The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-19
Trial of surratt.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY OF A aovlRNMnN
- WITNESS, .-N

IMPORTANT TESTIMONY OF CONVENIENT
On Monday, after the Assistant District At
torney had opened the case for the government.
several witnesses were examined. The testi-
mony of Joseph Dyer is very important and
we publish it in full, as given in the Boston
Advertisers special Dispatch: la fTtl4y
Witness is recruiting sergeant in the United
States army, and is now stationed in Philadel-
phia. On April IA, 1866 witness belonged to
Battery g, Pennsylvania artillery, and was
stationed at Camp Berry. The camp is about
two miles from Eord's Theatre. The witness
and Sergeant Robert Cooper were in town the
night OF the murder. At the time of the muir
der, witness was in an oyster saloon; went in
to the oyster saloon from Ford's Theatre at
$50 o'clock; Sergeant Cooper was in company
with him. Witness was sitting upon some
planks in front of the theatre and saw Mr..
lincoln coming there. The street in front
was lighted by a lamp. While witness was
sitting there Cooper was walkin. up and
down. Parties came out of the theatre and
went into the saloon. Before they came down
witness overheard conversation there. Wit
ness knew John Wilkes Booth. Booth was
one of the persons entering into that CONVEX
sation. @-'i'-A -'t-'A 4" '.4i9i 49,.
Mr.. Pierrepont-What was that converse
ton? I'D jr'rl. -l ieref., Of. u ...I...
Mr.. MERCK objected the question.
IL was prop0S co TO give the CONVEX
alton of Booth in relation to murder and
the prisoner at the bar has not been con-
nected yet with Booth. ... 49, -.4
Mr.. Fierpont said it must be evident that
whatever John Wilkes Booth said would be
evidence 5GI "a r4aQ e3nl l,l.f s..s5.3
MIR. Bradley insisted that the parties must
first be connected. va
The Court-If the connection is not made all
this testimony must be ruled out The testi-
mony may be taken. 81 ..s..---.,..L 81
I'D
appeared was John Wilkes Booth, conversing
with low villainous looking person At the
end of the passaee. IL was hut mnsent ho-
iJre another person joined them and entered
into the convers at on this sen was neatly
dressed. A crowd then came from the the:
atre, and Boon remarked, Il suppose he will
come out now witness supposed, referring
to the President. The parties in conversation
then ranged themselves where the
President was to pass and watch
ed eagerly B for his appearance
He did not come, and one of them examined
the carriage, and Booth went into tho restau-
rant and remained there long enough to take
a drink, and then he came out and stepped
from the street into the passage leading to the
stage. He appeared in a moment again, and
the party above mentioned as neatly dressed
stepped up and called time to Booth from
clock in the vestibule. AS soon as he called
time, be moved up Tenth street to III street
He did not remain long, but came down again,
stopped in front of the theatre, looked at the
clock, and called time again, looking directly
at Booth and his companion, and being some
what excited. He then tnrned on his heel
again and went back toward H street. 1t was
then that witness thought something was
wrong. Witness carried revolver and had
handkerchief wrapped around it, and his sus-
picions were 30 much aroused that he undid
the handkerchief from about his revolver.
1t was not long before tho well-dressed man
came again from the direction of HI street.
The man stood in front of the theatre, and the
light shone full in his face There was pictur-
ed in his countenance great excitement and
exceeding paleness, and he told them for the
third time the hour, that it was ten minutes
past ten o'clock. The witness saw the man
distinctly. vi. -..;.,-, 80 g. H5
Mr.. Pierrepont- you see the man?
Witness do, sir, pointing to Surratt]
there he sits have seen his face frequently
in my sleep. 1t was so very pale 1 could new
er forget it. have not seen him since until
lately and now. The man then saw was
John 81. Surratt, the prisoner at the bar. Sur
raft then moved toward FL street Booth then
entered the front of the theatre. Sergeant
Cooper and then went to an oyster saloon
We had not time to eat the oysters when we
heard of the murder, and we went Immediate
ly up to H street and out of II street towards
Camp Berry. On our way out lady hoisted
window and asked us what
Witness was here interrupted by an objec-
ton from Mr.. Bradley, and the prosecution
closed the examination. sEtss.l