Evening star., 1865-05-23
THE CONSPIRACY TRIALS.
THE CONCLUDING PROCEEDINGS
YESTERDAY.
THE ASSASSINATION PROPOSITION
TO JEFF. DAVIS.
HIS ENDORSEMENT.

We gave i'll our last edition yesterday an ab.
sract of the testimony in relation to the assas-
sination proposition made to JEFF. Davis by
man named Alston. With the endorsement
Of Davis thereon.
Suoloined Is this testimony In full
LIEUTENANT COLONEL r. b. TREAT, a wit
ness called for the prosecution, being duly
sworn, testified as follows:
By the Judge Advocate q. State what
your position is in the service A. j am Chief
CoIhlolssary OF the Army OF the Ohio. Z.
Have you recently been on duty in the State OF
NORM carolina! A. Yes, sir. q. Will you
state whsther or not the army with which you
d g son are " variety .s OF
called Confederate States A. Yes, Sir they
were delivered by General Joseph +. john
ston to General Schofeld at Charlotte, North
Carolina. q. State under what circnmst
they were delivered, and with what declara-
ton on the part of Johnson! A. think let
ter was sent from Charlotte to General Scho-
field at Raleigh, from General Johnson: stating
tina, he had IN his possession, at Charlotte, the
records and archives OF the War Department
OF the Confederacy, which he was ready to de-
liver on his sending an officer over to receive
them. The following day an officer on the
Generals staff was sent to Charlotte, anu re-
ceiyed them and brought them to Raleigh, and
from that point l brought them here. Q. To
whom did you deliver them here {! a. de-
livered them 10 the War Department, and
have in my possession receipt of Major
Eckert, acting Assistant Secretary of War. z.
tents indicated A. The most of them were.
Major I. T. EcKERT recalled for the pros
ecution.
BY the Judge Advocate "a State to the
Court whether or not you received certain
boxes from Colonel Treat, purporting to con-
tain the archives or records of the War De.
partmeAt OF The so called Confederate States
A. did; l received them yesterday morning.
Z. Have any part Of those boxes been opened
A Yes, sir q. BY whom A. They We're
opened by my direetion-f believe by Mr Hall
ha nc hQ 1ndp
ination by Dir. Hall Il. Yes, sir.
FREDERICK Ii. HALL, witness called for
the prosecution, being duly sworn, testified as
follows:
BY the Judge Advocate %. State whether
or not you have opened certain boxes or parts
of boxes, delivered to you by Major Eckert,
of the SO called Confederate States. A. have.
Il. iSubnitting to the witness letter. Look
at that paper and state whether or not it was
found by yourself in one OF those boxes. a. l.
was. e. You recognize this as the paper found
by you. A. do.
fThe letter thus identified was offered in evil
dence, and read as follows:
MONTGOMERY, W HITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
VA.-To his Eacs2Isncy the President Of the Con-
federote States Of Amcricd-Dear Sir: have
been thinking some time that would make
this communication to you, but have been de-
terred from doing so on account Of i'll health.
now offer you my services, and If you will
favor me In my designs, ] will proceed, as
soon as my health will permit, to rid my coun-
try OF some OF her deadliest enemies, by striking
enchain her in slavery. I consider nothing
dishonorable having such tendency. All I
ask of you is to favor me by granting me the
necessary papers, &c, to travel on while within
the jurisdiction OF the Confederate Govern.
ment. / am perfectly familiar with the North,
and feel confident that can execute anything
t-Shin their lines am iisa.enan. om IN Com Com
Dukes command, and was on the raid last
June In Kentucky under Gen. John III. Nor
gan. 1 and all of my commanC, excepting about
three or tour. and two commissioned officers,
were taken prisoners; but finding good op-
portunity while being taken to prison, made
my escape from them. Dressing myself in the
! garb Of u citizen, I attempted to pass out
| through the mountain; but finding that i'm
from being retaken, shaped my course north.
| and vent through to the Canadas. from whence,
by the assistance Of Col. J. P. Holcombe, l
through S the blockade; but having taken the
yellow fever, DC, at Bermuda, have been
| rendered unfit for service since my arrival.
I was reared up in the State of Alabama,
| and educated at Its University. Both the Sec
| retary OF War and his assistant, Judge Camp
| bell, are personally acquainted with my faith
| er, VIM. J. Alston, of the Fifth Congressional
| Congress, In the years 1ei9.5O5i.
| If / do anything for you shall expect
| your full confidence In return. II you do this
l can render you and my country very inn
portant service. Let me hear from you soon.
| am anxious to do something, and having no
command at present. all or nearly all being in
| garrison, | desire that yOu favor me in this q
! short time. l would like to have personal
| interview with you, in order to perfect the
| arrangements before starting.
! want, LIEUT. W. ALsToN.
ENDORSEMENTS.
| A, 1890 Lieutenant W. Aston, Montgome-
ry Sulphur Springs, Va. No date.
! Is lieutenant in General Dukes command
Accompanied raid into Kentucky and was
| captured, but escaped into Canada, from
| whence he found his way back. Been in bad
| health. Now offers his services to rid the
| country of some Of its deadliest enemies
| Asks for papers to permit him to travel within
lake to have an interview and explain.
| Respectfully referred, by direction OF the
| President, to the Honorable Secretary Of War.
| BURTON W. HARRISON,
| Private Secretary
| Received November 2s, 1864.
Record book A. a. g. o., December 15, 1861.
BY order, ia. CAMPBH1L. A. S.. W.
| By Mr. Aiken:-Q. Which box did you take
that letter from! A. From the bex marked
"Adjutant and Inspector Generals office-let-
ters received July to December, 1884," @.
/ That was the label painted ON the outside of
the boxl A. Yes. sir, painted, stencil.
! The Judge Advocats:-If the Court pleases,
| there are few more witnesses to be examined
| on the part OF the Government, who are not
| here. The testimony Of most of them relate to
the general ground taken, that the ussassina.
tion resulted from the rebellion ITSELF very lit-
tie OF it concerns, specially, the individual
| prisoners here. Under all the circumstances,
| nope the gentlemen on the other side will be
| willing to proceed with their testimony, leav-
| ing to us the right il these witnesses should
| hereafter come in, to examine them.
| Mr.. Ewing, after consultation with the other
counsell: The counsel for the accused wish me
| to say TO the Court that they prefer that the
| testimony for the prosecution be closed before
the testimony for the defence begins.
The President-Do understand Gen Holt
| to say that there will be no more witnesses i'm
attendance this evening!
the Judge Advoeate:-Thers will not be.
\ tho ~ niaain inlrS Shn. od,
\ row morning st ten o'clock.
THE RRBKI. RAM SToNEwALL.-There is q
| prospect OF lively fight when this rebel pirate
| vessel ventures out OF the harbor OF Havana
| where she was laying at last accounts Two
| monitors were at anchor near the StonewalI:
| but IS they would probably be detained fer D,
| hours, under the rule adopted by the neutral
/ powers, the fight, il one takes place will nrn.