The Portland daily press., 1865-06-05
Jefferson Davis on the Assassination.

The meagre report of the assassination trials
for Tuesday of last week, sent over the wires,
made brief mention of Davis remark when
the news of the assassination of Mr.. Lincoln
reached him in North Carolina. The follow
ing, which is'a full report, is worthy of perusal
DAVIS ON THE DEATH OF Mr.. LINCOLN
Lewis T. Bates Sworn. He was examined
by Judge Holt. ffen@e
Q. State where you reside. A. In Char
lohe, N. G..
O. How long have you resided there? A.
A little over four years.
Q. In what business have you been engaged
there during the past year? A. l have been
engaged as the Superintendent of the S ,uth-
ern Express Company for the state Of North
Carolina. N 1900 $500.
@. State whether or not You saw Jefferson
Davis recently at Charlotte, N. C., and under
what circumstances? A.. tfe-etoppod at no v
house on the 10Th OF April last.
Q. Did he make an address to the people on
that occasion |? A. He did: on the steps of
Q. State whether. or not in the course of
that address. or toward the close of it, a tele-
gram was received by him announcing the as
sassiuation Of the President of the United
States A. II was. ...s.,
@. Fiom whom2 A. From John c. Breck-
inridge. as
Q. Did he or did he not read that tele-
gram TO the crowd? A. He did.
+ O. Look at that exhibiting to witness a
telegram), and see whether it is the same dis
patchP A. should say it was. BYly
The dispstch was then read as follows
fsh rsf,.,s GREsNsBoRo'. April l9, Is s..
j Ills Ercekencg President dug s: = = -
m President Lincoln assasinated in the theatre in
Washington on the night Of the 18th inst Seward
house entered the night, he was repeatedly
stabbed, and pos. bly,. morally wounded Z g =
" Signed, sf John G. Brcckinridee
Q State what Jefferson Davis said after
reaaiDg this dispatch to the crowd, and en-
deavor to recollt ct his precise language? A.
Upon the conclusion OF his speech to the peo-
pie he read this despatch aloud and made this
remark: "If it were TO be done it were better
that 1t were well DONE"
@. You are sure those are the words !? A.
Those are the words. tscis'os
q. State whether or not, in day or two
afterward, JEFF. Davis, John G. Breckenridge,
and others were present at your house In
Charlotte? A. They were. slsia gsa3
q, And the assassination of the President
was the subject of the conversation? a.. A
day or two afterward that was the subjects of
their conversation. ag S.
20. Can you remember what John c. Brock.
inrldge said ? a. InspeakiDg OF the as ass
ihabiOA " IcS. 1ihcUlu ne remarked 10 Davis
that he regretted 1t very much; that it was
unfortunate for the people of the South at that
time. Davis replied 4 Well General, 1 don't
knoac. If u ,oere to be done at all II ,cere bet
ter that it ,cere aoeu done; and If The same
,cere done to andy johnson, the beast, and
to Secretary Stanton, the job aoould then be
complete.
@. You feel confident that you recollect
MS words? A.. Those are the words used.
. Y. State whether or not the regret which
John g. Breckinridge expressed at the assassin
alton was because 1t was unfortunate for the
that conclusion.
@. Was there any remal made as to the
criminality OF the act? A. No, sir; he sim
ply remarked that he regretted it a, being I'M
fortunate for the South.
O. OF what State are you native? A.
OF Massachusetts,. 80 a@ea Jsf