Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-06-14
THIRD EDITION.
6 O'CLOCK p. ID.
THE CONSPIRACY TRIALS.
Proceedings This Evening.
THE CASE OF PAYNE.

The Court met o.day At u m, and me pri.
soners were brought in. Payne almost imme-
diately on entering the dock took his seat on
the step where the prisoners rest their feet
and was thus screened from view behind the
dock rail, much to the disappointment Of GU
rious spectators.
Gen. Hunter, President of the Court, stated
that the medical gentlemen who had been desig-
mated TO make the medical examination in the
case OF Payne were ready to report, and were
anxious to get away. He suggested that they
be allowed to give their testimony before the
reading OF the proceedings.
Mr.. Doster said he was not aware Of their
presence, and he would like to consult the
witnesses before they We're introduced.
The Court assented, and the reading Of the
proceedings was proceeded with until 1870,
when Judge Holt announced that Surgeon
General Barnes, who had not received
subpoena in consequence of being absent from
the city, was now present. and he suggested
that the court take recess in order that DIR.
Barnes might have an opportunity to examine
the prisoner, Payne. 1t was desirable to settle
the question Of his sanity definitely, one way
or the other.
The Court accordingly took q recess until
p. m. At that hour the Court reassembled.
Mr.. Doster announced that he would close
the case OF Payne here,
Gen. Hunter do you not propose to call
re medical men
Judge Holt said that if the defense did not
propose to call the witnesses, the Government
would.
DIR. JANIS HALL RECALLED.
Witness this morning, associated with DIR,
Norris and DR. Porter, made another examina-
ton of the prisoner Payne, and during the
recess 3 further examination IN conjunction
with Surgeon General Barnes. Witness asked
the prisoner very much the same questions as
he did on yesterday. The prisoner gave the
same answers as on yesterday, and with more
promptness and quickness than on yesterday.
" illness thinks he is now prepared to say that
there is no evidence OF mental insanity in the
case of the prisoner. His mind is weak, feeble,
By Mr. Doster:-Witness asked him the uues.
ton if he believed in a God. The prisoner
answered that he did, and acknowledged that
at one time he w as member OF the Baptist
Church. Witness asked the prisoner IL he be-
Heved private assassination In public war
lustifable. After some little hesitation the
prisoner answered that he thought 1t was.
under a fanatical uelusion may believe an act
to be right that others would believe to be
wrong.
TESTIMONY OF DIR. NORRIS.
DIOR the Prosecutionl
Witness Is Surgeon in the regular army.
Witness this morning, In association with
Surgeon General Barnes and DR.. Hall, made an
examination Of the prisoner Payne Witness
arrived at the conclus ;on that Payne is sane
man. His look, speech and manner We're all
natural and there was nothing to indicate the
presence Of mental insanity His reasoning
faculties appeared to be good and his judge.
ment good. Witness learned but little Of the
of his history while in prison to indicate in
sanity.
BY MIR. Doster witness is not FAMILIAR with
cases of in5anity, but has seen cases and visit
ed Insane Asylums. Thinks there is always
something in The manner OF madmen to cause
suspicioE to q medical man or q man OF INTEL
been concealed by the person affected fer some
time, but has net er met such Thinks Payne's
manner was not that of mailman seen In one
of his lucidinterya!e tits possible that Payne
NAV be monomaniac, but witness thinks that
a monomaniac would almost invariably strike
upon the subject upon which he was deluded
such as that held Sh By tsm With Payne. Eases
are laid down in the books where monomani.
acs have gone weeks without referring to the
subject on which they were deluded, but wit.
ness has never met with such cases.
TESTIMONY OF SURGEON GENERAL BARNES.
For the Prosecution
Witness, in association with Drs. Powell
and Norris, made an examin ation this morning
OF the prisoner Payne. Found no evidence
Of insanity. The prisoners narrative concern
ing himself, the places where ne had been, &c,
were coherent and correspondsu with the an
swers he made yesterday at the examination, q
severe test and almost infallible.
By Mr.. Doster.-Witness would consider
this q test for both moral and mental insanity.
Witness has given testimony here before as TO
the condition OF Secretary Seward and son.
Witness was some years ago in charge OF the
insane waBds of large hospital Payne an
swered DR.. Halls question. to the effect that he
considered such q CRIME as was mentioned to
~
TESTIMONY OF DR.. PORTER.
der the Prosecuton) !
Witness, in conjunction with Surgeon Gen.
eral Barnes and ether medical gentlemen,
made an examination of The prisoner, Payne.
Witness believes the prisoner to be sane
man. Payne kas been under the medical care
and witness has made inspection as to his con-
dition twice day In that time. In all that
period his conversation and appearance have
shown no marks Of insanity.
By MIR. Doster-MOral insanity Is inter-
preted in tie books As bearing strong resem-
blance to common crime. Did not examine
In answer to questions by Mr. Doster, wit.
ness proceeded to 6sf2ne the difference between
moral and mental insanity.
of insanity in the cassof Payne. Insanityis
marked by 4uickened pulse. Pnyne's pulse,
as general r,le, has been lower than the other
morning 1914. Another symptom OF insanity
is loes of sleep. Witness had noticed particu-
larly that while others Of the prisoners were
wakeful this nan wac asleep. Payne might
be insane without witness belng aware of the
fact, but to the. best OF his knowledge aud be-
lief he is sane. Witness has treated cases OF
Judge Binghssn offered in evidence papers
esta bills hing the fact tha&tAndrew Johnson was
H. Seward Secrs starry OF State as the time Of the
assassi nation.
The reading of the proceedings Of yesterday
were concluded. after which Judge Holt stated
present but that there were some others to tes-
ii ~ in regard to the general nature Of the con.
spiracy but not affecting any OF the prisoners
directly; and as there was one argument ready
on the part of the counsel for the accused, he
thought it might De heard at tais tirEe, with the
that the prosecution should not
be debafred thereby from Introducing the tes-
timony referred to hereafter.
Mr. AIKEN saldsit vEas the wish Of the coun-
sci for the accused that ALI the testimony the
Government had should b. Introduced before
the arguments Were entered upon They ex-
pected that Mr.. Johnson would be present to-
morrow to present the opening argument In
person. IF he did net arrive, his colleague,
Mr.. Ciampitt, whould read the arga.
ment to the court, but As the greater part OF
it was in the hand writing of Mr. Johnson
and he would do MIR. johnson the honor to sag
that II was about as bad as any handwriting
time to make it out.
MIR, Aiken said that in his own case he would
be ready TO present the argument and the sam
ming up Of facts in the case Of Mrs. Surrai On
Monday next. The argument Of Mr.. Johnson,