Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-07
THE CONSPIRACY TRIALS.
Letter from Marcus p. Norton Concerniua
His STeStimOnv.

49, His Testimony. ~
The following appears in the Troy.N. Y.
TROY, N. Y, July /, 1865.
Editors Of Troy Daily Times:
shaving recently heard it said by few per-.
sons, who seem to know more OF, and to have,
greater care and anxiety about the business
and character of their fellow citizens than their.
own, that volunteered to the Government to
give the testimony recently given by me in the
assassination trial about being brought to x
close at Washington, / ask of You the privilege
in the most public manner through the columns
Of your most valuable journal, to deny such n
charge, and to state the exact manner and sea-
son for giving the testimony. went to Wash.
ington during the last of May on important
business for some Of my clients. Before going,
1 had been requested to appear as witness for
some part of the defence, which related to thks
absence of the locks upon the doors OF the box
where the honest and ever faithful President:
Lincoln was so brutalIy murdered by the di
rection OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and their aid.
ers and abettors-but upon q preliminary ex.
animation OF counsel after my arrival in
Washington, the defence decided not to CALI
me, for reasons not known to me, except that
heard it afterwards said that they could prove
that which they desired to-I was not, there
fore, called by the defence. In conversation
with the Hon. Horatio King in the court room
where the consplrators were being tried for the
murder and contemplated murder, in relation
to the matter about which l after waros testi.
fled, and after had recognized AtZerodf, DIR.
Mudd and O'Laughlin and pointed them ont
to him-that conversation was overhead by
tAC AcN. LII. VA " WuOe
without my consent or knowledge, conmuni-
Gated the matter to the Government, and within
one or two hours after my conversation with
Mr.. King, l was subpRn8ed by the War
Department to answer as witness. l told
the Judge Advocate that I could not see
the materiality of my testimony, and therefore
asked to be excused as witness. He replied
that he understood the case much better than
did, and that my testimony completed an i'm.
portant chain of testimony. OF course, then,
did not, and could not under the law, refuse To-
give the testimony. gave ii, and am net sorry
/ did. An assault was soon thereafter made
upon my character and standing in this COM
munity, with the view to destroy my testimony
and permit thereby the escape Of the mur-
derers and assassins of the saviour OF our
country. In your paper you have had some
thing to say in relation to that attempted
impeachment. I am engaged in preparing
q public defence to that malicious and ma.
lignant attempt which in due time will
appear. 1t was the work of enemies and OF
men against whom / have been engaged in
conducting the business of my law Office haya
made some enemies, which could not prevent
unless at the sacrifice of the legal and equitable
rights of my clients. Their interests / have
guarded and protected in the line of right and.
duty, and shall continue to do so, though the
whole world become like the few-maIignanc
enemies. would not make public notice or
ask defense through your excellent paper, but
for the fact that the attempted impeachmept
of this country. In conclusion will saw thar
Il fear not to approach the Omliootent fu6ca,5
to answer for the conduct of my whale rIife ,
The divine law / may have often disO.eved.-
but the statute law-never-never
sMARCUs p. NORTON