Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-03
Trial Of the ConspIrntors.

| WASHINGTON, June 2.--Several witnesses
were called to show that Spangler was at
his clearinghouse in Washington day or
| two after the assassination.
| Thos. j. Reybold, employed at Ford's
theatre, testified that about two weeks be-
fore the assassination Booth occupied No.
2, adjoining that in which the President
was subsequently shot. On the 9TH of the
month, witness not being able to find the
key, broke open box No. z, in order to adj
NIT gentleman with his company.
| Two witnesses, employed at the theatre,
had exhibited to them the rope found in
| Spanglers carpet bag. They said it re-
sembled similar rope used in the theatre,
but could not say positively that it was the
same. .... ... ......... ...-...
WASHINGTON, June 2.-After reading of
the record the examination of witnesses for
the defense was resumed.
Charles Bulger and John Gunther testi-
fled that Spangler was at his boarding
house in Washington several days after the
assassination. The latter never saw Span
gler wear moustache.
Thos. Reybold testified that about the 9TH
of March Mr.. Merrick, of the National Ho-
tel asked him to reserve some seats in the
orchestra, and he did so, but the party not
having arrived at the end of the first act,
the seats were occupied by other persons.
took them to box No. 6, which was locked
and could not be entered. / then crossed
to boxes and s, generally termed the Pres
1dentS boxes which were also locked. /
kicked the door open with my foot. When
the President occupied the box we used the
door OF box s. That door was used on the
night of the assassination. | don't know
that thealock was ever repaired. never
thought of having 1t fixed; never thought
it worth while to mention it. Booth occu-
pied box z, the one in which the lock was
fixed, one night about two weeks previous
to the assassination. He had previously
engaged box 4, but requested change to
box z. The position of the chair in which
the President sat was the same which had
liked on two other occasions. The reason
was that If placed in any other position the
rockers would be in the way. The removal
OF the partition left triangular corner to
the left of the balustrade of boxes. The
rockers were in this corner and out of the
way. That was the only reason why
l put it there. Witness was shown the
rope found in Spangler's carpet-bag, and
said 1t looked like. the ropes used in the
flies for drawing the scenes, and is called
worder rope. Cross-eXamined: Don't think
the proper place for such rope would have
been In carpet-sack half mileaway. Don't
rope at hisOwn expense. Sometimes we use
a great many of those ropes, and then take
them up in the loft until we use them
again. l was in the box about five minutes
on the afternoon before the Assassination
Did not see mortice in the wall or a
piece OF wood to fasten the door.
Henry L. Merrick, clerk in the National
Hotel, testified to similar purport with
the preceding witness, as to the forcing
open of the door of the box by Mr.. Rey-
bold, the keeper. Think the lock was
| forced of; at least the screw that held the
upper part of the keeper came out and it
wheeled around and hung by the remain
| ing screw.
Jos. Lamb testified: Am scene painter at
Cords theater. The rope found in Span
gler's possession was shown witness. Have
seen ropes like that used in the theater, but
all ropes of the description bear some SINH
larity. The length is not less than eight
feet. They are used for raising and lower
ing the borders. Saw Spangler several
times the day after the assassination in the
theater. My feelings were excited and /
remained on the spot the whole day. ~
VIM r. Smith testified to seeing Booth
pass off the stage. Think he got off before
MIR. Stewart or anybody else got on the
stage. Saw Stewart turn round and look
| upOll JHe DOA III which Lne HreSluenJ naQ
been murdered. Did not watch him any
| further. ..,|h -.
| Miss Margaret Bronson testified that she
| first met Payne at Gettysburg, Immediately
after the battle. Payne was in witness
ward, where he was very kind to the sick
and wounded. 'n-
Mr.. Dooster claimed the foundation for
proving Payne's insanity had already been
laid by the prosecution, and the crime in its
action, the manner in which 1t was carried
out, and the action of Payne both before
and since, show insanity. Mr.. Doester de-
tailed the circumstances of the attempt to
kill Seward in support of his plea. ...
DIR. Nichols, superintendent OF the Gov
ernment Insane Asylum, was called for
the accused. If, he said, man attempts to
murder a sick man in bed, whom he had
not before seen, and assaults four others in
the same house, witness would suspect him
| to be insane; and also if he remained talk
| ing with a servant for five minutes but if
| he cried out after committing the deed,
Pm mad, I'm mad," witness would sup
pose that this was feigning madness. Mad
men seldom say they are mad. If he
would hitch his horse in the woods and
make his way to house which he would
suspect to be guarded, witness would sup
pose he was Indifferent to the consequences.