New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-22

that some one should employ him. AT the beginning
of the war; Powell one night went to the theater at
Richmond 1t was the first play that Powell ever saw
and no spellbound with the magical influence OF
the stage He attracted by the voice and manner
Of of the actors y. Wilkes Booth. Although pr.
vate soldier, Powell considered himself the equai OF
any man. and after the play over sought and gained
an introduction to the actor. Never were TWO
natures thrown together SO different. yet on. one
The soldier was tall rough frank, generous ilterate
the actor was of delicate mould, polished graceful
subtle with brilliant powers, ana aonndaht s,och VI
reading. They saw enough OF each other 10 form
close intimacy Sufficient TO complete the cohtro OF
Booth the prisoner and parted not TO meet again
BILE day in March, Powell was dragging himself along
the street past Barnums hotel poor creature over
come by destiny Suddenly familiar voice hailed HIM
Looking ND the steps he the face OF the Richmond
actor The actor on his side, expressed astonshmen
TO lind Powell in such plight, and Powell answered
him in few words. /" Booth want food nm siarv-
ing" Under other circumstances, Booth might nave
given him bread, but he was filled win q
mighty scheme, for he had just come rom
Canada. and was lying IN wait ior agents :.
wind abont him his tolls saying: 81 will give you as
much money as you want but you must swear to suck
by me; IL is in the oil business" hungry stomach IS
not cautious of oaths and Powell then that fatal
oath binding his soul as firmly TO Booth az faust 10
Mephisiopheles and went in and toasted Next morn
| ing Booth gave him money enough 10 buy
change of clothing Powell now began TO be anxious
10 know what plan 1t TO make him rch. but
Booth answered him eyasively IT was the OIL business
| lie knew well enough that ne bhu 10 uo WIN W.
peratc man, but he knew also that proposition oil
guilty character might be rejected. Mr.. Doster pro-
ceedod TO describe ard narrate In animated language
the manner in which Booth, step by step, worked on
the mind of his victim depicting 10 the prisoner the
wrongs OF the South and the guilt OF her oppressor
and wrought him up 10 ptch OF iTehzea passion 20
avenge the wrongs his country, and set himself right
with his countrymen, who despised him as recfehh
Booth saw his victim was ready, and fastened 70 IN
part his mysterious plans The plan was 10 go 70 as
ton take ride with cOniederates Ia the Soldiers
Home capture the President and deliver INN 10 the
Rebel authorities. On the evening Of the 18th or pr
az O'Clock Booth told him the hour had struck placed
in his hands the knife the revolver and the bogus pack
age Of medicine and told him TO do his duty, ana gave
him horse, with directions 10 meet him az Anacosta
bridge and he went and did the deed " J. said Mr.
Doster "have asked him why he did IT,. lis only an
swer is: Because believed II my duty Mr. Doster
argued that Payne the time he committed this deed
had no will of lis own; but had surrendered ms WIZ
com petely 10 Booth under that nnence-that com.
pleie supremacy Of one mind over anoiher-ihat has
gone by various names among various ma Ia.
was person peculiarly gifted with this unaecountabe
influence and the prisoner was further held TO Booh
by the ties Of gratitude by his OATH by the es oil IN
terest and the ties OF sympathy IN common cause
Hence the explanation why. when informed OF Booths
plans he did inform the authorities and break away
from Booth. Mr.. Doster drew distinction between
the hired assassin who kills for gold and the ianatiea
assassin who deems II his duty 10 offer up MS own NE
In exchange for the life he believed TO be public enc
nv and contends that Payne Of the latter class.
Tie erect bearing the patience the smiling sefpos-
session Of the prisoner referred TO as indicating
the political fanatica monomaniao on the tuoject OF
his duty He urged that this man wishes To de IN or
der 10 gain the full crown OF msrtyrdom ana therefore
If We crafty him he will triumph over u.s. but II We
spare him, viii triumph over him. III suffered 10
live he will receive the worst punishmont-obscgrity
and the public Will have nothing 10 admire.
lie has killed no man. and II he be put TO death we shall
have the anomaly OF the victim surviving the n'af.
