Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-06-26
THE TRIAL OF JOHN H. asuRRaTT.

General Grant on the Witness stand
Scenes at the House of Mrs. Surratt.
The trial OF John II. Snrratt was resumed this
morning in the Criminal Court before Judge
Fisher; Messrs. Darlington, Pierrepoint Jand
Wilson for the prosecution Messrs j. os H
Bradley, Sr. and Jr., and r.. T. Merrick tor
defense. The room was crowded long before
the opening OF the Court; a large number Of
those in attendance being LADIES' The Jurors
and the prisoner having been brought in, the
Court was opened by Mr. Mutioy ''
Mr.. Darlington said he desired to call the at
tehtion Of the Court to certain remarks made
by the counsel for the prisoner during the pro-
eeedings yesterday, as follows: -.
The Court asked If the prosecutions had any
more witnesses ready. :
"Mr. Bradley, Psinting to the witness
room. )-There are half a dozen witness out
there in the penitsntiary, and have been ,here
all the morning. us5i 1. Gsl. - C-.t..-.,g -
'Mr. Merrieks-oh, no; not in the penitsn-
tiary yet, but they will be.,' -ar3 2. :: il ~.
Mr. Darlington said he heard the remark of
Mr.. Bradley, but did not hear the remark of
Mr.. Nerrlck. The counsel would see that
their remarks were published to the country,
and were insulting to the witnesses and i'm
proper. He aelt it to be his duty to cali the at
,en Of the Court to the matter. When the
time came TO argue the case before the Jury it
was expected that every ucelse would be
granted known to the profession, but any such
remarks as these at this stage of the trial
should not be tolerated by the Court. He
hoped the Cour: would not allow them
Judge Fisher said he did not hear the re.
mark of Mr.. Merrick but heard the remark Of
Mr Eradley and thought 1T was made in a
playful manner.
MIR. Merrick said he made the other remark
but made it in playful manner, but since it
had touched the gentleman he hoped that IN
the course of time he would make the remark
good. --~-- ---.---...r.--~.rr---
Judge Fisher.-Of course it is not proper
for the counsel to reflect on the witne ses.
Mr. Bradley.-There were No witnesses in
Court at that time. .. a..
Ind Eiohp No
Mr. Merrick said if counsel chose to take
TIE remark as serious one he was willing
that it should be so taken.
,Jomes J. Clifford was sworn and examined
by MIR. Darlington resides in Balti-
more; resided here in the year 1865; was en-
ployed at Ford's Theater as builder and car
penter; the President, on the night Of the 1fth
OF April, 1865, occupied the left hand box of
the second tier; between IL and IL o'clock that
morning witness was notified that the Pres
ident would be there, and directed to take the
partition out OF the box the box was deco
rated on that occasion; the chair occupied by
the President had been in the room Of Messrs
j. X. and Harry Ford; witness was in the
theater; and on Sunday after the assassination
witness asked them to stay there; during his
absence Judge Oiin and Miss Harris came
there. =
Mr.. BradIey.-That is not evidence
Witness resumed:-O Sunday afternoon
witness examined the box; found hole in the
wall and bar from the door to the wall would
stop any one from coming out of the box
found hole cut in the door with lett hand
augur; the hole was in the panel above the
lock rall; the PRESIDENT could be seen through
the hole; saw the bar that fastened the door:
one end was sauare, and two or three nails in
the other end to rest against the door and keep
fed The bari T.. ~
Cro7s.e examined by Mr.. Bradley. Witness
knew Edward Spangler. -.
Mr.. Wilson.-We object to that. 1t is not
responsive 10 anything brought out on the
examination in chief.
"a Judge Fisher.-The question is proper one.
