Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-30
TRIAL OF THE ASSASSINS.


Secretary Of State, Benjamin. Il was the key
to the rebel Official cypher. Benjamns Office
consisted Of a series Of three or four rooms his
personal Office being nnermost Of ALL The key
70 th5 cypaer was IN tue room occupied by his
Confidential secretary. Most OF the articles had
been taken away, including the records, but
witness found several interesting documents.
THIS is a key to cypher by which cert IN let
tors OF the al phabet be used tor other letters,
and by using pointers such a cypher can be trans
lated or plain writing be turned into cypher.
The machine is about foot long and eight
inches high and consists Of wooden cylinder
which has a paper envelope Inserted with the
letters. The cylinder reyolyes on pivot.
There are holes ateach end and bar across the
top contains wooden indices pointing down to
the letters.
Major Eekert testified that a cypher shown
him aud which was taken from the trunk Of j
Wilkes Booth and that taken from tue rebel
secretary Of war Office were the samo. Several
rebel eypher dispatches which have fallen into
tho hands Of our war department had been re-
ierred to him Tor examination, some Of which
were the same 90 this and worked on the same
principle. Rebel dispatches OF October Is and
Il last were IN hs possession aud were decipher-
cd on the same principle, although the key
word was different The following translati0ns
were then read :--
October l3.-Wo again urge the immense
necessity OF our gaining immense advantages.
Strain every nerve Tor victory, We now look
upon the reelection Of Lincoln IN November as
almost certain, and We need to whip his hirelings
to prevent IT, Besides, with Lincoln reelected
] Ia ,nt hf.Y
/ for recognition, much less the help mentioned
In our last. lIolcombo vii explain thls These
! figures OF the Yankee armies are correct ~ o
unit Your friend shall be immediately set to
work ss you direct.
October IL, loj4.--iour letter Of the 18Th
/ inst is at hand. There IS not time enough to
colonize many voters before November. A blow
viii shortly be stricken hcra 1t i,n1t quite
lime. Gen LJugs,Ieet is 10 attack sheridan
without delay ana then move north as tar as
practicable IJwaId unprotected points. This
will be made instead OF the movement before
mentioned He will endeayor to asist the re-
publcans In collecting ballots. BE- waichiul
nd assist him.
The original was sent 10 Is address. The first
cypher came from Canada and went 10 Rich
mOnd, the second came from h chmond and
went 10 Canada.
Gen. Hamilton testified that To was familiar
with the handwriting Of VIM g. Oldham and
a paper handed hin was testified to as being Ia
Oldham handwriting. Hamilton testified 20
being present when Oldham was elected men Der
OF the rebel congress W the Texas legislature,
and had seen many documents ia pint nrO-
luced by Oldham nto the rebel senate with .s
was iJmerlya member OF C0ugfess from Tons
be ldelulsI the leItes from Ooh IN 20 JEFF
DAVIS 10 relation tO inc plan for burning ship
ping, etc. did not know the Mccullough men.
toned 10 the letter.
The evidence on Monday was important. In
addition 70 the examination OF a number OF
witnesses, document from among tie recently
captur archives % rebeid.m vas produced IN
evidence, showing that the policy q assAs-na.
ton was entertained by DAVIS md hl- Secretary
OF War.
On Tuesday the Cour, adjourned until Thurs
day, on account Of the difficulty IN procuring
the attendance Of witnesses.
Thursdays proceedings were barren % inter
esung Incidents, and much OF the testimony va
cumulative upon the matter of the treatmeu, Oh
g Union prisoners received az tho hands Of th,
, rebels.
The conclusion OF the government testimony
. was devoted % Dr. Mud, who, with Surrat.
was shown to have been harborng rebels aul
holding secret meetings with them during Ms
summer, and u was proven that Mudd had a.
one time been cagnIzlnt Of the plan 20 o bdur
the President over year ago
Mrs. SurrAu's witnesses were thc frs cailt.
> on the part 81 the deiclce. aud two instance.
I gave evidence damaging 70 her 10 enc iastare,
the deendants counsel appears 10 have been
picked up by a witness NhO alleges taa, til,
attorney, Nh Aiken, made corfup, proposals. /.
INN, under the impression that he could h
bought up. This announcement created quit
u STIR IN the assembly, and completely nonplussc,
j. the counsel. OF ten or twelve Biinessesl ex
j. amned for defendant there were obtained d.
material facts IN her favor
On Friday no material new point was broush
Out by the testimony save the pro0t elected iron
:, the witness who testified to oyerhesring a con
.. versatIon in Montreal 10 February las, betweer
Il Sanders ana Cie4ry. The testimony Of thi
witness was given unhesinungly, that Clesry
: said to Sanders =" l suppose they are gettiui
+ ready for tho Inauguration OF Lincoln. an,
Q that Sanders replied, " Ii the boys have luck
LincJla shall no. trouble us much longer" au.
that " Booth was bossing the job. The inter
probation put on this BY the prosecution 49, tha
the Job Booth was bJssing was the assassination
Of Mr.. Lincoln and If this inference be correct
o the government has succeeded in estab lshing tia
e Sanders and his e9nreres We're both confederate
+ ia the assassiuatJn. |; but remains now {,
} establish, by direct proof, that DAVIS and Bootl
were conlederatCs.
y Two Catholic priests were Sworn and testi6e,
+ that Mrs. Surrat was woman of Christian
u character, and that they had never heard bel
. express loyal or dsloyal sentiments
The counsel tor o Laughln sought to prov
that he was willing to surrender himself lo
l. trial The testimony for the prisoners has beer
+ mostly of q negative rather than Of postiy
c character.