derer and under the laws he can DO punished only ior
assault and battery with intent - XII, and therefore
imprisoned Mr.. Doster proceeded who other con,
sderatiOns WHY the prisoners lie should Ce saved ana
before concluding spoke OF the many good qualities he
mad found in the prisoner by his intercourse With him
his frank manly bearing; his Discrimination Tor MOTOR
iiv and his indsposon TO screen himself rom funian'
ment His only prominent anxiety wac lest the people
should think him hired assassin or brute an aver
sion TO be made public spectacle o. and desire 10 DC
tried at the hands Of las ieho"-ciil%ehs'
ARECEss
After an honrs recess taken By The Court. MI. Dos
ter entered mon the argument In behalf Of At1erodt
commencing by Offering statement by DIS ciioh' ID
STATEMENT OF ATzERoDT.
II am one the party who agreed TO the capture o.
the President fthe United states. or any me9Der Oh
The Cabinet or Gen. Grant, Vice President Johnson
The first plot 10 capture failed the second To- kii
broke away from the moment heard Of II. I@ IS INC
way came about On me evening OF tns ia.n % i
me, Booth and Payne at the Herndon House ia ths
city at o'clock. He (Booth) said he himself wOuid
take charge OF Mr.. Lincoln and Gen Grant, Payne
should take Mr.. Seward and should take Mr. John
son. told him would not do II; that had gone INTO
the thing to capture, but was not gong TO XII he
told me that L was fool; that wonid De hnhg
ANYHOW. that III was uchtn 10 eNtlN man VIM ""NN''
ont and so we talked wandered about the streets
TIL O'Clock in the morning and then went 10 t9e MN
neil House and from there pawned my pistol al ueorge
town and went to my cousins house IN MONTGOMERY
Comfy where ] was arrested; the 18Th following
after l arrested. l. tod Piovosl Nnrsnn a
Wells aud Provost. Marshal McPhal, inc ".' nor,
story; also told il to Capt Monroe. and Col Wes od
me If pointed out the way Booth had gone shouu Dc
repreved; and told him thought ne had gone
to Charles County in order to cross the roIae an1
arms which were found In my room at The hirkw ood
House and black coat. do not belong to me; on the
afternoon of the 4th of April Harold called TO see me
and lett the coat there; II II his coal ana al ID oe
LONGS 10 him as You can by the handketchieis
marked with his initials and with the name oil ms SIS
Ter Mrs. MAYOR; now will state how pessed the
whole of the evening Of the 18th OF April In tho alter
noon about 2 O'clock ! went 10 Kctner's stable on
Eighth st. ID. and hired dark bay mare ana rode
the cemetery for pleasure and on my return put
! had kept at MAYORS before. on, or about
the 80 of April belonged to Booth and
also the saddle and bride; had charge OF hun to sell
him. and do not know what became Of him at about
six the evening went 10 Naylors again ana TOOK Out
the mare rode out for an hour and returned her TO
Naylors; it was then nearly eight, and 1 told him to
keep the mare ready at 10 o'clock III order ~ return
her to the man hired her fromi from there went 10
the Herndon House. Booth sent message to oyster
Bay" where was. saying he wanted 10 see me, ana
vent. Booth wanted me TO murder Mr.. johnson;
then went 10 the Oyster Bay on the avenue above
Twelfthst and whied away the Tune TN ABOUT lOi
cot the mare and having taken drink with the hoser.
galoped about town. and vent TO the Kinmel House;
from there rode down To the depot, and returned my
horse riding up Pennsylyaniaavc. 10 helher 81 from
Kelthers went to the Navy Yard TO get room with
Wash Brscoe he had none, and by the time got back
10 the Kmmell House II near twoi the man Thomas
was a stranger met ON the street; next morning, as
stated went TO my cousin Richters in Montgomery
County. "ho""h a. "i~'"0D''
TIE ARGUMENT FOR ATzERoDr
Mr. Doster proceeding with his argument, quoted
te modification under which tie prisoner Atzeiodt is
barred as follows: And in further prosecution OF
said conspiracy and its traitor0us and murderous de-
gns the said George A. Atzerodt did on the nighto
the 18th of April 1865 and about The same hour 1i tle
bt aforesaid thin the military department and mill
- IT,. lie LII wait for Andre W JOhnson. then