Witness resumed -Spangier was scene.
shiiter lie conld not have been absent from
the stage without deranging the scenes. ...s
Carrington.-Wa as clerk at the National Hotel
In 1865 Knew John Wilkes Booth. Saw MIN
last about seven o'clock on the evening of the
ASSASSINATION. Witness here identified the hotel
register, and said that Booths name was cut
out from the register He supposed for the
purpose OF securing his autograph, Booth first
arrived on the morning Of November 0, 1864,
and left on the early tram on the morning OF
the llth; returned on November IA, at six or
seven O'Clock ip the evening. He next left ON
the 18th, and returned On December l2, and lett
december II, on the morning train. and returned
again on the 3D. in the evening; left again on
the 24th, and returned ON December 81, and
LETT on January 10, 1865. Arrived here aea,u
on January II, and left on the 2sth of January.
ne occupied room 3oh On the 22d OF Fehru J
ary, 1865, his name appeared on the register
.Wnn j. ii. +. Wentworth and John McOul-
locn. and the three occupied room 231. He left
on February Is, and returned on March 1.
register on March 25; had room 231 at that
time. He left on April l.. On April s, found
his name had been cut again from the register.
Ulo mol thlnk ne was absent from the house
from April 6th to 14th. III =. -
N cross examination. -
Several witnesses were here called but non q
OF them answered. ..'A '' 49,
MIR. Darlington said he had sent a nessen
ger TO his office tora lady witness. .s ..
After waiting few minutes Judge Fisher
sad BE thought it would be best for Mr. Gar
rington to have the witnesses at the Court
room instead Of at his ice. Z
:. Henry W. Smtth sworn, and exam In ed by Mr !
f'errepolnt.-Witness ls an Off in the army ;
" ives stationed at .Vicksburg, Miss, was A. A.
u OF the Freedmen's Bureau; was in the clty.
OF Washington at the time of the assassination!
witness was one OF the officers who went to
arrest Mrs. Surratt; witness had command of
the squad: arrested her on Monday, the 18th:
arrested Payne at the same time and in the
same house. Witness received orders from
General Augur to go to Mrs. Surratt's house
and arrest her and all suspicious persons found
the house and the men were posted aroun d
witness here described the house and the
entrances thereto. Witness went up the steps,
saw four females seated in close conversation:
they seemed to- be listening for some one to
come Witness rang the helfasoIhe one looked
out out OF It the WINDOW & and whispered is that
all right, let me. in; the door was
opened. Witness, then arrested them ali
saying, ladies, I rnnst. take you to Genera
Augur's headq uarters for examination: sen !
for carriage and told them to get ready
Miss Surratt began to wiring her f1aRds and
spyb aaa zss sna ~. e BE- arestsa for
mind, sarlipg,n = and whispered something to
her, Mrs, Snrratt said shes wanted to say her
prayers, and witness areplisdSj s.Certainiy
madam. She then knelt down in the parlor;
heard some one coming 4up the steps: went to-
the door found Payne there with a plckaxe.
he said ,"I guess am mistaken in the house, -
Witness replied, mo, you are lnct.'d Payne
said. " ls TINS Mrs Surratt's house ?'' Witness
replied, I" Yes" He was then placed under
arrest and paper fennd on him which was
an amnesty cath. Witness then proceeded to
search the premises, and down the stars saw
the servants, ana learned from Them 7 i
? Mr. Bradley.-Stop; that is not evidence i
Witness resumedLPayne safd he was Ia.
boring man, hnt conld not tell where he lived:
asked hlm what he Came there for 1T that honr
OF the night. He replied he game to aetinstruc.
tfons TO dig ditch; Mrs.t SuttiS{I had en-
pIoyed hinn--Witness called Mn. SQrratt, and
asked her II she knew THIS 1pdaA. DShs 4aieed
her head and said, t.Bef0re God Il do not know
thts man; yer saw him befo1s ",i Fonnd In
Ihe house MRS SurrAs, hi 3 Surratt Miss
Honora Eitzpatxick. ana Miss MiN&3 Jenkins,
$780, susan Ann Jackson. and nseoa0redimHn
she said wss her husband ssGes ssit II Es e
= Question: you talls 70 her anything
about john Surratl? 1T, at =, IT.
\ = 1