The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-06-24
THE CONSPIRACY TRIAL.

The papers read on Friday before the
Washington Court Martial by counsel in
defence of some of the assassination con-
spirators were of Il very interesting, and
in some respects, important character
Mr.. DOster, the counsel for Payne, did
not attempt to deny that his client had
been proved guilty, but endeavored to
palliate his crime on the ground that in
attempting to assassinate Secretary Sc
ward, Pay he was merely doing what he
believed was right. "A sketch of Payne's
life was given, to show that he was pro-
slavery fanatic, and that his endeavor to
murder the man whom he looked upon
as one of the important opponents of
anti-slayery doctrines, Was a natural re-
suit of his Southern education. Mr. Dor
set did not, of course, approve Payne's
act, but insisted that he was not q hired
assassin, and that the court should con-
slider how far he was acting from honest
conviction.
Mr.. Dorset also read confession OF
Atzerott. This prisoner confesses that
he entered into Booths first conspiracy
to capture President Lincoln, but says
am one of the party who agreed to the
capture of the President of the United
States or any member of the Cabinet, OF
General Grant or Vice President John
son. The first plot to capture failed
the second, to kill, l broke away from
the moment l heard of it. This is the
way it came about: On the evening OF
the 14th April 1 met Booth and Payne
at the Herndon House in this city, al
eight O'Clock. He (Booth) said he himself
would take charge of Mr.. Lincoln and
General Grant, Payne should take Mr..
Seward, and should take charge of Mr..
Johnson. told him | would not do it /;
that had gone into the thing to cap
ture, but was not going to kill. He
told me that was a fool-that I would
be hung anyhow that it was death to
every man who backcdOut, andso we part
ed. wandered about the streets until
two o'clock in the morning, and then
went to the Kimmel House and from
there pawned my pistol at Georgetown,
and went to my cousins House in Mont
gomery county, where / was arrested.
On the 10Th, after | was arrested, l
told Provost Marshal Wells and Provost
Marshal McPhail the whole story also
told it to Captain Monroe and Col. Wells.
told me if pointed out the way Booth
had gone / would be reprieved; and so l
told him thought he had gone down
to Charles county in order to cross the
Potomac. The arms which were found in
nv room at the Kirkwood House, and
o.~o+ 10 =, ~ ha1nn RI mo I'm fhp
afternoon of the 14th of April Harold
called to see me, and left the coat there;
IT is his coat, and all in it belongs to
him. asyou can see by the handkerchiefs
marked with his initials and with the
name of his sister, Mrs. Naylor. Now
T will state how passed the whole of
the evening of the 14th of April: In the
afternoon. about two o'clock, l went to
Kelther's stable, on Eighth street, near
ID, and hired dark bay mare and rode
into the country for pleasure, and on
nv return put her up at MAYORS stable;
the dark bay horse which had kept at
Naylor's before, on or about the Sd of
April. belonged to Booth, and also the
saddle and bride. I had charge of
him to sell him, aud do not know
what became of him. AT about
six i'm the evening went to MAYORS
again and took out the mare. l rode out
for an hour and returned her to MAYORS.
1t was then nearly eight, and l told him
to keep the mare ready at ten o'clock, i'm
order to return her to the man hired
her from. From there l went to the
Herndon House. Booth sent message
to Oyster Bay, where l was, saying he
wanted to see me, and / went. Booth
wanted me to murder Mr.. Johnson. /
then went to the Oyster Bay ON the
avenue, aboveTwelfth street, and whiled
away the time till about ten. / got the
mare, and having taken drink with
the hostler, galloped about town and
went to the Kimmell House. From
there | role down to the depot and re-
turned my horse, riding up Pennsylva-
mia avenue to Kelther's. From Keith
ers's l went down to the Navy Yard to
get room with Wash. Briscoe. He
had none, and by the time got back to
the Kimmell House it was near two.
The man Thomas was stranger / met
on the street. Next morning, as stated,
/ went to my cousin Richter's in Mont
gomery county.
"GEo. A. ATzERoTT."