Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-06-28
TINE GREAT CONSPIRACY.

coed so fast last week as was expected. and
it was not till Monday of last week that
the argument Of Reverdy johnson against
the jurisdiction of the court was presented.
! Mr.. johnson disclaims any desire to
shield the prisoners from the just conse.
quences of their crime, but claims that
the constitution does not authorize such a
tribunal, and that it is an act of usurpa-
ton on the part of the president; that
the commission cannot be justified by mil
itaIy law, which relates only to soldiers,
and that the authority given to the presi-
dent to suspend the habeas corpns and de-
clare martial law does not give authority
for such commission as this. Mr.. John
son quotes largely from authorities. and
his plea is strong one But of course
it will have no effect on the commission or
on the fate of the prisoners. The court
is not going to decide against its own ju-
, risdiction at this late day, and having
commenced will carry the trial on to its
close. The time since Monday has been
occupied in hearing the arguments of the
counsel for the other prisoners, the last, the
plea for DR.. Mudd, having been read on
Friday. The testimony in his case is very
contradictory, and it is doubtful if a case
worthy of hanging can be made out against
him. Arnold seems to have withdrawn
from the conspiracy before it was ropsum-
mated, and he will also probably get off
without hanging. and so perhaps will
Spangler, the stage carpenter, who seems
to have been o mere tool of Booth, and
does not know enough to have been of any
use to the conspiracy. All the rest will
doubtless be found guilty, though the
poor health of Mrs. Suratt, and the fact
that she is woman, are beginning to tell
in her favor The attempt to prove Panye
insane wofully failed, and he stands be-
fore the country the calm. deliberate and
ferocious assassin The court has
now adjourned till next week. when the
case will be summed up for the govern
ment by Assistant Judge Advocate Gene
raj Bingham. Judge Advocate General
Holt will then draw up the decision of the
court, which will be referred to the presi-
dent for final action and decision; and
this decision, whatever it is. will proba-
bly, be promulgated next week.
Ford's theater, the scene of President
Iincoln's murder, has been purchased by
the young mems Christian association
for 100000, and will be preserved as a
memorial building, the houses on either
side having been bought for library and
reading rooms. The box where the MUIR
der was committed will be preserved as
near as possible as it was at the time of
the assassination and suitably furnished
with tablets This is the best use that
could be made of the building, and eve
rybody will he glad that it is not going
to be used for theatrical purposes again.
THE REBEL LEADERS.
JEFF. Davis still remains in his cell at
Fortress Monroe, and this is all the out
side world knows about him. The time
for his trial is not yet fixed upon. The
latest report is that he is to be tried be.
fore Chief Justice Chase. and that the
trial will be at Baltimore. Washington
is the proper place for this trial, and we
trust it will be held at the capital. Je.
rome Beck and Sterne Chittenden of New
York have been retained to assist Charles
O'Conner in the defence Of JEFF when the
trial comes off. The rebel Vice Presi-
dent Stephens spends much of his time
in Fort Warren in writing. and regularly
sings psalms every morning. 1t is re.
ported that Lee and Stephens are to be
pardoned if they will leave the country,
but how much foundation the story ha.
we do not know. Judge Underwood has
made out indictments against Lee and
fifty other prominent rebels. but the Judge
remains in Washington, and there is nc
sign yet of the cases being brought to Q
trial. John Mitchell the Irish migrate, i.
safely incarcerated in Fortress Monroe
where he will have chance to reflect or
the error Of his ways; but we do not an
ticipatc there is much chance of his re-
pentance, The Alabama planter who Of