The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-06-17
THE TRIAL:
Ben Woods twenty-five Thousand
Dollar Montreal Draft.
Testimony In Regard Thereto Of an
Ollcer Of the Ontario Bank.
The Money Drawn Ont Of Jake qhompson's
Rebel Deposit Fund.
Booth Also a Customer of the
Bank.
Reported Order for the Arrest Of
Ben Wood,
&C., &C., &c.

&C., &C., Ocs
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1865.
Colonel Tompkns member of the court, was not
present at the session of the court to-day account Of
indsposition
Testimony OF Robert Purdy.
BY Judge Advocate HoLr-Witness resided in Virginia
and had been in the government service since 1851
letter heretofore published, purporng to have been
dated at South Branch Bridge, Va, April 9, 1885, ad-
dressed "Friend Wilkes and referring to certain oil
spcculatons and suggesting escape by way OF Thorn
toms Gap in the party failed to get through hs
trip after striking lie, shown 10 the witness who
stated that he had seen before witness testified
that the illusions to Purdy contained in the letter had
reference to himself that tho writer known 10 him
as a person by the name OF Jonas McAeer and that
of the operations Of the latter especially that with
reference to difficulty with the girl spoken Of
untrue.
CROss-ExANINED.
By Mr.. AIKKs-south Branch Bridge is a branch Of
the Potomac river, about twenty two miles from Cum
berland Letters not usually mailed from South
Branch Bridge, but from q little village known Green
Spring Run, just above There is no post office box
South Branch Bridge there orc no oil wells in that
vicinity.
BY Judge Advocate HoLr-Iive in Montreal, Canada;
am Assistant Manager of the Montreal Branch Of the On
mey Secretary of the Interior Of the United States and
with the account which he kept with the Ontario Bank
The moneys deposited that bank to his credit accrued
from the negotiation of bills Of exchange drawn by the
Secretary Of the Treasury Of the socaed Confederate
states upon their agents at Liverpool
State whether not In the course OF the dsburse
ments made by Jacob Thompson Of the fund placed to
his credit this requison drawn the bank (exhib
iting to witness paper given below A. 1t was 1t is
O. Please read it to the court A. (scading the
paper)
Wanted from the Ontario Bank on New York in favor
OF benjamin Wood ESQ., for $4,000 current funds $4,000
The paper shows that the requiston originally
drawn in favor Of Benjamin Wood, Esq, and that the
name OF D. s. Eastwood was afterwards substituted
q State the exact condition of that paper. A. As Il
reads now II Is draft on New York, payable to the
order of d. s. Eastwood; that is, myself
O. State how that change in the requstion occurred
A. The name OF BENJAMIN Wood, as 1t appeared origin
name as an officer Of the bank. was substituted.
Q That is the original paper, is il notS A. is.
Q Now look at this bill OF exchange tanothcr paper
was exhibited TO the witness and state whether IL
drawn upon that requisition. "A. II was
BY request OF the Judge Advocate the witness then
read the paper to the court 1t is dated Montreal Au-
gust TO- 1864 and is directed to the Cashier of the City
Bank, New York. and the wording is as follows
three days. sigh, please pay to the order Of s. East
received and charge the same the OF this branch
The endorsement the bill directs the payment be
made to Hon. Benjamin Wood or order-sgned "B.
You state that the twenty 1--WE thousand dollars for
which this bill was drawn is the same for which that
requisiton was made by Mr. Thompson in the name OF
Benjamin Wood? A. II was
O. state whether not the bill OF exchange you have
just read is the original one. A. IL is.
@ Where did you obtain n2 A. | obtained Il in New
York from the cashier OF the bank on which it was
drawn.
not acquainted with the usual marks OF canceng in
New York, but understand that it was paid.
Tho witness stated further that he not acquainted
with the Benjamin Wood referred to, but he supposed It
be the who the date OF that transaction
member OF the Congress of tho United States
cRoss-ExAMISED.
BY Mr. ArKgs--Did not rccoect Of having cashed
any drafts checks In favor Of James Watson Wallace
Richard Montgomery James b. Merritt, John Wilkes
Booth. About the last OF October Booth purchased
bill In the bank AZ Montreal with which witness con-
nected Never heard the name OF John H. surratt men
toned before.
The Judge Advocate exhibited TO the witness list OF
localities which drafts had been made by the Ontario
Bank, and requested him to give tho dates and amounts
Of the drafts which, as shown by the paper had been
drawn New York.
The witness stated that the following were among the
number Of drafts On the Sd Of October last
draft for $40 600 god the 11th of October for
$4,000 in gold; on Eovcmber 3D. 4th and sth, bills for
about $4,000 in United states currency; on the i4th and
2lst OF March last small drafts were also drawn.
Testimony OF George wilkes.
By Judge Advocate HcLr-Am acquainted with Ben
jamn Wood, Of New York, and know his handwriting.
THE endorsement, ''B Wood. on the back OF the bill
Of exchange given above exhibited ~ the witness,
and tho handwriting identified by him that OF Bcnja
min Wood Of New York; Witness stated further that
ut the time at which the paper appeared 10 have been
dated Mr. Wood member OF tho Congress of tho
United states and he believed, editor and proprietor Of
the New York Daily Nesu.
Testimony of MIR. Abraham ID. Russel.
By Judge Advocate Horr-Am acquainted with Benja-
min Wood OF the city Of New York, and know hs hand
writing. (The endorsement the bill Of exchange
hibited 10 the previous witness Identified by this
witness To be the handwriting OF Mr.. Wood Al the
time OF tho date Of that bill OF exchange Mr. Wood
member Of the Congress OF the United States and editor
and proprietor of the New York Ddily Neus Witness
had been In the habit OF receiving letters from Mr. Wood
The Court then took recess TIL two o'clock.
Upon repssembling Judge Advocate HoLT suggested
that " the argument OF the counsel for the defence
commenced, In the absence a Colonel Tompkins,
member OF the court who indsposed, 10 would have
~ he read 10 him during subsequent session OF tho
Court He thought there would be oss Of time 10 the
court n an adjournment taken until Monday
The court accordingly adjourned until Monday, at ten
AN