Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-06-15
TRIAL OF THE CONsPIRATORs.

HE trial OF the cOnSplratOrS for the as
sassination of President LINCOLN is now
nearly concluded The evidence which
during the past week has been introduced
for the defense is entirely negative, with
the exception of an absurd attempt to es-
tablish, in behalf of PAYNE, plea for in
sanity. There has been no sort ofnecessity
for protraCting the trial by evidence of the
character offered for the defense. But this
delay has not been entirely unsatisfactory
to the prosecuting attorney, as it has en-
abled him to introduce much testimony
corroboratory to that already given. The
feature of greatest interest is the publica-
ton of the remaining portion of the reserved
evidence taken on the first days of the trial.
This testimony is very important, and is
conclusive as to the completely of the rebel
authorities in the assassination, as also in
other most heinous plots against the lives
Of our citizens. The object for the reserva-
ton of the testimony was to secure the
safety of the witnesses-CoNovER,, MERRITT,
and MONTGOMERY.
SANFORD CoNOvER, the most prominent of
these witnesses, is native of New York
He has resided in Canada since October,
1864. He testifies that he was conscripted
into the Confederate army, and detailed to
service in the rebel War Department at
Richmond, under JAMES A. SEDDoN. the Sec
retary Of War, and that while in Canada
he was intimately acquainted with GEO. \.
SANDERS, JACOB THOMPSON, DR. BLACKBURN.
BEVERLY TUCKER, WM. c. CLEARY CLEMENT
c. CLAY, and others. He knew SURRATT al
so, and BooTH. He saw SURRATT in Canada
on several occasions last April in THoEP-
SONS room, also in the company of SANDERS
and other rebel agents On the 7th Of
April he saw him in company with THoMP-
son, SANDERS, and BooTH He saw SURRArr
at that time deliver dispatches from Rich
mond to THOMPSON. These dispatches were
from BENJAMIN and DAvIs-that from the
latter being either a cipher dispatch or
letter. Previous to this occasion THoMP-
son had cOnversed with CoNovER upon the
subject of a plot to assassinate President
LINCOLN and his cabinet He corresponded
at that time with the New York Tribune,
receiving compensation from that journal
In one of his letters he gave warning of
the existence of plot to assassinate the
President This letter, it appears, failed
to reach the Tribune One letter was re-
ceived however, giving intimation of a plot
to kidnap the President with a suggestion
of his possible murder THOMPSON invited
CoNOvER to take part in this enterprise
When SURRATr delivered the messages above
alluded to THOMPSON laid his hand upon the
papers and said, referring to the assassin
alton and to the assent of the rebel author
tiles. "This makes the thing all right"
The dispatches spoke of the persons to be
assassinated Mr. LINCOLN, Mr.. JOHNSON,
the Secretary of War, the Secretary of
State, Judge CHASE, and general GRANT
Mr.. THOMPSON said on that occasion, or on
the day before that interview, that the as
sassination proposed would leave the Gov
of the United States entirely with
out a head that there was no provision in
the Constitution of the United States by
which they could elect another President
Mr. WELLS was also named, but Mr.. THoMP-
son said it was not worth while to kill him:
he was of no consequence
CoNovERs first interview with THOMPSON
on the subject was early in February, in
THoMPsoN's room in St Lawrence Hall, !
Montreal. On that occasion THOMPsON said: !
g Some OF our boys are going to play
grand joke on ABE and ANDY :" which he |
explained was to kill him, remarking that
the killing of a tyrant was not murder |
He said that he had commissions for this |
work from the rebel authorities, and spoke |
of comforting one on BooTH These COM
missions were in blank, with SEDDoN's sig
nature at the end. 1t was such a commits
sion which BENNETT YoUNG, the ST Adams |
raider, received, the blank being filled by
Mr. CLAY. In subsequent conversation
THOMPSON told CoNovER that BooTH had been
C )mmissioned, and every man engaging in .
the plot would be- On the day of the as
sassination or the day before, CoNovER
was conversing with CLEARY about the re-
oicing in the States over the surrender of
LEE and the capture of Richmond. CLEARY
said they would have the laugh on the
other side of the mouth in day or two.
The assassination was spoken of among
them as commonly as the weather.
There was proposition before the rebel .
agents in Canada to destroy the Croton
Dam, by which New York City is supplied /
with water. These agents also had eight |
hundred men, with arms for them, con-
;ealed in Chicago for the purpose ofreleas-
ng the rebel prisoners there
DR.. BLACKBURN, according to CoNovER's
was recognized in Canada as a
'ebel agent CoNOvER had heard TuoNpSoN