Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-06-16
SECOND EDITION.
S O'CLOCK p. n.
THE CONSPIRACY TRIALS.
Proceedings To-Day.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.
BEN WOOD INVOLVED.

BEN WOOD INVOLVED.
The Court, according to adjournment Of
Wednesday, met at IL o'clock this morning,
all the members being present except Colonel
Tompkins.
Judge Holt said he had learned that Colonel
7. was indisposed, and he proceeded to read
from the law regulating such courts, that por-
ton relating to the absence Of members, in
which it is stated that where member is Ill
the Court can 60 on as usual, but that when
the missing member returned to his seat 1t WAS
requisite that the proceedings Of the Court
during his absence should be read over to him.
General Hunter inquired if the Judge Advo.
cate General had been officially informed of
the indisposition of Colonel Tompk ins
Judge Holt replied that he had not but that
an orderly should at once be dis patched to the
residence OF Colonel Tompklns.
General Hunter said that possibly Colonel
Tompkins had mistaken the hour for meeting
to be twelve O'clock and he thought it prob.
able Colonel T. would be in attendance at that
hour.
messenger was accordingly dispatched to
the residence of Colonel Tom pkins.
at ~ O'Clock, Col. Tompkins not having been
heard from, 1t was decided to 90 on with the
reading of the record.
Among the visitors to the court room this
morning is Joshua Hill, ex.rebel from Geor-
gia. who visits Washington in relation to get
ting the wheels OF State legislation in motion
again in Georgia. He was introduced to va
rious members Of the Court, and held con-
y
The prisoners seem more thoughtful as the
trial draws TO close. Even the frivolous
Herold has lest his heretofore habitual shipper.
Payne, though his eye is quite as bold and
fearless in Its range of the courtroom as ever,
shows much less buoyancy of spirits in his
general bearing. Thus far the following is all
that has been definitely ascertained in regard
to the antecedents OF this prisoner, concerning
whom there has been SO much speculatlon He
is the son Of the Rev George Powell, now Of
Florida, and was raised In Alabama. AT the
outbreak OF the rebellion he joined the rebel
army In Georgia, and afterwards was con-
nected with the Army Of Northern Virginia,
where, from certain qualities of reckless da.
ring exhibited by him, he was detached for
thence would seem to have been selected,
through the same qualities, for yet more des.
perate work and more gigantic crime.
Upon the conclusion of the reading Of the
proceedings Gen. Hunter asked If the Gov
eminent had any witnesses in attendance
Judge Holt said there were some.
TESTIMONY OF ROBERT PURDY.
(For the Government
Witness lives near Gum oerland, Maryland.
and has been in Government service-scouting
service since 1861. Witness was shown a let
ter bearing date South Branch Bridge, April
9th, and mailed at Cumberland, May Sth,
signed Lion" and directed to J. w. b. Ma
tional Hotel, Washington, d. g.
The letter is as follows:
SOUTH BRANCH BRIDGE, May 9th, 1866
FRIEND WILKES: / received yours of March
18th, and reply as soon as practicable. saw
French, Brady and others about oil specula-
ton. The subscription to the stock amount to
$1,000, and add 81 600 myself, which is about
all l can stand now. When you stink your
depends On yon and your r helpers. ifyon can't
get through In your trip after you strike lie,
strike through Thornton's Gap and cross by
can keep you safe from all hardship for a year
l am clear OF all surveillance now that infer.
nal Purdy is beat. 1 hired that girl to charge
him with an outrage, and reported him to old
Kelly, which sent him in the shade. He sus.
poets too damn much now. Had he better be
silenced for goodl l send this up by Tom, and
ii he don't get drunk you will get it on the 9th.
At all events IT capt be understood if lost. l
can't half write-I have been drunk for two
days. Don't write so much highfalutin next
time. No more, only Jake will be at Green's
with the funds. Burn this. Yours truly,
(SigDed) Lon.
Sal Guthrie sends much love- Mailed this
from Cumbe rland, Md, May sth.
This is the letter which led to the arrest OF
Leonidas r. McAleer and q man named French
on charge Of being parties to 1t, and they
alleged, 1t will be remembered, that it was
written by Purdy to lnjure the parties named
Witness testified that he never saw the OIL.
ginal Of this letter until shown 1t here yester.
1t Vas nc, writtsn bu n,isness . or nv ~,
ity or knowledge. Witness knows q man in
that region who goes by the name OF Lion"
thinks his name Is Leonidas McAleer; thinks
he would know McAleer's handwriting
McAleer had showed witness some notes with
his signature to them. Witness could not cay
If this letter was in McAleer's handwriting.
as having false charge Of outraeing q girl,
made against MIN to get him out OF the way.
Lon McAleer is known as q rebel spy, and as
a sa;I on ootn sides; the circumstances de-
ness captured a rebel spy, and as Lon had
been Dragging Of his Cnionism, witness thought
he would show him his capture. Lon said be
ought to have taken the spy's money and let
him 60. A day or two after witness thanked
Ions house, ana overlook a girl, who he cap
tnrea and searched, and found her carrying
the girl was false. Witness does not know II
the charge was made to Gen Kelley. Witness
reported TO Gen Kelley. Does not know the
person 4" jake mentioned in the letter. Has
heard OF a man named French, but never met
him. Don't know the others mentioned in the
letter. Green lives in Thornton Gap: is very
disloyal. Witness only lately heard that there
was such route as that mentioned in the let
ter. Does not know the s. Sue G uthrie" men
toned.
By Mr.. Cox.-Witness was arrested about
four or five weeks after he caught this spy
Has acted as q detective. Was last at South
Branch Bridge in January last witness thinks
BY Mr.. Aiken.-South Branch is a branch OF
the Potomac, about 81 miles from Cum berlaud
There is no post office at South Branch. Per
sons are in the habit OF taking their letters to
Greer Spring Run just above There is con-
veya nce oy railroad from south Branch to
be delay ed three days on the road unless thu.
train broke down.
BY Judge Bingham.-Lon McAIeer lives q
short mile from South Branch Bridge. South
Branch is i'll Virginia, West Virginia. There
are no Oil wells in that vicinity.
TESTIMONY OF d. e. EASTWOOD.
(For the Government)
Witness resides in Montreal, and is assistant
manager Of the Montreal Branch Of the On.
tario Bank. Witness knew Jacob Thompson
omcially. The monies to his credit in the bank
accrued from bills Of exchange, drawn on
fraser, Trenholm tc Co., Liverpool by the
Rebel Secretary OF the Treasury. In the
course OF disbursements on that fund re-
QUESTION was drawn on the City Bank of New
York by Thompson for sos, 0OOin current funds
IN iavor Of Benz. Wood. Afterwards the name
OF BENZ. Wood was erased by Thompson, and
the name Of witness ID. S. Eastwood) was in
roduced. and a draft was drawn On New