friday, between four
and five o'clock; that she told him to
have the fire arms ready, and that two
men would call for them at II O'Clock,
that two men did call, that Harold dis
mounted and went into uoyd's tavern,
and said, 81 have something to tell you,"
that Lloyd said he did not want to hear
it, that Harold then told him to 90 up
and get those fire arms, that they were
brought down and Harold took one, that
Booth said he could not carry a carbine,
it was as much as he could do to carry
himself, as his leg was broken, that Booth
said, eve have murdered the President"
and that Harold said, ''we have picked
off Seward"
Witness was in the house when he
came from Bryantown, and he commence
ed crying out, "Oh Mrs. Surratt, that
vile woman, she has ruined me- Witness
asked him about the other carbine that
Booth couldn't carry, and he said it was
up stairs, Mrs. Surratt had some bags
over it; witness told him he would cut
up the house before he would 90 away
without it, and then he told his hired
man to get an ak; did not 90 in the room
where he went until he heard three knocks
on the wall, then went in and after about
the seventh blow saw the carbine. 1t had
been suspended by a string above the plas-
tering, the string seemed to have broken
and it had fallen down. During these
two days while Lloyd was denying all
knowledge of these parties, Re did not
mention the name of Mrs Surratt, but
after he confessed he did; he said Johnny
Surratt brought the carbines there.
VIM. Chamberlain testified that he was
clerk in the war department of the con-
tederate states. and became acquainted
with the handwriting of John A. Camp
bell, assistant secretary of war. and that
of Harrison, jeff. Davis private secretary.
He identified the ENDORSEMENTS of the letter
of L. Aston as theirs. This letter was
read Oh 4 former day of the trial. The
writer was seeking employment to "strike
at the heart of the nation"
Henry Finnegass testified that he was
at Montreal in February; he knew San
ders, Cleary and Others OF that circle by
sight; saw them ut St. Lawrence Hall
and various other public places; didn't
know Jacob Thompson or L. Tucker; on
the evening of the 18th or 18th of Febru-
airy he heard Cleary say to Sanders, 81
suppose they are getting ready for the in
auguration of Lincoln next month; San
ders said, yes, but if the boys only have
luck, Lincoln will not trouble them much
longer; Cleary said, ''is everything well!"
Sanders replied, ''oh, yes, Booth is boss
ING the job" witness considered it at the
time piece of braggadocio, he commune
Gated it to the government a few days ago;
didn't know John Surratt.
SATURDAY.
The prosecution called George F. Ed
munds of Burlington, VT, who testified
that he is an attorney, and had charge for
the United States of the St Adams raid
case. Jacob Thompson, Clement c. Clay
and Sanders were in attendance on the
Court and assumed TO be defenders of these
raiders for the Confederate States.
Witness was shown printed paper.
which he believed was substantially, if not
an exact copy of the original. which he
had seen. This letter was dated Rich
mond, June Id, 1864, and signed by Jas
A. Seldom, the rebel secretary of war. and
addressed to Lieut.. Young. 1t informed
the latter that he was appointed for spe-
clal service and directed him to report to
Thompson and Clay for instructions. and
also to select twenty escaped Confederate
soldiers for the execution of such enter
prise as might be entrusted to linn. The
original paper was produced by the rebels
on the night of the st. Adams raid The
following is a copy of the document in
question:
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, !
WAR DEPT, Richmond, Va,
June Is, 1864.
10 Lieut.. Bennett H. Young:
Lieut. You have been appointed tenn
porarily First Lieutenant in the Provision
al Army for special service. You will
proceed without delay to the British Pro-
VlnceS, where Won will renort to NoSSrS