The national Republican., 1867-07-09

THE TRIAL OF JOHN II. sURRATT.
The trial Of John II. surrstt was resumed 10
the Criminal Court yesterday morning before
Judgs Fisher Msssrs. Darlington, Pisrspont
Riddle, and Wilson for the prosecution. Ths
Msars. J. H. Bradley and R. 7. Msrriox for dc
fence The anxiety 70 hear the testimony for
the defence Is very great, and the eourt-room wss
dsnssly crowded long before the opening Of the
court. The jurors and prisoner having been
brought In, the court was opened at 1915 o'clock
| Mr. Bradley said before openingths testimony
for the defence they desired 70 SEQ two witnssses
brought In, one especially for the Purpose OF
identihsation.
Theodore Bsnjsm Rhodes recalled and cross
examined By Mr. Bradley. Witness entered the
theatre on the 18th. through the door near the
box once; the door led up . small stairway,
which witness ascsndsd. Did not know how
many fighh Of stairs he went upj the door was
partially open, and vitns" pushed Il open 70 80
In; went down BY the wall to got in the box
The door opened Immediately in the boz. Az
witns. opened the door sding 70 the box heard
Q man rstrsating through another door. Was In
the box when tho chair was brought In there.
Mr.. Bradley said he would 20 on with the tss.
timony for defence with the undertaking that
whom Susan Ann jackson should come she might
BE- sxaminsd.
This was agreed 10, and
John T. Ford was sworn and examined BY Mr..
Bradley. Witness was proprietor Of Ford's The
atrs, In this city, In 1865. Il was built under
the direction Of witness. IA diagram Of the
dress circle, boxes, and stage was here shown TO
the vitnsss, and he testified the same was cor.
rect, and explained to jury. A second diagram,
showing the ground floor, orchestra ssats, stage,
pavement In front, and carriage platform, was
here shown 70 witness and Identified BY him %
oorrsst) Witness tsstihsd.ths front door leading
to the ticket once was len open during the dayi
the doors leading from the vestibus to the theatre
were always kept closed. II was the orders Of
witness to have them closed, and such was the
rule In all well.regulated theatres
Question. Was the curtain kept up or down
In the day time7
Objected to on the ground that the question
must relate To the curtain on the 18th Of April.
Objection sustained.
Q. State whether . person entering the theatre
and passing around TO the Pre,idents boz could
see the stage after entering the nrst door lead.
ing to the box.
A. He certainly could not The hrst door
opened into passage leading to the boxes; on
one side Of the passage was brick wall, on the
other door leading to box 7 and door TO boz
8, at tho end Of tho passage. There was no exit
from the box except through the one door which
was passed through on entering the box. A
man entering the box must have seen any ono In
II. Witness was not In the city on the night Of the
l4th Of April; returned to this city on Tuesday
Made an examination Of the box; did not remom-
Der the day; II was about the last Of May found
hole in tho wall, examined II, found 1t had been
dug out hurriedly and . paper had been placed
over il; found hole in he door made With q
gimlet found the keeper Of the lock on each door
had been loosened. The gmlst hole was In the
box door, not in the passage door. Witness was
here shown the bar, and testified he had seen II
before, at the assassination trial; the stick was
the upright Of music stand, and believed It to
be pisoe Of one Of those used In the theatre.
! Witness know John Wilkes Booth since child.
, hood; was raised in the same city with HIM
knew his father WE'LL he was known In tho pro-
fession q one Of the best gymnasts In the coun.
try, and great swordsman; his hands were natu-
rally large, and distendsd BY exercise. He oer-
tsiniy had not . small, white hand; hs had very
black hair and dark eyes; usually wore nous.
his manner, and very interesting In his conver.
sation. Knew his handwriting we'll. Witness
was hers shown the telegram dated March Is.
1865, exhibit 45 and testified II was In the hand.
writing Of Booth; also. telegram dated 27th
March, 1855, exhibit No. 36; also, Telegram
dated March %, 1855, exhibit No. 4oi also, the
card, Don't wish to disturb you-are you at
writing Of Booth; (all Of which have been pub.
iished In heretofore during the trial.) Witness
had been familiar with the handwriting Of
3 Booth for 8 or Q years. Witness Was here shown
the sslby letter. and testified that Le did not
think 1t was in the handwriting Of Booth.
Susan Ann jackson having arrived, the exam
D ination Of Mr.. Ford was suspended and she was
. called To the stand and Questioned BY Mr.. Brad.
10y. Witness did not sec the men who came to
search the house. Detective hcDsvitt was here
pointed out but witness said she did not see him
, on that night. She had her head covered up.
No one mentioned John Surratts name to wit
moss. Did not get up all the time they were
surratt had not been there for two weeks
: Did not know q eolored woman Rachel. Did moi
know Eliza Hawkins or Eliza Seefus. Nevsl
told any gentlemen or any oolored woman that
surratt had not been to the house for two weeks
d Witness had never said she expected to receive
anything for her testimony In this case. Di'
not expect anything.
Mr.. Ford recalled, and examined BY Mr.. Msr
= rick Witness was shown the diagram, and OK
Il planned to the Jury the positions OF the oarriag
step, ticket ofhce and entrance TO the theatre
The plat was made by Mr.. Clifford, the man VIII
l. built the theatre; the plat was correct Tn
d clock was on the wall, about sevsn or eight foe
a from the floor, and TO see the same during tn
| performance II was necessary TO 20 through tn
door marked O, nearest the ticket once, whiol
It was the one kept open, or entrance door. Tn
carriage platform stood immsdiatsly In front o
=. the centre of the building. The entrance doc
10 was the nearest one TO the Avenues the southsr
end Of the platform was shove the entrance door
To SEQ the clook 1t was necessary to 60 In tn,
door.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Pisrrepont. Witnss
10 leit Washington on Monday or Tuesday previou
to tho assassination. Went from hero to Balti
more; thence to Fortress Monroe and thence Il
y Richmond. Did not know about the doors dur
,, ing his absence. Witness was here shown th
diary Of Booth and testified he believed It to b,
in the handwriting Of Booth. Tho diary wa
here shown to the jury and examined by them
d The diary was again handed to witness, and h
70 testified he thought the handwriting was rathe
ia clumsy SO was the ARIES Sslby letter. but di
not think II was the same handwriting. Boot
was very fastidious. He was not foppish, bu
W always dressed in good tastsi was careful an
,d clean In his person. His hands were Away
clean, and he kept them as clean and neat as
did the rest Of his person.
II. Clay Ford sworn and examined BY MI
a. Bradley: Witness resided In Baltimore. !
April, 1865, was treasurer Of Ford's thsatr'
as In the absence Of Mr.. ]. 7. Ford, witness an
10 his brother, James r. Ford, managed the thsi
II. tre Knew j. Wilkes Booth saw him about II
o'clock on the morning before the assassination
I'd hs came to the theatre and received q lett
/. from the Office. Witness learned the Presidei
\, was 10 visit the theatre about ii o'clock In Il
W morning. Thought Booth heard 1t while he wi
there.
Il n nh 49,, .iv. nxd.rs Ia nrsna ths hnr r.