Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-06-22
LATEST NEWS.
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Trial OF the Assassins'

THAI Oh the
New YORK, June 10
Mr. CIamhsh read the argument id
Irassed IN The president and gentlemen
nj tbe commission, signed by Hon, Rev
erdv Johnson and concurred ia by Mr.,
Fred. A. Aiken and Mr. John VI. Clame.
pit as associate counsel for Mrs Mary
L. Surratt 1t commences by asking if
the commission has jurisdiction of the
cases before it and calling attention to
the great Importance of the question,
refers TO the duty OF the commission to
consider 1t, aud declares if the commas
sion is unauthorized the act establishing
il is an usurpation on the part Of the
executive, 1t then proceeds to say the
constitution defines the powers and
duties of the executive and provides
punishment for his violation of them,
therefore he possesses no powers beyond
what the constitution COnterS and his act
beyond authority can furnish no defence
against the legal consequences of what
are gone under it and whatever is done
is utterly void, the commission must
therefore decide this question before
pronouncing Judgment. That's tribunal
like this has no jurisdiction over them
other than military officers, is believed
to be evident that offences defined and
4 punished by the civil law and whose
trial is provided for by the same law are
not the subjects of military jurisdiction
is OF course true,
WASHINGTON, June 10.
N Mr. Aiken stated to the court that he
would not be prepared TO read the argu-
ment in the case of Mrs. Surratt until
Wednesday. The delay was attribu-
table to the voluminous evidence pre-
yiously to be examined by him.
Mr., Clamepet with the consent of the
court, then proceeded to read the argu-
ment an the plea Of jurisdiction.
WAsHINGToN, June 10.
The argument of F. Stone in behalf of
Harold was read, the counsel contend
ing that the accused did not aid or abet
in the murder of the President, and that
there was no evidence to show that he
COnspired with Booth and others in aid
of the rebellion or for the overthrow Of
the Government, as charged. That he
aided and abetted in the escape of
Booth, however, there was no doubt
and he must take the consequences.
8lr. Cox read an argument in favor of
Arnold anf OLaughln, reviewing the
evidence at length, and insisting they
were not engaged in the conspiracy, as
charged, and demanding their acquittal.
WASHINGTON, June 20.
Nothing was done in the court this
afternoon except the reading of an ar
gument by Mr.. Ewing, to show that
Spangler had no completely whatever
with Booth in the assassination of the
President.
WASHINGTON June 81
Mr.. Aiken read the argument in favor
of Mrs. Surratt
The court adjourned until Friday.
WASHINGTON June 81.
Mr.. Dexter read paper in the case of
Payne; he considered that there was but
one question, namely: how for the con-
viction of the prisoner in doing what he
thought was right in attempting the as
sassination of Secretary Seward, should
mitigate his punishment.
The counsel gave history of the pris-
1ne,- and excused the crime as the result
of his soutnn ern education, slavery hav-
ING trained the assassin. The accused
was fanatic an ell i,husiast, hero
not a hired tool.
Mr.. Doster said apart from the crime |
Payne had committed, he had formed an
estimate of his character.
Mr.. Doster then read statement
from Atzerot saying that he was one Of
the party who agreed to capture Presi
dent Lincoln, but that when Booth
preached the assassination, he, the pris-
oner, positively refused to have any
thing to do with the affair Booth
wanted him to murder Vice President
Johnson, bur this he positively and per-
emptorily declined to do.