The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-06-09
The oonspiracy Trials-A Review of
:" the Testimony.

f-N the Testimony.
! Tho evidence for tho prosecution being
closed, and save what has been drawn out
III secret session, we are now enabled to un.
deibtabd what are the featufcsof tho case
as proven against tho several defendants.
First, in order Of certainty of the facts
adduced. is Lewis Payne, shown TO have
boen tho confederate Of Booth aud guilty. of
an assault with an inteut to kill Hon WIN.
! ii. Saward Fred. w. Seward, Augustus IL !
Seward, Emorck w. Hansel and Geo. +.
RObinsOn. The anteceGents Of the prison.
or arc not known, and the frs. heard of him
so far ns the proof goes, 10 his appearance at
the residence of Mrs. Surratt in the carly
part OF March last, When he stated that hIs
nauo was Wood. He called for John II. |
suiratt, but in the absence of tho latter
asked for Mrs. Surratt; he lodged there that
night, taking bis meals in bis room, and de. |
parted the next day; about the same time
he appeared to have taken a room in com.
pany with OLaugbliu, in boarding house.
IN ID street, where they were frequently Wis.
tied by Booth. Hero these prisoners re.
ma'nod about tbreo weeks. 10 the mean.
time Payne put up two or three days az
house of Surratts where John II. Surratt,
Azetot and Booth and bimscl. had secret
represented to some Of the members that
he was Baptist preacher; no aud Surrat,
were found at one time in bedroom play. |
ing with bowio knives. In this room we're |
two revoivcrs, and four sets of spurs. and |
revolvers were found in Atzerot's room at
the lockwood House. At another time,
just before the assassination. he ia tonud oc.
crpyiDg a room at the Herndon House. |
where he was visited by Atzerot. The
proof of his confederating with Booth and
his accomplices is beyond u doubt. That il
was Payne who made the assault upon Mr..
Seward and others Injured iD the Secreta-
rys house. is as certain as human testimo.
ny can establish any fact. ..a |
Equally as certain is the evidence that
Harold was Booths accessory before aud af. |
tor the fact. He 10 frst found in confideu.
tial relations with the assassius in tho early
part of February, and he is several times |
discovered in secret meetings with Booth,
A'zeroot ard othors of the conspiracy. He
ID once found at Mrs Surratt's in company
with them. With Surratt aud Atzerot, he |
called at the tavern in Surratisvilie, with |
ibe two caibIEek; ammunition. &c, which
were taken away from that place BY him
and Booth On the night of the assassination
H0 acknowledged to tho Confederate sold
lers that he aud Booth were the assassins
OF the President, and he was captured in
ibe barn with Booth, as has been fully de.
ia'ied heretofore. There ia no doubt what
ever of his gniit and he will g uffer the pen.
atty OF his crimes, az it will be defined by
The Constitution. El..r r.-~ .a .-...r .r,
A'zerot, like the last named prisoner, is |
proven to have been a co .conspiraior, and
makes his first appearance at Mrs. Surrsiss
euquiring for John ii. Surratt or Mrs. Sur.
Iatt, and is frequently found in secret com.
murication with Booth, and his confeder-
ates. To him was assigned the murder OF
president johnson, at the kirkwood House
but notwithstanding il appears thero was no
obstacle In the way OF its performance, he
does not seem 20 have made any effort to
get access to his intended victim, on the
evening Of the l4th OF April. On the morn
ing OF that day, he took a room at the
Kmkwood. where Mr.. Johnaon was putting
up, and was seen there at noon, and about
SIX o clock in the evening was traced there
on horseback, but was not apparently about
the house after that hour. He proved
!alse 10 his coDtedcrates, DO doubt. Snch
wouit but be in keeping with his character.
he was IN active cooperation with Them,
throughout the nighi, and fled at daylight,
the next morning. OF his guilt there 10 not
a shadow OF doubt. SOC .. |
MIS-. Surratt appears to have been cogni.
zaDt OF the intended crime almost from its
inception. aud became an active participant
IN overt acts She. was general manager.
She received and entertained at her bonse,
all the criminals, except DR.. Mudd. O'laugh.
lin and Arnold With DR.. Mudd she
planned tho means and assistance for the
escape OF the assassins. She visited FLOYD
at hve on the day ot the assassination to see
that the carbines. &c, should be in readi-
ness and informed.hm they would be called
Tor that night. Booth frequently called a,
her house. and held long Confidential talks
with her. He was with her Few minutes on
the afternoon Of the 18th. As an accom-.
plice of Booth, and q participant in this
crime, she can't escape the penalty of tho
law.
DR.. Mudd's etatus is identical. As early
as November last he is shown 10 have been
in the confidence of Boofb. He had a sus.
pcous meeting with Surratt and Booth at
the National Hotel, in January. He intro
duces Booth TO Surratt. Booth visits him
at his room in the Pennsylvania House,
The assassiDs fly to his house directly after
the murder He dresses Booths
wound, and assists the latter and Harold,
and when called upon by the officers three
days afterward, denies that no knows either I
of the criminals. When arrested on thGI
Friday following he prevaricates, lies out
right, and finally admits he knew Booth
He says he first heard os the assassination
on tho Sunday after it was committed, at
church. Yet it is shown by abundant proof
that be was in Bryaptown on the day pre-
ceding Saturday, at an hour when the pop.
alace was all excitement, the town guarded |
by soldiers, and every man, woman and
child in the place had not only beard Of the
murder. but knew the name of the assassin.
DR.. Mudd is guilty, but what degree OF pun.