New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-09
THE TRIAL OF SURRATr.

WASHINGTON July Sin the Surratt. trial to-day
tho defence began the examination of their witnesses
Several witnesses testified in relation TO the calling
Of the time in front of the theater on the night of
the assassination and to the probabilities of Sur
rats presence Oh the same day IN the box of the
theater in which the President assassinated.
The object of this evidence was to explain away the
testimony Of Sergeant Dycwho swore TO having seen
suratt and Booth IN front of The theater the night
ct the assassination, and 10 Suuatt rs the man VINO
called the time; and also the testimony OF MI
Rhodes who swore 10 having visited the iheater at
the time the box was being repaired for the recep-
ton of the President and 10 having seen Sniratt
then and there fixing the bar with which the door
was fastened that night when BootA entered and
committed the deed. The defense evidently failed in
their object az porusal of the evidence OF the par
ties concerned viii plainly show. The cross-oNa!n-
nation to-day was conducted by Judge Pierrepont
and most ably he did It, lie destroyed several OF the
strong points OF the counsel for The defense
WAsuINGToR ID. c. July s.--The trial of John ~
surratt Was resumed this morning IN the Criminal Court
J,dce Fshor uresriinr The room was again Will filed
with spectators aud the interest seems 10 Doe on the III
crease nov chat the prosecution has closed aud tho e
denco for tho defense IL abOUt 10 commence
Mfr Bradley ST. said that before entering directly upon
Che evidence FOR the defense they desired 10 the two
witnesses fO the pr0sec alton who were 10 be recalled Tor
further examination. They wanted one OF them especial
Iv Ion the Uurposc OF Identification
Theodore Benjamin Rhodes wac recalled aud qncStond
by Mr. Bradley and testified that DE went IN the tcater
near the uckotb0x, the occasion referred 10 by NM on
o,Itsre door OF the heaer WAS open when he went mp
stairs; he went along the side Of the wall To get m the
sho6d think the front Of the box about six feet vide
could portion OF the stagefIom the box was IN lhe
box when the chair was brought up
Mr. John r. Ford was called as the inst witness Tor me
defense, and examined by Mr.. Bradley ST. reside
IN Baltimore in 1865 Was proprietor OF Ford Thea,
ter in this city il was built under my direction ami
correct diagram dress circle and of the boxes mclud
ing what was known as The Presidents box. Diagram
hbed, and witness recognized IL a. diagram OF the
Ft0uEd paFQuetto and orchestra seats of the thea
the main entrance and carriage stand outside Witness
then resumed his testimony During The day the frost
ticket Office the nhoXibc rude To keep the doors
leading from the yestlbuc e. the theatcr closed
Mr. Bradley asked what the rule was as 10 keeping he
curtain down during the day time!
Mr. PieTrcpon objected unless itTefe1odt to the pujic
Nj DAY. and the objection sustained
Mr. Bradley asked the witness II person pass
,Tss ar qiO doo g leading to tho box, whether he
could sec the etagoi AnSge-lie certainly could nol
iea6Nng 10 the Presidents box after pas:
nt into the Presidents box there IS no gNlt
upon the stage was not here on The night Of April ~
Richmond by permission of the United states authorities
in the latter pant 81 Nav 1867: made an examination OF
The wall went those Win 5Ii. plant and another
found bTuise IN The wall ana paper glued over ~ III
both SSEs loos5; 5e hole vas bored INTO h6 door that
STGns nom passage into the boa !Stgk 0! Y2oI CN
bbited1 saw this suck at tIi1 1sa' l2tlQh tgNi; c
eOeni2e the stick the upright Of amlSicSloO OF Lnv
add Of February the Thcater Guard had ball at the the
needing some nuscstOos they made thein and th- So.
