Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-19
The Trial OF the Conspirators.

1
The Trial OF the Conspirators.
WASHINGTON, May IL.
A Reeve. u telegraph operator, residing in
| BROOKLYN, identified a despatch handed to him
by Booth at the ST Nicholas hotel. and sent to
L. J. wechtman. on the 23i March Ii simply
read: Tell John to telegraph number aud
street at once" The witness then delivered the
message to John Surratt, who. in response TO
Wechtmah's question what it WAS about, said:
"Don't be so damned nqusitive." Witness
boarded at Mrs Surratt's house in Washington
after the 4th Of March: could not fix the time he
said. Booth. John Surratt. Payne. A'zeroth.
with several others. who had all been riding out.
returned very much excited lie noticed when
some of them arrived Surratt said his prospects
were blighted and was in extremely ill-humor
Witness testified that on the morning after the
assassination he thought it his duty to surrender
to the government. He assisted in the discovery
and arrest OF the guilty parties. He mentioned
woman who was in the habit OF coming TO Mrs
Surratts. whom the latter said vas Mrs Chatter
n French woman aud blockade runner, aud
was not afraid OF the consequences because she
could invoke the protection OF the French minis
ter or consul
The court then took a recess
The following j. the letter mentioned in
Ryders testimony;
RicnnoNp. Va, Feb IL, 1865
His EIcellency jeff Davis, President, O s A.
When Senator johnson and myself waited
| upon you some days since IN relation 10 the pro
! jet OF annoying and harassing the enemy by
means OF burning their shipping towns, &c
! there were several remarks made by you upon
! the subject that | vas not fully prepared To
answer, which upon subsequent conference with
parties proposing the enterprise, find eau
apply no objections TO the scheme First. CON
bustible material consists Of several preparations
aud not OF one alone. aud eau be used without
exposing the party using them 10 the least
danger Of detection whatever. Preparations are
not ia the hands OF Mr. Daniel, but arc in the
hands of Prof Mccullough. are known but to
him aud one other party. rs understand.
There il no necessity for sending persons in
military service into the enemys country, but
the work may be done by agents, and, in most
cases. by persons ignorant Of the facts and there
fore innocent agents. have seen enough OF the
effects that can be produced TO satisfy me that
| in most of the cases, with little danger 10 the
| parties engaged, we can: LIST. Burn every vessel
that leaves a foreign port for New York ID
We can burn every transport that leaves New
Y ork or other h rbors with supplies for the ar
mics OF the enemy in the south 81 Burn ev
cry transport aud gunboat on the Mississippi
river, as well ne devsstste the country and fll
his people with terror aud const ernation.
! am not alone ia this opinion. but many other
! gentlemen are AS fully and thoroughly impressed
| with the conviction as | am
believe we have the means at our command
! if properly appropriated and emphatcally mp.
! piled. TO demoraze the northern people in a
very short time
! | respectfully but earnestly request that you
will have an interview with General Harris, for
merly a member OF Congress from Missouri who
! | think is able, by conclusive proof, tO convince
! you that what have suggested j. perfectly feas
IDLE and practicable. The deep interest have
for the success OF our cause in this struggle with
the conviction of the importance of availing our
selves of every element OF Defense must be nv
excuse for writing YOU and requesting YOU to in
wife General Harris To see you If you would
see proofs please signify the time when il will
be convenient for you TO see him.
| am respectfully.
Your obedient servant
W :. OLDHAM
| On the back OF the letter the two endorse
ments. the first being Hon A s Oldham, Rich
mond. February 18th, 1865. in relation to the
plans and means of burning the enemy shipping,
| towns, Re
Preparations ere in the hands of Prof Nc
/ Cullough and are known only TO one party, which
asks the president to have an interview with
Gen. Harris, formerly Of Missouri. the subject
OF secretary OF state. AZ his convenience Please
Geo. Harris and learn what plan be has for
overcoming the sulty heretofore experienced.
/ Received Feb IL. 1865 J. ID.
2ash February. 1865
/ On cross examination questions were asked the
witness as to the man named St Marie, in 1863.
with the apparent object OF showing that the wit
ness Was aware of ST Marie's intention of get
4 ting south and if there WAS no other way by en-
/ listing in a federal regiment and deserving, and
/ that the witness was a sympaihi8er with rebels
aud assisted this man TO get south
! The prosecution objected 10 hetestimony as
mmaterial, but allowed "a few questions to be
asked which the witness answered
The witness denied having, while clerk in
/ the war department, agreed 20 communicate 10
any prisoner at the bar any informant be might
obtain from that department. Being asked about
/ his acquaintance with n man named Howell he
said he had seen him but never had any CONVEX
satloB with him. on the contrary he had said 10
| Capt. Glesion of the war department there is
| blockade runner at our house, shall give him
| up, sgitated the question three days. and then
thought il might be the only time he mi ght be
there so let him 20 told him, should ike
to 90 south though had been student OF Iii
vnity, and would like 10 be in Richmon for the
/ purpose OF continuing my siuiics.
W hen in the war department he taught a
I cypber which vas tor no particular purpose No
arrangements were made FOR corresponding with
/ Richmond | once wrote poem Oi L)nglellOss
| IN this cy pher. and that u the only use / ever
made of IT, Howell acquainted with Mrs
Surrau Howell never told me il was the pher
used in Richmond
| In answer to other questions, the witness said
he would have been the last man in the world to
/ have suspected Surratt, bis school com. snion OF
the murder Of the president N suspicious
were hot OF definite character
/ l made n cont ient OF Captain Gleason told
] ID -.
| over with him certain snatches Of conversation
had heard. and asked him whether the parties
could be bearers OF dispatches or block.d e-ruh.
ners wsichtman also said be told Captain