Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-11

theories have thus far been scattered to
the winds by the prosecution; but on
Friday it appeared that one OF the chief
points on which the defense intend TO
base their theory of innocence will be
their ability to prove the contents Of
Booths mysterious letter to the editor
of tse National Intelligencer, The letter,
it will be remembered, never reached the
hands for which it was destined, and its
contents were never laid before the pub
lie. 1t has been reserved for an actor
terry. If this is to be credited it will be
somewhat favorable to Surratt, but by
no means sufficient to outweigh of itself
the mass of proof sdduced by the prose-
cutlon on Monday last. Matthews, who
was an actor in Washington on the night
of the assassination, was before the Ju-
dietary Committee, and there gave tes-
timony which clears away all the mys-
terry attached to the letter which John
w llhco bOOtu "lOtS w VIC NotiOhol IL
tellgencer that fatal morning. Mat
theWs testified that he met Booth, who
was on horseback; that Booth called
him and gave him letter, which he re.
quested Matthews to leave next morning
at the Intelligencer Office, if he MAT
thews) learned of Booths having left
town, or if any extraordinary event oc.
Cured during the night. Matthews took
the letter which wac given him hur-
riedly, and with some secrecy OF man
ner, and had no time to think about the
strangeness of the request. That night,
when the excitement grew to madness,
Matthews bethought him of the letter,
went to his own room, opened it and
read it.
1t contained a statement signed by
Booth, Payne, Atzerodt and Harold, The
statement was that they had tried all in
their power to abduct the President, but
had failed, and that they had resolved
that they would sacrifice their four lives
for the welfare of their country, and re-
move by death the President whom they
considered the cause Of all its woes.
Having read the letter, with the noise
Of the murder itself for an accompa-
niment, Mathews terrified lest its mere
possession should be construed into COM
plicity on his part or lead him into
trouble somehow, burned it. This is
the sum, though not the exact wording
of Matthew'S testimony, who was at
that time q m ember of Ford's dramatic
| company. He will soon be on the wit
ness stand for the defense. 1t will be
noticed that Surratt's name Is not signed
to the letter, and this omission the de-
fense intend to use as proof that he had
no knowledge or instrumentality in pro-
curing the assassination, How this
theory will be reConciled with the proof
that Surratt was in Booths company
at the theatre on the night of the
tragedy the defense best know. On the
| other hand, it is claimed that the letter
did reach the editor of the IntelligenCer,
and that it had seven signatures, in
stead of four. The inference from this
would be that the name Of Surratt was
among these seven, and has since been
suppressed for the purpose of the de
fense.
1t is uncertain whether G letter writ
ten by Booth, and signed by himself did
reach the editor of that paper. In that
letter he gave his reason for the assas'
sination, and stated, it is alleged, that
| the intention was to take the lives OI
Lincoln, Johnson, Seward, Stanton aud
Grant. 1t is known that Atzerodt was
seen about the bed chamber Of johnson
on the night of the assassination, anC
this would seem to sustain the theory
CIR ant was not in the city at the time
having started for New York on the
l4th of April. He returned, however
the next day, and was met by guarc
at Philadelphia by order of Secretary
Stanton. 1t is supposed that the lettel
of Booth is in the possession of the de
Tense and will be introduced on the trial