Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-02-08
LOCAL NEWS.


referred TO purport ting 10 have been a state
ment OF the conversation between John II.
Surrait. judah r. Benjamin and JEFF. Davis,
relative 10 the measures to be taken in order TO
accomplish the murder of Abraham Lincolu.
He 'estined before the House Judiciary oom-
mlttee that the statement be had made 10 udge
Holt was false, and that he bad been induced
to give such false testimony by Conover. He
committed the written staten mt, prepared or
Couover, TO memory, which look him several
days He saw Conover write the statementn
Nathaniel Oser and the prisoner were
present when the paper was written,
studied and rehearsed. IL was prepared about
Two weeks before ne went before nd &c Holt
The witness testified that when in New York
In November, 1865, he received q letter from
the prisoner. Witness was At the time en- route
whom he told Judge Holt knew more about
the conspiracy. Oonover says in the letter:
In order not TO discourage the Judge, GO not
draw too much. DO not lead him to believe
thdtyou are too an xious ana IN At our greatest
ann rs money. Above all, do not Draw on him
from New YsrK. Wait by all means until you
get 10 Rouse's Point. Let no necessity induce
You to draw before You get there. 1 know the
effect will be baa-very bad. You hau better
reach Rouse's Point short-had even better
borrow than TO draw from New York. L have
not Time 10 explain, bpt know and promise
you that the effect will be disastrous TO our
schemes and prospects Don't fail. then, to do
a. tell you"
w II. Roberts, alias Joseph SneyiI, testified
that he came from New York with Usnove
in November, 1865 for the purpose of making
a little money. He desired me 10 go before
the Judge Advocate and make an AFFIDAVIT,
which he (Conover) was TO write, duplicating
Jeff. Davis IN the assassination conspiracy.
Had SAID statement in his possession several
DAYS; committed il 20 memory, and afterwards
went before the Judge Advocate General, with
Ho are and Conoyer, and repeated IL. He
recognized the signature attached TO his
written statement made before Judge Holt as
his own.
Other witnesses were examined but their
evidence was not material.
The court met this morning at ten o'clock
when the trial was resumed.
+. &. Bowdin. clerk OF the Judiciary Com
mittee, WAS called by the prosecution, and cad
from Journal of the Committee the names Of
Messrs. Wilson, Thomas, Boutwell,, Wood
bridge, Norris, Cook, Rogers, and Lawrence,
as being present during the session of the Com
mittee, on May Sth, 1866, the date OF Conoyer's
testimony. The testimony of Conover was re-
ported by Messrs. Hays and Smith.
The prosecution announced that they would
here close their case.
Judge Advocate General Holt for defense
was called and sworn. Upon being shown
the afidavits of Campbell and SnIyell he tes-
titled that they were in his HIND writing
Witness reduced their testimony TO writing
Did not ask Campbell any questions to his
lite; had no ground Al that time TO suspect the
truthfulness OF his statement. Had CONVEX
sation with Campbell previous. and he then
stated as to what his dispositions would be.
Witness then put statement in writing, aud IL
was sworn 10 by Campbell before General
Thomas, Notary Public. Witness was not
present when Campbell swsre TO the affidavit
but il was returned to him by Campbell duly
authenticated. Witness took Hoar before the
President, and his deposition was read over
Secretary Stanton.
Hon. A. ]. Rogers. Of New Jersey, for the
defense was sworn and testified that in Nav,
1885, he was a mem Der of the Judiciary Com
mittes of the House. At the time OF Conover's
testimony witaess thought that four members
OF the committee were present: those We're
Gen. Thomas Gov. Boutwell,, Mr.. Wilson, the
chairman and witness.
Cross Examined by MIR. Carrin gton:-It took
five mem bers OF the COMMITTEES TO constitute a
quorum. but a rule was adopted by the cem-
mIttee that If a quorum was not present at II
o'clock those members of the committee could
act. Witness thought those affidavIts were
frabrications and was attentive during the ex-
animation of the witnesses.
Hon. Mr.. Wilson was recalled as q rebutting
witness and testified that there was a q uorum
Of the com mrtee present during the exaIpina-
Messrs. Crook, Woodbridge and Lawrence
testified to being present in the committee room
at the time.
day afternoon Mr.. Prague, to test the sense of
the convention and get the ideas OF the mem.
bers in relation 10 a reduction OF tax on tobac-
CO, offered the following resolution:
ReSolred, That Congress be req uested to make
Uniform tax Of ten cents per pound upon all
tobacco Manufactured in this country, either
Considerable debate was elected by this res
olution, which contin ued until O'Clock, when
the convent ton ado ned.
At the evening session, Mr.. Prague asked
and obtained leave to amend his resolution as
TO read Is instead Of 10 cents as the uniform
rate OF taxation. After discussing the matter,
and the opinion Of the convention seeming to
be adverse to fixing the rate Of taxation, Mr.
Prague Withdrew his motion, and Mr.. CT. w
Latham OF Lynchburg Va, offered resolutions
that in the opinion Of this invention q very
n N N mi IN 20
tured tobacco in all its foym and grades is
essentially necessary TO the proper protection
OF honest as against fraudulent manufacturers,
because as the occasion for fraud Is decreased
so will be the fact ITSELF and 1t is the further
opinion Of this convention that a reduced tax
will. for the reason stated, produce a larger
present onerous one. which is paralyzing the
In tereets of the legitimate tobacco trade of the
whole country; and that the attention OF Con-
gress be earnestly invoked in this matter, and
that a copy Of these resolutions be forth with
delivered TO the Committee Of Ways and Means
OF the House OF Representatives, to the Finance
Conmittee OF the Senate. TO the Secretary OF
tie Treas ury, and the Commissioner Of Inter.
nal Revenue. with the req uest that they will
give the subject that consideration which this
convention feel assured its merits demand.
The resolutions were adopted; after which
the convention adjourned to meet this morn.
ing at 0 O'Clock.
This morning, a committee was appointed to
lay the proceedings of the convention before
the Committee Of Ways and Means of the
House OF Representatives.
Resolutions were adopted recommending
the making Of inspectors Of tobacco salaried
omcers TO be paid by the Government, who
shall give bond in SsAOOO; that the tax on
Manufactured tobacco Of all kinds should be
reduced to Is cents Per pound; that manu- fac.
turers using q counterfeit brand should have
their establishments confiscated and they be
imprisoned; after which the convention ad.
journed sine die.
CIRCUIT CouRr, Chief Justice Cartter.-The
case of Alden agt. Magruder, Hinton and
Pearson Is on trial. and to-day the testimony
closed. The plaintiff claims 5000 damages,
because OF the defendants having refused TO
receive his vote at an election, lit having been
challenged on the ground Of his being for
eigner) Mr. Riddle appears for the plaintiff,
and Bradley and Bradley for the defendans.
1
ALARM OF FIR..-Yesterday afternoon, at
O'Clock, an alarm OF fire was sounded from box
81, caused by gas escaping IN the cellar OF
mouse NO. ass Pa. avenue, and taking fire.
OMcer McColgan, OF the Fourth Ward, shut
OF the gas, and the fire was extinguished with
out material damage. -. \.
- 20,
CHARGE OF GRAND LAKcxNY.-Mary Bur.