Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-16
Especial Dispatch to The Cincinnati Gazettel
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end, in which the court room is situated.--
AS we approached the door on the east side
we were confronted by another detach-
rent of the Reserve Corps. Our cards
were handed to the officer of the day, who
sent them within the building. In few
moments the messenger returned, and hand-
ed us sheet of paper, on which was writ
ten the follOwing
"CoURT Room.
"OLD PENITENTIARY, May l3.}
viii be admitted during the sessions of the
Court.
20 sd. II. HUNTER,
sMaor General, President.
-a.H 81. +. HARTRAUFT,
'sBrevet Brigadier General and Special Pro-
vost Marshal General"
We entered the building, passed through
a hall on the first floor, on either side of
which was room well filled with mixed
company OF civilians, officers and soldiers.
Turning to the lett, we assembled flight of
stairs, which brought us to the second floor,
and into room where were assembled some
twenty persons, male and female, who, we
understood, were witnesses and attendants
upon the officers of the Commission. From
this room a stairway leads directly to the
east end of the court room above, in the
northeast corner of the building. The SEN
tinel at this closed door passed our certifi-
Gates inside, and directly Gen. Hartrauft
admitted us within the court room, which
is about twenty-five feet wide by forty feet
in length. The ceiling is ten feet from the
floor, which is covered with thick new mat
ting, as are all the other apartments and
stairways through which we passed. The
walls of all these rooms, hallsa stairways.
have been but recently whitewashed and
the woodwork painted white, thus present.
lug bright aspect. There are two win
dows of medium size opening upon the east,
and two equally large looking out to the
north. Across these windows, on the out
side, are heavy, fiat iron bars crossing each
other perpendicularly and horizontally,
leaving openings between them of about
eight inches square. On the south side OF
the room there are two doors, each opening
into adjoining retiring rooms, painted and
fitted UP in a similar manner to those be-
low, but having in addition in each neat
bedstead and bedding and washstand. In
the west end of the court room, near the
southwest corner, is heavy prison door
leading to the cells in the adjacent portion
of the building. Through this door the pris-
oners are brought to and taken from the
presence the Commission. Atthe west end
of the room, commencing Immediately at
the east side of the door last named, is
wooden railing about four feet high, and ex-
tending from the door to the wall on the
north side This railing stands about five
feet from the west wall, against which is
platform about eighteen inches high, and
about three feet wide On this platform
and against the west wall are placed thir-
teen chairs, intended for the prisoners and
their guards. Against the south wall, and
between the two doors on that side is wit
ness platform about one foot in hight, and
having a wooden railing in front, OF the
same finish and construction as that in front
of the prisoners platform. Immediately
in front of and against the railing last
named, are placed three tables for the pris-
oners' counsel, and large wooden beam
runs across the ceiling from the middle of
the west wall to the middle of the
east wall. This beam is supported by
three round pillars, painted white, and
standing one in the middle of the beam,
and one each at a distance of eight feet
from the center pillar. A table, twelve
. feet long and three feet wide, stands be-
tween the three pillars and the north walls.
Surrounding this table are chairs for the
members of the Commission. At the foot
of this table, and between it and the attor-
neys' table. is another, for the Judge Ad-
vocate General and his two assistants. A
table of the same dimensions and finish as
that at which the Court sits is placed in a
corresponding position, between the pill
q lars and south walls of the room. Here sit
q. the official reporters and representatives OF
the press. Immediately adjoining the door
by which we entered the room from the
east end, is a table at which the special
Provost Marshal General sits. All
the furniture appears to be new and
now first in use. On entering the
court from the door last mentioned,
you are met, first, by Gen. Hartrauft. Upon
stepping few feet to the lett, and facing
west, the eye is first attracted to the Court,
assembled in brilliant full-dress uniforms,
ranged around the table. On the right, at
the east end of the table. sits Maj. Gen. Da-
vid Hunter, presiding officer. On the right,
at the north side of the table, sits Gen.
Lew Wallace. On the opposite side, and to
the left OF the President, is Brevet Maj.
Gen. August V. Kautz, and so on. On
either side are ranged other members of
the Commission, in the order Of their rank.
Judge Advocate General Holt sits at the
north end of his table, and at the right, are
assistants Col. II. l.. Burnett and Judge
Bingham. Facing the Commission, and
near these, is Hon. Reverdy johnson, and
ranged around him are the other counsel
for the prisoners. The stranger visitor is
naturally curious to see and contemplate
the countenances of the prisoners, and his
ewes rapidly pass from all the other objects
in search of the accused. There sits row
of thirteen men against the west wall of
the platform, behind the railing. "Which
is Payne? which is Harold ?" &C., he rap
idly asks himself and he mentally answers
as rapidly: Surely Payne cannot be
there. Isee no one that answers his de-
scription. That may be Harold; that
other DIR. Mudd; but don't see any such
man as the would-be assassin OF Mr.. Sew
ard is represented to be-" You begin with
the, man on the extr. me lett, and next the
door leading to the cells, Here is a man APP
parently about forty-on or two years old,
say five feet ten inches in hight, slender,
with red or sandy hair of thin growth, with
pale, oval face, somewhat intelligent,
medium size, blue eyes, high fore
head, rather prominent nose, thin lips,
and a red tuft of : hair on the chin.
He does not seem to be distressed, but
interested in the trial. He is dressed gen.
steelly in black; wears slippers. The move
ments of his limbs are somewhat restricted,
for small chain surrounds each wrist, and
extending from arm to arm, and a like chain
is about his ankles, and confines his legs
This manis DIR. Mudd, against whom twas
at first supposed but little, If anything Of
guilt could be shown, but against whom the
testimony thus far seems fearfully pointing,
You look further, to the right, passing over
the alternate man, who is an officer, and you
observe sitting beside the latter, q little fell
low dressed In faded blue suit. whom you
would scorn to call a man. lie seems but
nineteen or twenty years DID, about five
feet four inches high, dusky black hair,
.Iiyely. dark hazel eyes, slight tufts of beard
I.to.,s.. AZ, oh;n and laws. and family sur-