Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-06-29
Trial of the Conspirators.

WASHINGTON, June q.
Sanford Conoyer, alias Wallace, was
recalled by the government, and testi-
fed that after he left Washington,
which was on the same day that he
testified here, he revisited Montreal,
where he met Tucker, Sanders Carroll,
Pullin, Westcott and number of 9th
ers they did not know at that time
that he (witness) had been before this
commission, aud therefore received him
with great cordially.
Tucker, while speaking OF this trial,
denounced Secretary Stanton and Presi-
dent johnson as scoundrels, and Judge
Holt as bloodthirsty old villain,
and added that they should protect
themselves, for by the great Eternal,
the day of reckoning would come, and
heavy account would have to be set
tied"
Subsequently, when it became known
that witness had testified here his life
was menaced, and on several occasions
pistols were drawn and threats made to
shoot him (witness) dead if he did not
swear and subscribe to an affidavit to
the effect that he had not testified be-
, fore the commission, and that the Con-
over representing himself as Wallace,
had testified to q tissue of falsehoods.
rms, the witness reported, was sworn
to by him under duress, with pistols
presented In his face. He did 1t to save
mis- life.
A witness named Ansier corroborates
the above testimony in part.
John Cantley and Watkins D. Graves,
printers from Selma, Ala, testified to
\ The handwriting of G. w. Gale of Ca
hawba, who had procured the puolica-
ton of an advertisement in the Selma
Dispatch, advertising for one million
of dollars in order to procure the death
of Lincoln, Johnson and Seward.
Judge Advocate General Holt said all
4 the Government testimony was now in
Assistant Judge Advocate Bingham
then read an elaborate Argument in re-
ply to that of Reverdy Johnson, on the
Jurisdiction OF the court.
8 WASHINGTON, June u.
The argument of Mr. Bingham, AS
sistant Judge Advocate, in reply to the
several arguments in defence OF Mary
K Il. Surratt and others contains the fol-
q lowing points:
The rebellion, in aid of which this
conspiracy was formed, aud this great
public crime committed, was prosecuted
for the yindication of no right, for the
redress OF no wrong, but was itself q
criminal conspiracy and gigantic assas-
sination.
As the court had already oVerruled
the plea to the jurisdiction, he would
pass it over in silence but for the fact
that it had been repeatedly argued 10y
the counsel for the accused, denying thu
authority of the President to constitute
81 this commissioned averment that thi
tribunal Is not q court OF justice has n,
legal existence, and no power to hea
and determine the issue Joined. Ii
making this ayerment the counsel shoult
show how the President could otherwis
discharge the duty enjoinei upon hin
by his oath to preserve, protect and de
tend the constitution, and take car
that the laws be faithfully exercised
As to the assertion that the civil court
were open IN this district, he answere
that they are closed throughout half th
republic, and were open in this distriC
only by the force of the bayonet. Will
draw the military force, and would tt
rebel bands infesting the vicinity allo'
their confederates here to be tried
this or any other court. The conspir
tor who assassinated the President W,
not arrested by civil process, but pres
ed by military power. captured al
slain. Was this an act of usurpatiol
Who in this land is bold enough or ba
On ugh to assert It'll II the Presjdel
'sjpsstied in this act, what Law pr