Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-08-20
ruRruEn pEYELopMENrs.

The development of the conspiracy against
the President of the United States, says the
National LnteHigeWcer, is growing hourly
A large portion of the evidence of the crimi>
nality of the cOnspiratOrs we DO not at present
deem necessary or expedient to publish
There HAS evidently been somehow a prOVi-
dental break in the great conspiracy, and
each one of the subordinates is trying to save
himself by early confession. The testi-
mOny already accumulated is fearful. The
parties implicated may seek in vain to hide
their heads behind the epithets of partisan
newspapers, but this will avail them nothing
Their outlines is acknowledged by their
confederates, and they must abide the issue,
and consent to be held up to public scorn
and execration, as well as punishment for
their attempted crimes.
The chief of the Bureau of Military JUS
tice, the trusted aud valued friend, counsellor
and cOadjutor of the treacherous Secretary of
War, who has been plotting the ruin of the
country in this matter, appears to be deeply
and irrevocably implicated in this conspiracy
with his old associate and manager of testi>
mony-ConOver alias Dunham.
The original of the following letter, in the
handwriting Of the ReUerend Mr.. Matchett,
will be produced whenever necessary. We
have seen it, and had it identified by more
than one witness as the handwriting of the
reverend associate and alder aud abettOr of
perjury and conspiracy. 1t will be seen that
this letter, confdentially addressed to the
chief OF the Bureau Of Military Justice shows
guilty completely with Conover, the great
manager of perjured testimony, particularly
in reference to this case. 1t is evident that
there were some apPrehensiOns in reference to
letters and documents that might be used
1t was desirable, on the part of the c0nspira-
tors, to get them back into their possession
therefore the terms were made with Conover's
wife Mrs. Dunham-that ''the letters and
documents were to be. retained by us"-that
is, by Matchett, Holt Il Co. Olatchett is
understood to be the clerk of the Assassination
Committee. lie is the man who was sent to
bring on the professional witnesses, who were
to be examined by Ashley and Butler, to see
if they and their testimony would suit the
purpose. From this letter it is evident that
he was acting under the instructions and as
an agent of the chief of the Bureau of Military
Justice. The letter bears internal evidences
Ofits authenticity, but it that should be doubt.
ed, it eau easily be proved. Neither Holt
nor the reverend Matchett, the operator and
manager of the gang of Perjured witnesses,
can deny its authenticity. The letter is as
follows
"WAsuINGToN, August 8, 1867.
"Dear Slr,-I received the copy safe, for
which l am obliged. The c1se stands as yet
untouched waiting, l judge, for the termination
OF the trial now going on. Mrs. ID. still is
waiting the result, aud hopeful. The terms
are as [ stated the letters and documents to
be retained by us, and letters gotten for us in
either case. She visited me yesterday, and
seemed quite cheerful with prospects of the
case, as your letter and Mr.. Riddles has
given her great confidence that you are not
the prosecutor you have been represented, and
that if she sOuld fail there Gin getting the par
don, )she shall not fail finally in getting him
out, ut least under change of office.
81 am trying, as ordered by Judge e., to
get The letters. think We shall at length
succeed. think Mrs. ID. begins to show
symptoms OF returning reason, and that her
husband I1ds guilty of great crime, and
ought justly to suffer little! Your endorse
meLt seems to have settled her mind very
much, and she feels that you have done all
.yoW coutd and all you ought to do. She is
satisfied perfectly. think they both feel
that there is both dignity aud POL,er in the
law yet, and that it is dangerous work to
treat 1t with contempt. believe it will be
all for the best that he has gone up for awhile
She knows not hOIC long. 1 do, If she iciU
bring me tie letters.
81 will inform you of any movements the
moment necessary. am, very truly,
'W B. MATCHETr"
Addressed, "Hon Judge Holt, Judge Ad-
vocate General, present" Marked, 'sper-
sOual"