Coenze az one OF Tho upYghts 10 hold the muscstnnd
fo was a man above the ordinary hight, ana graceful
and good looking; he was known in the profession a.
one Of the gymnasts in tho country MS hande were
quite large much 30 as To excite ftm1Ik' ne hgus
were naturally large. and we," ,dstendeu ,y % S
snaot en- 10 mind now whether he wore gloves uot
asvcry familiar Win ins handwriting; uelegran AZ
March II, 1865 and Of March g. 1862 aud oil March ~
Jsssfhe latter The telegram tO Weichmar-cNhbitcdl;
recognize them ~ Booths handwriting ,Chas se,by
letter exhibited this the letter iound by Mrs hut
speth) am quite familiar vain BO"lh h1hoWti,ll'-
saw him write often, aud do not thk ~ posrl9l Io
Large clumsy hand. and Wond never nave "'R'h 'm'
nose OF recalling Ann Jackson for the purpose of
further Xa1inaton morning aIte the aN,s-
pinaton two gentlemen came there. but Md mol see
them was IN bed when The men came IN NY ROOM ana
covered ny my head ana dd not see t6gn, 80, .,
M. Brddiey-fpOintlng 10 Deceive McDcNIt-l0Oh
around and n did not see that gentleman lhee
bnsr Them talk about John suratt and did not hear
any inquire fol John surrati do moi know coioed
woman named Rachel, nor one named LIZA Hawkins
never told any one thar John smIatt had not been al
home for two weeks ,,-,
by MI Mcuiek for The defense-Winess explained the
relative positions ~ me 'front.' OF the tnea,ef me laa
form, and the side entrance leading TO te stage ma
IN th plan and - far know IT IS correct me
N.
TO the clock q would De necessary 10 10 n me
door the ticket office; the entrance door was Dot IN
~ opposite the door Of entrance. and person sitting
upon thar end wOd have 10 look agonaly toward Tho
By M P;errtooiL-I left wa.hngtonm April, 800 on
Monday Tuesday before the sssassinat.on and was
gone week know nothing about the thcater At that
lime, nor do know what doors we're open. tDlhF cN.
hibitedJ II an looks like Booths handwriting. the first
line certainly does diary examined by the juyl his Is
InaEe one recognize il as Booths handwrng the selhy
dicus lnaD-plopd OF his person he always manifested
SSS& ne be- Rs F Fs.Si e ~ar nG BE- RT4"
hem Ian. az he did the rest OF his polhon
,,sIResides In Baltimore in 1865 was Treasurer at
lords TheateI, and myself ana brother, Jas X. IYq
noq Fa the @ ESd Of n nf I S y H. say S be-
assassination; lac came 70 The Theaer RON Est ne
Commenced reading II a few minutes before that 1
received information that the President was coming hat
fact; at o'clock gave orders TO prepare the Presidents
box the order was given by M Kay bold WhOse du$ IL
myself and commenced between and o'clock the cnl
vain Of the Theater was up al hat tlne 'H Al a Dee,
1p an day saw no stranger theIe Wmie vas pcpShS
the box that time Edward Spangcr was Oh ne stage
axiDg the no stranger was there except gentle
man from the treasury VINO HsiPeu NE 10 ~ ny We
flags; do not know anything OF me Keeper OF the looks
third act rehearsal before the boz ned
Np: rehearsals Were generally called ~ II O'Clock "
the first door leading the box could not he stage
unless one OF the box doors should 6e OPENED ...,
Hotel that morning; went to The theate' immediately
fterwaId stayed IN the box Office and then vent back
the stage and remained from holt ~ hO hour,
and then went back Ia the box o1ce; witness don't know
what done TO The private boz while Af H ihc box
office; IL was ii a. when witness first heard the Pe~
dent was coming wGenWtneSs wcI 10 look al thc Fic
dents box the partition Was t9hcH 0ul.
BIZ HI. Bradley Witness was Oh The Stage >s1uc 'iHf.
and was afteTward in the box and Tie curtain up al
The time Spangler took down che PARTITION. assisted by
one of the hands named Ritter>pauh
theSter from the Yestlbue were generally kept
locked.
James G. Gi6oid, 3.e0lisd b. Mc Brod'cy.-Wss
al the theates rhedpy 81 the assassination :;
witness built The theaiC, wines rNmiued the