Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-06-05
THE CONSPIRACY TRIALS.
THE RESERVED TESTIMONY.

NESEhf IESIlMON4.
The following being some Of the testimony
heretofore reserved, appears specially in the
Cincinnati Commercial of Friday last, which
states that authority has just been given for
!, its publication;
z SANFORD CoNovER testified as follows am
a native of New York: have resided in Canada
since October last; was conscripted into the
Confederate army and detailed to service in
the War Department of the Confederacy at
Richmond, under James A. Seldom. Secretary
Of War. While in Canada was intimately ac-
quainted with G. n. Sanders, Jacob Thomp-
son, DIR. Blackburn, Tucker, VIM. q. Cleary,
Capt. Castleman, Mr.. Cameron, Porterfeld,
Caps Magruder, and @ others a; also lis ~ knsw Olem'
knew MIR. Surratt also, and J. w. Booth, and
visited these gentlemen In Canada; saw Sur
ratt there on several occasions last April in
Mr.. Jacob Thompson's room also in company
with George N. Sanders and other rebels in
Canada; Surratt is about feet or 10 inches
1 saw him about the 9th or 7th OF April with
Thompson, Sanders and Booth. At that time
he delivered to Thompsod In his room, in my
presence dispatches from Richmond to Thomp-
SON, from Benjamin, and from Jefferson Davis;
the latter either cypher dispatch or letter.
Benjamin was Secretary Of State OF the Con.
federacy Previous to this, Thompson con-
yersed with me upon the subject of plot to
assassirate President Line oln and his Cabipstt
OF which gave notice he',-- -. '--SS'"cs.SSH
saw DR.. Stuart Robinson, doctor Of di-
vinity, residing in Toronto; he edited paper
in Kentucky. / have seen him with. Thomp-
son and Blackburn, and he was present when
some Of these schemes were discussed; he ap-
proved them. He said anything that could be
done under heaven would justify them under
the circumstances. He appeared upon very
son. Three or four days after the assassina-
ton Of the President, 1 saw John H. Surrattin
Canada, with Porterfield, Southern rebel,
now declared British subject by the Canadian
Immediately
that Surratt W as suspected, was pursued and
had deeamped. had q knowledge that jeff.
Davis xas the head Ct TIE ~ 80 called Conteder.
control OF its civil administration. General
Carroll was present when Surratt brought the
dispatches from Richmond, and when they
were read by Thompson believe there were
one or two others: General Carroll, Of Ten
nessee, then said he vas more anxious that
else. He said: ''If the damned -- Iouse was
not killed by somebody he would kill himself.
He referred to Vice President johnson. His
expression was word of contempt for tailor;
1t means a tailor's louise. Booth was known
in Canada by the nickname of .sPet" 1 think
/ have heard Thompson so name him; cer-
of New York, and was executed, was spoken
OF as having performed that deed by authority
of the rebel government, under the direction of
Thompson, This was communicated to me by
Tbempso on himself or in conversation in his
presence. Thompson said Kennedy deserved
TO be hanged, and he was devilish glad he was
hdngeQ, VI.
managed things very badly.
JAs.B. MERRITT testified-I anna physician,
and have been in Canada about year in Oc-
tober and November last was in Toronto met
George Young there, rebel from Kentucky :;
also Col Steele. from Kentucky. Young said
to me, "we have something Of mnch more i'm
portance than any raids He told me twas
determined that s. Old ABB" should never be
inaugurated; that they had plenty OF friends in
" ashington, and called MIR. Lincoln sa damn
ed old tyrant." l afterwards saw George N.
g 6NalA al fnnln
Steele said, " the damned old tyrant never
will serve another term If he is elected"
Sanders said at the same time, " he Would
keep himself mighty closeif he did serve an
other term" In Montreal, in February last,
heard San ders name number OF persons ready
and willing to remove the President, Vice. Pres
ident, cabinet, and some OF the leading Gene
rails OF the United States and he added that there
was any amount of money to accomplish this
purpose, meaning the ASSASSINATION of these
persons, He then read letter, which he said
Confederacy, meaning Jefferson Davis, and
which letter justified him in making any
arrangements that he could to accomplish
such object. There was meeting at
was read to them, the substance OF which
was, that If the Southerners in the Can
adas and the states were willing to be
governed by such tyrant as Lincoln, he
(Dayist did not wish TO recognize them as
friends, and that he approved OF the PROPOSE,
tion to assassinate him. Colonel Steele read
the teItoI, dlsO Odptalu HcSotS Sco' 4CoAS onu
Hill, all rebels. This meeting was about tho
middle of last February. AT the meeting,
Sanders named some OF the persons who were
to accomplish the assassination, and among
them he named ]. w. Booth, whom had seen
In Montreal in October. He also named George
Harper, Charles Caldwell, Randall ana Har-
rison. Herold went by the name OF Harrison.
l heard Surratt's name also mentioned, ana
Herold. There was person named whom
thew called 1Plug Tobacco" saw Herold in
Toronto Sanders said Booth was heart and
soul in this matter; he was cousin to Beale,
Who was hanged in New York. He added that
if thew could dispose Of Lincoln, it would be
an easy matter to dispose OF Mr.. johnson in
some OF his drunken revelries that If they
| could dispose Of the President, Vice President
| and Cabinet, and that if Mr.. Seward could be
| disposed Of, it would satisfy the people North,
| and that peace could be obtained; that they
| had .endeavored TO bring about war with
| England, but Mr. Seward, through his energy
| and sagacity, had thwarted their efforts, aud
| for that reason they wanted to get rid Of him.
| On the 5th or 9th of April last, met HaL-
per, who said that they were going to the Stases
TO ...kick up the damnedest row, such as naa
| Eeyer been heard Of" he added that II d1a noe
| hear OF the death OF Old Abe, the vice Eresl-
dent and of General Dix, in less t1an ~ 1ny ny ys,
| mig bit put him down as damneo Iooi. Auo.
| Was on the 9th OF April. De me9tioneo tnS
| NAME Of booth ne one of their fr1en0s there; 11e
| said thew had plenty Of frienosin W Wasnrngs0n,
| and that fifteen or twenty were gong. 6e'had
| started to 20 to washington as early as fn2 9Th
tnaatHsr With others communicateA this
/ sset on the 10Th OF April tea jusSeeof tne peace