Litchfield enquirer., 1865-06-01

frequently visited by Booth, Here these pris- oDers remained for about three weeks. In ibe meanwhile, Payne put up two or three days at Surratt's, where John II. Surrstt, A,zeroth and Booth and himself had secret consultations. On the second visit, Payne represented to some of the inmates that he was Baptist preacher. He and surratt were found at oue time in the bedroom playing with the bowie hives. It. this room were two revolvers aud four sets os spurs of the same kiud AS the spur and revolye. fOnnd ill Aizeroth's room al the kirkwood House. At another time, just before the aa sasslnation,he is found occupying room at the Herdron. where he Is visited by Aizeroib.-- The proof of his coni-derating with Booth and his accomplices is beyond doubt That 1t was Payne who made the assault upon Mir Seward, and ths others injured in the Secre'a- ry's house, is as certain as human testimony can establish any fact.
 Equally as certain Is the evidence that hsr rold was Booths accessory before and after the fact He is first found in confidential relaii ons with the assassin in the early part of Feb ruary, and he is several times discovered iu se cret meetings with Booth, At5erot and others of the conspiracy, He is once found at Mrs. snrratt's in company with them. With Sursn;s ard Aizeroth he cali at the tavern in Surrssts- vile, and left the two carbines, ammunit;cH. fc. which were taken away from that place D him and Booth on the right of the assassiuG- tion. During their. flight he acknowledges to confederate soldiers that he and Booth are tte assassins of the President, and he is captured in the barn with Booth, and has been fully de- tailed heretofore. There is no doubt Ehateye. of his guilt and he will suffer the penalty of his crime as it shall be defined by the commis- sion
 Ataeroth. like the last narasd prisoner, .s proven to have been i cnuspiratOr, and makes his first appearance at MT. Surratts in the eaT ly part of February enquiring for John Fl. Snrratt or Mrs :;urrati, nnd:i frequently found in secret communication with Booth and h;s confederates. To him was assigned the mur
 der of President Johnson at the Kirkwcod
 House; but notwithstanding, it appears there was no obstacle in the way of its performance, he does not seem to have made any effort to get access to his intended victim on he eysn ing of the l4th of April. On the morning of that day he took room at kirkw0ods where
 Mr. Johnson was putting up, and was sesh
 there at noon and about six o'clock in the eys , ming. He was traced there on horseback. hut : was not apparently about the house after that hour. He proved false to his confederates no
 donbt. Such would be in keeping with his
 character He was in active cooperation with
 them, however, throughout the night. and fled at daylight the. next morning. or his guilt ? there is not shadow of doubt
 Ms. surratt appears to have been cogniSant } of the intended crime almost from it's inception 7 and became an active participant in overt acts ', She was general manager, she received and
 entertained aL her honse all the criminals eN- , cept Mir. Mudd, OLaughlin and Arnold vial. l Dr. M. she planned the means and sssistsnce D for the escape of the assassins She visited |, Paine at o'clock on the day of the assassins ton, to see that the carbines, &c. should be iG | readiness, aud informed him they would he cai n led for that night Booth frequently called al
 her house and held long confidential talks witt her. He was with her few minutes on tbe v l4th. As an accomplice of Booth and par
 ticlpant in his crime, she cannot escape :hs penalty of the law.
 Dr. Mudd's ststus is identical. As early ss
 November last he is shown to have been ID the
 confidence of Booth. He has q suspicious
 meeting with Suaratt and Booth at tue Nation. al Hotel in January. He introduces Boott
 to Surratt. Booth visits him at his room in the Pennsylvannia House. The assosslns hy to
 his house directly after committing the murder.
 He dresses Booths wound, and assists the es- cape of the latter and Harold, and when cali. ed upon by the officers three days afterward. denies that he knows either of the criminals
 When arrested on the Friday morning, he pre- varicates, lies outright, and finally admits thss he knew Booth He says he first heard of the assassination On Sunday after 1t was commit ted, at Church and yet it is shown by abun- dant proof that he was in Bryantown on the day preceding, Saturday, at an hour when tbs populace was all excitement, the town guarded by and full of soldiers, and every man, woman and child in the place had not only heard of the murder, but knew the name of the assass- in. Dr. Mudd is doubtless guilty, but witt what degree of punishment he will be adjudgsd remains with the commission to determine
 spangler does not appear to have been in the conspiracy, according to the proofs, at su ear Her period than few hours before the cOmuis. sion of the crime, If he be guilty, his partic- ipation would appear to have been in prepaf- ing the means of escape, by keeping the pas sageway clear on the stage. aud by closing the door after Booth had passed throu gh, 90 ss to retard the movements of pursuers. Some I proof has been offered to connect him with the preparation of the bar which fastened tho door leading to the Presidents box, but the evidence is vague and uncertain. That he knew the bur. pose of Booth, that he promised few minutes before the murder to help the assassin, Is ss clearly shown by circumstances and testimony as any fact in the case. s.sItfs