The New York herald., 1865-06-22

u, Because l believed It my duty Mr. Doster argued
snst Payne a. the time he committed S this deed had mo no
completely to Booth, under that infuencethat
complete supremacy Of one mind over another
rious nations, and which we call mesmerism Booth
was person peculiarly gifted with this unaccountabls
the ties Of gratitude By his OATH by the ties Of interest
and the ties Of sympathy In common Hence the
explanation why, when informed Of Booths plans, he
did not inform the authorities and break away from
Booth. Mr. Doster drew distinction between the hired
assassin who kills for gold and the fanatica assassin
who deems his duty offer up his life in exchange
for tho life he believed be public enemy and con-
tends that Payne Of the latter class The bear
Ing the patience the smiling self possession Of the pr
monomaniac tho subject Of his duty He urged that
this man wishes TO die in order to gain the full crown Of
triumph over u.s. but If we spare him, We will triumph
over him. II suffered to live he will receive the worst pun
ishment obscqrty and the public win have nothing 70
admire He has killed no man. and II he be put to
DEATH We shall have the anomaly Of the victim sur
viving the murderer and under the laws he can be
and therefore imprisoned Mr. Doster proceeded with
other considerations why the prisoners life should be
saved and before concluding spoke Of the many good
with him; his frank, manly bearing his dsnclnation
for notoriey and his indsposition to himself
lest the people should think him hired assassin or
brute aversion to being made public spectacle or
and desire to be tried at the hands Of his fellow
citizens.
STATEMENT OF THE PRISONER ArzERoTT.
After hours taken by the Court Mr.. DosfRA
entered upon the argument in behalf Of Atzerot com
mencipg by offering statement by his CLIENT ~ fol-
lows
The prisoner Atzsrott submits the following statement
am Of the party who agreed to the capture Of the
President OF the United States or any member Of tho
The first plot 10 cantura fsi,ed Inc sscona 70 Iii
broke away from the moment heard Of IT, This Is the
way 1t came about: On the evening Of the 14h Of April
met Booth and Payne at the Herndon Hous: in thi.
city, at eight O'Clock He (Booth) said he himself would
take charge of Mr.. Lincoln and General Grant, Payne
should take Mr. Seward, and should take Mr. Johnson
thing 70 capture, but not going to kill He told
,Ss me that ws: sen. would ;: huPs
we parted wandered about the streets till two O'Clock
In the morning, and then went to the Kimmsll
House, and from there pawned my pistol at George
town, and went to my cousins house in Mont
gomsry county, where was arrested. On the
shall Wells and Provost Marshal McPhail the whole
story; also told Captain Monroe, and Colonel Wells
be reprieved; and told him thought he had gone
down 70 Charles county in order TO tho Potomac;
the arms which were found in my room at the Krkwood
House. and black coat, do not belong to me; on the
afternoon of the 14th Of April Harold called TO mo-
and le the coat there his coat and all In belongs
to him. you BY the marked with
his initials and with the Of his sister, Mrs Naylor
Now will state how passed the whole Of the evening
Of the 14h Of April In the afternoon about two O'Clock
went to Kelthers stable Eighth street. d, and
hired dark bay mare and rode into the country for
pleasure, and on my return put her up at MAYORS sta
FORE on or about the Sd of April belonged to Booth and
also the saddle and bride had charge Of him to sell
him, and do not know what became OF him. At about
six in the evening went TO MAYORS again and took out
the rode out for hour and returned her TO
Naylors 1t was then nearly eight and told him TO
keep the ready at O'clock In order to return
her TO the man hired her from From there went to
the Herndon House. Booth sent message 10 Oyster
Bay, where was, saying he wanted to see me, and I
went Booth wanted me to murder Mr. johnson. l
then went to the Oyster Bay on the avenue, above
Twelfth street, and whiled away the time till about ten.
hostsr galloped about town and went 70 the Kmmell
House. From there rode down to the depot and re-
turned my horse riding up Pennsylvania avenue TO
Yard to get room with Wash. Briscoe. He had mono,
and by the time got back to the Kimme House IL
near two The man Thomas was stranger met on the
"GEo A. ArzERorT."
specification under which the prisoner Atzero charged,
as follows:"And in further prosecution Of the said
said George A. Atzerot did on the night Of the i4th Of
April 1885, and about the hour OF tho night afore
said, within the military department and military lines
aforesaid lie in wait for Andrew Johnson, then Vice
President Of the United States aforesaid with the intent
unlawfuy and maicously TO kill and murder the said
Andrew Johnson" In support Of this specification the
government has submitted the testimony Of wsichmann
and Miss surrait that he was frequently at Mrs.
surratts, in company with Booth; Of Grsenwalty
House, and that he said, the LIST Of April"Green
walt, | am pretty near broke, though have friends
nv lie am going away one Of these days' but will re-
turn with a. much money as will keep me all my lne
time" Of Marcus Norton, that he overheard him In
conversation with Booth In which said about the
evening of the Sd Of March, that the matter succeeded
we'll with johnson did with old Buchanan, the
party would be sold and also that the character Of the
witnesses would be such that nothing could be proved by
thom; Of Colonel Nevns that he asked by the prs
oner between four and dvc Of the afternoon OF the 18th
OF April at the Krkwood House. 70 point out Mr. John
while at dinner Of Jonn Fletcher that about
April the prisoner owned horse and saddle which he
wss n ussr
the night Of the 18th Of April and also that he got
dark bay mare at Nayers on the evening Of the 1lth
which he had brought there In the morning and rode her
away at hafpast ,x brought her back at eight returned
again at ten ordered his mare took drink said 'If
and sad or II. ss. sooa ~ on ~.
then he rode 10 the Kirkwood House. out again,
went along street and turned up Tenth street OF
horse found Camp Barry sold by his uncle 10
George Gardner; Of John Toney that the same horse
s%p o oS
Of the 14th OF April, between twelve and hall. past
twelve the prisoner got out Of the cars near the
him sleep In the sore that he refused and said he
would return 10 the Kimmel House. Of Greenwat that
he came TO the Kmmell House at two A. n with man
named Thomas and hesitaed TO register his name and
went away In the morning without paying bis bill Of
Lieutenant Keim that he slept in the same room with
the prisoner at the Kimmell House. and when he (wit
ness) spoke Of the assassination Atzcrott said
awful Affair." and that the Sunday before he saw
knne In ms possesson-a large bowie knie IN eheatn-
ana that he Atzerot remarked f one fails want the
otheri OF Mr. Ccndenn, that he found knife similar
70 the one seen by Kem In r, between Eighth and
nntn streets on the morning after the assassnaton OF
Robert Jones and John Lee that Azerott took at
the kirkwood House, No I26, and that In II, the
morning OF the 10th, was found coat containing
pistol loaded, bowie knife and handkerchief marked
with the name of j. Wilkes Booth: of Provost Marshal
mcPhail, that Atzerott confessed TO him that he
threw his knife away the Herndon House;
that he pawned his pistol in Caldwell's store In
Georgetown and borrowed ten dollars and that the coat
and arms at the kirkwood belonged 10 Harold OF Ser
gsant Gammil, that he denied having en Washington
recently, or having anything TO do With the assassina
tlon; Of Hezekah Nets, that the sunday following
the Azerott seid st hs housa Ia man