North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-04-03
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.
Tussdsy March 70, 1867.
The Case OF Mrns gurratt.

Mr.. Butler (Disun., Mass asked sud
obtained unanimous consent to make o
personal explanation, the time being linn
tied to fifteen minutes. He stated that
he had caused to be placed on deck Of each
member copy of Mr.. Bingham's speech
the other dsy in the personal discussion
with himself, showing in parallel columns
the speech as it appeared in the manuscript
Of the reporters and the speech rs publish.
ed in the Globe The speecb, a. written
contained 59S words: as printed il con
tanned l,047 words, and in the reporters
manuscript there were 2S2 crasures and
alterations He Butler) had understood
the rule to be, that in personal debate
a member had no right to make any
change unless they were submitted to the
member affected by them. Th. rule bad
BEEN vlolxted in this case. In the matter
thus interpolated was the ssntsace "Whst
docs the gentleman (meaning Butler)
know of the evidence in tho case, and
what does he care for the evidence when
he thus assais the official conduct Of these
men who constituted the Court p He
(Butler) would state the evidence on which
he had made, the other day, the statement
chat Mrs. Surratt was improperly :onvicted.
He held in his hand the printed report of
the trial, and had examined it with great
care, because this was no sporadic thought
of bis. 1t was the result Of careful, anx-
ious Investigation for another and differ
ens purpose, to see who were in the great
conspiracy. The gentleman (Bingham)
had said that he was an advocate Of the
United States on that trial. That was o
great mistake. He was the special Judge
advocate, whose solemn duty it was 10
protect the rights of the prisoner as well
as those of the United States, and to send
up the evidence, and state the law. But
there was one piece of evidence within the
'gentleman's (Bingham's) knowledge which
he had not produced on that momentous
trial. Whom Booth was captured by
Lieutenant Colonel Conger, there was.
said Mr.. Butler, taken from his pocket q
diary like the one now hold in my hand
(holdiDg up small morocco-covered pock-
ct diary) in which he (Booth) set down,
day by day, his plans, his thoughts, his mo-
tivcs, and his excuse. That diary was
put into the possession Of the government,
but it was not laid before military Commits
sion, although the gentleman (Blngham)
did lay before the Court Booths tobacco
pipe, spur, knife and other articles found
on his person. The diary was not pro-
duced. That diary appears now before
our Judiciary Committeeman let me say
here that did not obtain a"y information
from that Committee, with the eighteen
pages Of entries made in the diary, prior
to the time of Dir. Linl oln's
assassination. absent. The edges show
that these pages were all cut out. What
want to know is this: First. Was that
diary whole wheE it came into the hands
OF the government Second. Whether it
WAS good judgment on the part of these
who were prosecuting the assassins Of Alb
raham Lincoln to put in a tobacco pipe
found in Booths pocket as evidence
against the prisoners, while the diary in
Booths own hand writing detailing
all the particulars of his crime, was with
held? / did not charge the able, brave
and gallant soldiers who sat on that court
with any wrong. They did not see the
diary. They did not know of its exist
ence. Ifthey had they might have given
a different account of the matter. Who
spoiled that book? Who suppressed that
evidence? Who caused that innocent 100
man to be hanged while he had 10 bis pock.
ct the diary which would have shown mt
last what was the idea and what were
the thoughts Of the main conspirator p
There is still remaining in that diary a
memorable sentence written but few hours
before j. Wilkes Booths death; l quote
from memory 81 have endeavored to
cross the Potomac FIVE times and failed
| propose to return to Washington AMI
give myself up and clear myself of this
crime" How clear himselfl By giving
himself up and disclosing his accomplices.
Who were theyl Who spoiated that
book after 1t got into the possession of the
government? If it was net spoIiatcd, why
was not Iicutehant-Col"nel Conger allow
ed to 60 on and state what bad been found
on Booths body? The questions were
carefully put to him SO he should not tell
about the book. He Identifies the knife,
pair Of pistols, holster, tobacco pipe, cart
ridges, bill of exchange, DC, but be was
nowhere asked, "Were these all the arti-
cles that were found on Booth? % Ifhe
had been asked that question he would
have answered that he had taken Booths
diary from his pocket as he lay gaping in
death. do not know what would have
been the verdict Of the military commits
SION if that evidence had been produced.
That evidence found on the person Of
Booth should have been produced. Iun-
ierstood the theory to be the reaso n i: was
not produced was lest Booths glori6catior
should go into the case. think that q
most lame excuse. an assassin can glo-
rify himself let him do so-but there is no
danger oft. Therefore, again say, here
it was q most remarkable circumstance
that a piece of evidence found on the bodv