Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-06-09

dictmcnt against him is already complete.
ly riddled, That he has served in the
rebel army, that he was from boyhood an
intimate friend of John Wilkes Booth
and that he was partner in the kidnapp.
ing conspiracy, undeniable. That he
knew of the proposed murder of the
President on the 18th of April, before
the deed was consummated; is most un
likely; that he was the drunken intruder
who was elected from Secretary Stanton.
grounds on the night of the 18th is most
positively disproved; and that he "laid
in wait" for General Grant then or the
next evening, with murdcrous intent,
there is net u straw Of testimony to prove,
while there is abundant evidence as to
how and where he spent his time for two
days prior to the assassination. A man
was seen in Secretary Stanton's yard on
the 18th of April, and ordered out. At
that time no one knew Of the visit OF
Mr.. Lincoln to the theatre the next even.
ing, After the murder the circumstance
was recalled. and the gentlemen who saw
the intruaer visited the prisoners on the
monitor. O1,aughlin was the only one
who looked like the man they remember.
ed, and it is very easy to see how, the
two images blending impcrccptibly into
one in their minds, they were led to be-
Iieve and 10 sware that the accused was
actually the man whom they had scen.-
A complete aud impregnablc alibi oI
course overthrows such testimony as
this.
The testimony against the sceno-rhiftel
of Ford's Theatre, Edward Spangler, is
exceedingly slight. He had been a hum.
ble irie,d and servant of the dashing and
fascinating young tragcdian, whom all at
the theatre liked and trusted. lie had
frequently done little jobs for him, in
caring for the stable, etc On the night
Of the murder he was at his post as usual,
"runningthe fats" Five minutes alb
scnce while the play was going on would
have cost him his weeks wages. Booth
rode up to the stagc-door about nine. and
called him, as he had often done before,
wanting his horse held. Spanger could
not be spared from the wings, but dircc.-
ed the halfstupid boy Pc nuts by
familiar nickname, to hold the horse
Somebody knew about the bar which
bockadcd the box after the deed was
done,-but there is no evidence that
Spangler was in any way concernca in it.
The oft-rcpcatcd story that the scene and
properties were removed TO make clear
path for Booths run to the door, was ex-
.plo!ed by the government wltnesses.-
I he passage is always clear, and must be
kept so by rule of the theatre On
being questioned whether Booth did not
call him to hold the horse, before the
echo of the fatal shot had fairly died
away among the tawdry scenes, SPRINGER
said "Hush sh,---dan't say any thing about
it, And on this, surely natural enough
in such circumstances, rests the case oil
the government against him.
The case of DR.. Mudd is a very sim.
pie one. A commonplace village doctor.
resident of Charles County, Maryland,
and disloyal like his ncighbors. Booth
casually made his acquaintance last Nov
cmbcr. That then, or in Janury, he was
admitted to the knowledge of the kid.
mapping plot is likely. but is not quite
certain. At an, rate, Booth knew as a
man to be trusted, and finding himself a
cripple at the hour Of his life when he
most needed all his limbs, pushed to DR.,
Mudd's for assistance. lie judged his
man rightly. The physician could not
help knowing or guessing the secret of
the pale, trembling couple who sought
shelter and aid. but he received and har-
bored them, set the broken ankle, fed
horses and riders, and helped them on
the way as well as he could. To the
officers Of justice he denied having seen
them, then deuicd that he bad eve. known
them before, denied that he had heard Of
the assassination, made partial aeknowl-
edgments Of the most conflicting char
aeter, and in every sentence he uttered
wove more closely the net Of condemna-
ton around himself. The prosecution
failed to prove that he had prophesied the
murder IN March, aud by attcmptin: to
prove too much perhaps injured the gem
eral erect Of what tthcy did accomplish
but surely they proved enough.
The testimony against Sam Arnold oc-
eupied very little Of the time OF the
court, and consisted ,impy Of his we'll
known letter to Booth, urgiag him to d.-
siSt from his scheme, at least until lurth.
or aivccs from Richmond. lie admits
his participancy ia the conspiracy up to
the date Of that letter, but says that the
only project contemplated then was ab-
duction, and that he had no knowcd &c Of
Booths subsequent doings. 1t seems
somewhat singular that the government
did not accept Arnoid's confession, and
place him on the stand as be wished
His testimony against his associates would
have been most valuable as clearing up
gteat many dark points. But the policy
of the prosecution has been adverse to
such evidence and Sam Arnold sits
manacled in the dock, while the man
Lloyd who received and hid the weapons
Of the conspirators in March. who was
notified to have them ready on the day Of
the murder, who delivered to Booth aud
Herold at midaisht taeir carbines, and
gave thcm drink of whiskey, who heard
wishoGt surprise their announcement that
they had assassiuated the Chief Magis.
trate OF the nation and his prime minis
ter, who kept his lips sealed during the
week that the officers of justice were
seonrinr MARYLAND. who when 6nallv ar.