Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-18
Trial of the Assnssins.

WASHINGTON. May 17-Gen. Harris had
read the letter written by Hon. Reverdy
johnson, on which he based his objection
to his acting as counsel. In the letter Mr..
johnson takes the ground that the oath pre-
scribed by the constitutional convention
was illegal, and no moral injunction would
be violated In disregarding it, because the
exaction of the oath was beyond the au-
thority of the convention, and as law
therefore void.
VIM. Williams testified as to the pursuit
of the assassins with Major O'Brian. lie
went to Surratsville. They went to Doctor
Mudd's April 18th. asked DR.. NJ. il any
strangers had been that way, and he said
no. He denied that two men had been
there, one with broken leg. He said he
had heard off the assassination first in church
on Sunday morning. He appeared uneasy
and unwilling to give us information. /
saw him again on Friday, the Dist. We
went then to arrest him. Iasked him again
about the two men and he then said he had
seen them, but he said they were not Booth
and Harold. We showed him Booths pic
ture, and he said at first the did not recolect
the features, but that it looked like Booth
across the eyes. We searched the house.
Mrs. Mudd said one of the men left boot up
stairs, which was brought, and had 81.
the doctor had set the leg of its owner. DR..
Mudd said they left between three and four
o'clock In the afternoon, and that they came
about daybreak. DIR. Mudd said they came
on horseback. Mrs. Mudd said they left on
foot. | believe DR.. Mudd said the injured
man went of on crutches made by one of
his men.
On cross-examination the witness said
DR.. M. stated that the two men knocked at
the door and he looked out at the window
and asked who they were. They replied
that they were friends, and wanted to get
In, and DR.. Mudd came down stairs. With
the assistance of the young man he helped
the injured man from his horse and took
him to his parlor and placed him on the
sofa. One had whiskers, but he could not
tell whether they were natural. He told
the direction they took, and we found their
to Winners house late in the evening of
Wednesday.
The court here took recess.
After the reassembling of the court Simon
Garrison testified as to interviews with
Mudd on the 18th and 2lst. He was one of
the party who went in search of Booth, and
subsequently to the arrest of Mudd.
His testimony was similar to that already
given by Lieut.. Lovett who was in charge
of the party.
Mrs. Emma Offutt, sister-in-law of John
Lloyd, testified: Was at Lloyd's house on
the 1lth, and in carriage with him. Saw
Mrs. Surratt somewhere near Uniontown.
Lloyd and Mrs. Surratt talked together
Mr.. Lloyd went to her carriage, where the
conversation took place, and not ours.
Was at LlOyd's house on the 18th. Saw
him and Mrs. Surratt talking together, but
did not hear them at all.
Nothing new was elected in cross-ex-
animation except that Lloyd made no state
ment in reference to his business with Mrs.
Surratt.
William ii. Jutt testified: Only recog-
nized one OF the prisoners, Harold. Since
the 25th of October been in Carolina, in the
commissary (rebel) service. When on the
way in April to Farquha county, got down
to Port Conway, and on the 18th of April
saw wagon on the wharf. There were
three of us. We rode down on the
wharf and before we reached the
wagon we saw man get out of it. Seem
ed to us he put his hand in his bosom. He
came to where we were and said, "What
command do you belong to?" Ruggles said,
"MosebY's command" Then he said,
longed to A. p. Hills corps. His brother
asked if we would not take him down to
the lines. Harold then asked us
to drink. We declined. Invent and tied
the horses. Harold came out and touched
me and said, II suppose you are raising a
command to go south. / would like to go
with you" | said, 81 could go with no
man did not know anything about" and
he made this remark, ave are the assassins
of the President" | was so shocked made
noreply. Lieut.. Ruggles was near watering
his horse. called him and he came. Then
Booth came up and Harold introduced
him. After introducing himself we went
across the river, Booth riding on Ruggles'
horse. Booth said he wanted to pass under
the name of Boyd. We went to lady's
house and asked if she could take
in wounded soldier She at first
considered, and then said she would
not. We then went up to CARROTS,
when we left Booth. Harold and all of us
went up to within few miles of Bowling
Green. The next day Harold returned to-
wards Garrett's. That was the last l saw
of him till after he was captured.