Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-05-16
SECOND EDITION,
5x O'CLOCK p. ID.
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY;
THE TRIAL.
Proceedings To-day.
THE PRISONERS.
Re GREAT CONSPIRACY,
THE TRIAL.
Proceedings To-day.
THE PRISONERS.
NEW EVIDENCE.
THE DESIGN UPON GRANT.

geant or corporal Of the Veteran Reserve Corps
being seated next to 60 ch, as heretofore. Mrs.
Surratt is placed this morning in company
with her fellow-prisoners, the line OF raised
seats having been extended for that purpose.
Thus the eight prisoners are now on the plat
form. During the reading Of the record, Mrs.
Surratt sat with her hands and forearms rest.
I'M On the railing, on W hich she bowed her face,
seldom raising her head, and then to hold her
forehead on her hand, with elbow on the
rail. She now appears much downcast her
features showing unmistakable signs Of men,
tai wear and tear. Herold, the next ON the
platform, separated from Mrs Surratt by the
gateway to the door, leading to the cells, looks
quite as dirty and uncombad as on yesterday.
Payne sits iercely erect as on yesterday, his
eyes wandering around the room. He appar
emily pays little attention to the proceedings.
Atzerodt, who sits next, leans forward with
the iron stocks on his wrists resting on his
knees, and from the motion OF his mouth 1t
would appear that he is taking comfort from
an ample guild Of tobacco. O'Laughlin, bag
gard and pale, and with widely spreading
black hair, occasionally buries his face in his
hands. He too affords himself the solace of
sshort.cut The heavy purple. hued face Of
SpaBgler affords no clue 70 his thoughts if he
thinks at all.
H.
clean white shirt, and apparently pays more
attention to the trial than any Of his fellow
prisoners--his eyes mostly resting on the per-
son speaking. He appears more restless than
heretofore, and with some hectic on his cheeks.
Arnold, who is seated next to the window, and
who has rather an Intelligent pleasant face,
gives many q wistful glance at the sunny
landscape.
At1Ox O'Clock the Court was called to order
by Major General Hunter, President, all the
members present.
The President said that 1t had been suggested
by a member that the reading Of the record of
the previous days proceedings be dispensed
with, inasmuch as the evidence had been fully
published and the counsel were furnished with
the official record.
Mr. Ewing stated that he would have no OBJ
lection, provided that the counsel were to have
the privilege Of recalling witness when they
discovered an error in the evidence; and he
suggested inasmuch as the Off cial record was
not furnished them on the folio wing day, that
Government retain the witnesses until the
second day after they gave their testimony,
that the counsel may have an opportunity to
examine their evidence and recall them, should
any errors be discovered.
Judge Advocate Holt objected to this pro
ceedure, stating that there was no precedent
for it, and in a case where SO many lives were
involved, 1t weuld lead to eensure were it
adopted in this instance.
The President directed that the reading of
the evidence should be proceeded with, which
was done by Messrs u. F. Murphy and Ben.
PItman.
Upon the reading of the testimony of David
StantoI., he asked to correct it, to the effect
that on reflection he remembers that when
witness met OLaughlin in the house of Secre-
tAry Stanton, and asked him why he was
there, he said he was a lawyer himself, and
knew Mr.. Stanton very we'll. O'Laughlin
pointed to General Grant and asked who that
gentleman was.
at twenty minutes past one O'clock, the
Court took q recess until two p m.
At two o'clock the prisoners were again
brought in, and the Commission assembled,
when the reading of the record Of yesterdays
proceedings was concluded at half-past two
o'clock.
The first witness sworn was JOHN PEANUTS.
Witness saw Booth on the afternoon on which
the assassination took place, who drove his
horse to the stable between 4 and S clock,
when he asked HIM (witness) for halter
Witness did not see Booth when he came with
his horse between and 10 o'clock. SpangIer
called witness to hold Booths horse, telling
him II there was anything wrong about his
leaving his post to do so to blame 1t on
him. Witness was attending the stage door
at the time. Witness was sitting on q bench
when he heard the report of the pistol When
Booth came out he told witness to give him his
horse and knocked him down, striking him
with the butt Of the knife. Witness was with
Harry Ford when the box was fitted up
Spangler was present, having been sent for to
remove the partition. Spangler, in the box,
a a ~ Drac LIANT
did not hear anything said about what might
be done 70 the President. OBJECTED to by MIR.
Ewing)
BY Mr. Ewing Witness heard Bebney call
Spangler, saying that Booth wanted him
(Spangler.) Witness did not see Booth or
Spangler in front Of the theatre. Spangler was
in the habit OF hitching up Booths horse, and
when Booth was there in the afternoon Span.
gler wanted to take the saddle of, but Booth
would net let him. Witness thinks that it was
the first scene of the third act which was being
played when witness went out to hold the
horse When the scene would stand out a
whole act those who shifted the scenes would
frequently 60 to one side.
BY the Court Booth, when he made his
exit from the theater, did so by the small
door. 1t was about three O'Clock when they
were fixing mp the box, when witness, Spang.
Ter and Jake (who was a stage carpenter at
one time) were there. Witness never saw any,
thing Of q bar across the door. The kew to the
box occupied by the Presidency always re.
manned in the office during the day. There are
locks on the doors ON the inner sides OF the
private boxes Witness went for flags for the
box, but at that time Spangler and Jake came
down to the stage.
By Mr.. Ewing :-Witness did not see any
red cushioned chairs In the box when he left
the box. When he returned to the theater wit
ness and Spangler went to the theater. Wit.
ness did not know John II. Surratt, but may
have seen him.
MARY L. TURNER, sworn.-Witness resides
in the rear OF the theater, and knew Booth by
sight Witness saw Booth leading q horse to
the back door OF the theater. He called Ned
thres times, and when Spangler came out he
said tell Maddox to step here. Maddox came