Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-06-21
THE TRIAL of TUE CONsPIRAToRs.
CONTINUATION of the PROCEEDINGS.
WEDNESDAY, NAY 81.

In the conspiracy trial on Wednesday,
Hartman Richter, a cousin of Atzerot,
testified that lie came to his home in
Montgomery county, Maryland, on tho
Sunday after the asssssinst on of the Pre-
sident, and remained there until Thurs
day morning. lie did not attempt to hide
himself, and was willing TO so with the ar
resting officers. Mr.. DostCr, as counsel
up the plea Of insanity. and Tor tnt3' pGf:
pose had sent for witnesses thousands Of
miles away, who have not yet arrived
VIM. $ Arnold testified as to his brothers.
Whereabouts in Baltimore city and county,
from the 2lst of March to the lst of April,
when the prisoner went TO Fortress Mon
roe, giving to the witness his pistol and
knife. Frank Arnold also brother of
the prisoner, testified that the latter went
to Fortress Monroe to enter upon em-
ployment. John Y. Ford, proprietor of
the theatre, was called 10 the stand and
was asked ly the defence whether Booth
ever applied to him to employ Chester,
the actor. Assistant Judge Advocate
Bingham objected to the question. Mr..
Ewing contended that the question was
pertinent Arnold had made voluntary
confession that there was n plan to cap
ture the President, which Chester, in his
testimony corroborated. The object in
proroun&ing tho interrogatory was to
show that Booth had nobody in the thea.
tre to assist him. An answer to the ques.
tion was important, in justice to Spangler.
Assistant Judge Advocate Bingham said
this was not q question Of relevancy
therefore 1t was absolutely unnecessary to
ask it, The Court sustained the Judge
Advocates objection.
FRIDAY, JUNE ..
Friday certain witnesses were called TO
show that Spangler was at his boarding.
house in Washington q day or two after
the assassination. Thomas j. Reybold,
employed at Ford's theatre, testified that
about two weeks before the assassination
Booth occupied box number seven, ad
Joining that in which the President was
subsequently shot On the 7th Of March,
the witness broke open box number sew.
en- in order to admit q gentleman with
his company. Two witnesses employed
at the theatre had exhibited to them the
rope found in Spangler's carpet bag
They said it re5embled similar ropes used
in the theatre, but could not say positive.
~ il was the same. Miss Margaret Bren
son testified that she first met Payne at
Gettysburg Immediately after the battle,
Payne was in witness ward, where he was
very kind 10 tho sick and wounded. Mr.
Dosler claimed the foundation for propos,
ing Payne's insanity had already been
laid by the prosecution and the crime in
its inception, the manner in which it was
carried out, and tho action of Payne, both
before and since his arrest, went to sho"
insanity. Mr.. Doster detailed the CIR.
cumstanoes attending the attempt to Kill
Secretary Seward in support OF his plea.
Mr.. Nichols, Superintendent OF the Gov
ernment insane Asylum, was called for the
occnsed Ir. he said, q man attempts to
murder n sick man in bed whom he hai
not before seen, and assaults four others
in The same house, witness would suspect
him to be insane; and, also If he remain.
cd talking with a servant for four minutes,
But if he cried out after committing the
deed. I'm mad, rm mad!" witnes
would suppose that this was feig ing mad,
ness Madmen seldom say they are mad.
If he would abandon his horse, wander in
The woods, and make his way to houss
which he would expect to be guarded
witness would suppose he was indifer-
,nt to the consequences.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8.
At the conspiracy trial, on Saturday, the
counsel for Payne continued their efforts
10 prove his insanity. One OF his guards