Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-07-08
THE TRIAL OF JOHN n. SURRaTT.
Testimony for Defense .

The trial of John II. Snrra,t WAS resumed
in he Criminal Court this morning, before
Judge Fisher; Messrs. Carrington, Pierre.
point. Riddle, antiz Wilson, TOR the presecu.
ton; the Messrs. Bradley and r. I. Merrick for
defense. The anxiety 10 hear the testimony
for the defense is very great, and the court
room was dsnsely crowded this morning long
before 'he opening Of the court. The jurors
andprisoner having been brought in. the court
was opeled at 10. Is O'Clock.
Mr. Bradley said before opening the testi-
mony Tor the defense they desired 10 see two
witnesses brought in this morning. one especI-
ally for the purpose of Identification.
Theodore beniCntin Rhodes, recalled and cross
examined by Mr.. Bradley.-Witness entered
the tbeater on the l&th, through the door near
the box office; the door led up small stair-
way, which witness ascended. Did not know
how many flights OF stairs he went up; the
door was partially open and witness pushed
il open 10 go in: went down by the wall to get
IN the box; the door opened Immediately in the
box: as witness opened the door leading to the
box heard man retTeating throught another
door; vas in the box VIXEN the chair was
brought in there.
Mr.. Bradley said be would 60 on with the
testimony tor defense with the understanding
that when Susan Ann Jackson should come
she might be examined. s.
This was agreed to, and
Ioha r Ford was sworn and examined by
Feid's Theatre in this city in 1865 Ii was built
under the direction OF witness. A diagram of
the dress-circle. boxes, and stage was here
shown 10 lhe witness and he testified the same
was correct, and explained TO jury. A second
diagram, showing the ground floor, orchestra
seats, stage, pavement III front, and carriage
platform. was here shown to witness and
identified by him correct. Witness testified
the front door leading to the ticket office was
lett open during the day: the doors leading
from the Nestibule to the theatre were ALWAYS
kept closed; it was the orders of witness to
have them closed, and such was lhe rule in all
well-regulRted theatres.
u uestiOn Was the curtain kent ND or down
in The day time !
Objected 10 on the ground that the question
must re,ate 10 the cur ain on the lith Of April.
Objection sus tanned.
l.-State whether person entering the the
atre and passing around TO the Presidents
box conld see the stage after entering the first
door leading TO the box.
A. He certainly could not The first door
opened into passage leading TO the boxes; on
enc th SIDE sSs Of dner sne psssngs was brisk wall on
box 3 at the end OF the 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 bex must have seen
The night of The I4th OF April; returned to this
city on Tuesday Made an examination OF the
box; Gid not remember the day: it was about
the last OF May; fOund a hole in the wall, ex-
amined it, found it had been dug on, hurriedly
and paper had been placed over it; found
hole in the door made with gimlet, found the
Do8uiO0Spned
The gniet hole was in the box door, not III the
passage door. Witness was here shown the
bar. and Testified that he had seen IL before, at
the assassination trial; the stick was the up-
right OF muslc stand, and believed ii to be
piece of enc of those Isea in the theatre Wit
ness knew John Wilkes Booth since child
hood; was raised in the same city with him
knew ms !ather well; he was known In the
profession as enc of the best gymnasts in the
country, and 4 great swordsmen; his hands
were naturally large, and dis;endeo by exer-
Ia n,y11 h
he hadvery back halr, and dark eyes: usually
wore q mOustache. He was an extremely fas-
einarlng man in his manner, and very interest
ing in his con Onyersation. Knew his handwriting
well. Witness was here shown the telegram
daied March i3. 1865 exhibit i5. and testified II
was in the handwriting OF Booth; also teIs-
gram GATED 27th March, 1868. exhibit No. :,6
also. telegram dated March %. i-65. exhibit No
10; also, the card, "Don't wish TO disturb yon-
are You at home and testified they were In the
handwriting of Booth; tall of which have been
publ she'd IN the Stor during the trial. Witness
had been familiar with the handwriting of
Booth for : ORC years. Witness was here shown
be Seloy letter and testified that he did not
think II was IN the handwriting OF Booth.
S,sSea Aaa ya@iS"n having arrived fhe exam
inailon OF MIR. ord was susp' ndea and she
was call su 10 The stand ana questioned by
MI Bradley.-W Witness did not see the men
who came 10 search the house. Detective Nc
Deyitwas here pointed our but witness said she
did not see him on that night. She had her head
covered up No one mentioned John Sur
time they We're searching thr house. Did not
tell any one that Surratt had n0i been there
ier TWO weeks; Did not know eolored wo-
man named Rachel. Did not know Eliza
hawkins or Eliza SeefuS. Never roid any
gentlemen any colored woman that Surratt
had NOT been to the house tor TWO weeks. Wit.
ness had never said she esp pected to receive
any thing tor her testimony in his case Did
not expect nything.
Mr.. Ford recalled. and examined by Mr.
N orrick Witness was shown the diagram,
Nj N "A mad To no
carriage step, ticket office and entrance 10 the
'heatsr. The plat was made by Mr.. Clifford,
the man who built the theater; the plat was
correct. The clock was Or the wall. lbour
seven or g light iert from the floor. and to see
the same during he performance il was neces-
sary to 20 through the door marked T., nearest
the ticket Office, which was The one kept open.
or entrance door. The carriage platform STOOD
Immediately in front of the centre OF me build
ing. The entrance door was the nearest one
10 the avenne. the southern end OF the pls form
was above the entrance door TG see the clock
1t was Hecessary 10 90 In The door.
Cros-. examined by Mr.. Pi-rrepont Wit
NESS lett Washington on Monday or Tuesday
previous To th. assassination Went from
here 20 Raltimor,. thence 10 Fortress Monroe,
and thence 10 Richmond. Did nor know about
the doors during his absence. Witness was
here shown the diary of Booth. ;nd testified
be believed 1t ~ be IN the handwriting OF
Booth The diary was here shown TO The Jury
and examined by them. The diary was again
handed 10 witness. and he testified ae thought
the handwriting was rather clumsy. so was
the CHARLES Selby letter bRt did In ink II was
the same handwriting. Beoth WAS very
tasdious lie was moi foppish! bat always
in his person. His hands Were always clean,
and he kept them as eiean and neat as he did
the resi of his person. :. /!
IL. Clay Fsd sworn and examined by MT /;
BFadley:-Witness resided III Baltimore In /
April, lae5: WIS treasurer OF FOFda theRter. |
In the absence OF Mr.. j. 7. Ford, witness ana |
his b other, James r. Ford, managed the the. |
alre. Knew /. Wilkes Booth s;iw him about |
ilx o clock Oh the morning before the assaasl. |
nation: he came to the theatre and received a
iet;er from the office. Witness learned the |,
President was to visit the theatre about n |
O'Clock in the morning. Thought Booth heard !;
1t while he was there -. .-s.a.4 III - n !:
u. Did yon give orders 10 prepare the box :
for the rece pttOn of the President 4 :
Objected 70, but objection orerruled. q
4Mnness resumed The orders were given
fOrihe preparation of the BOZ about o'clock. .
Wines s gave ths order 70 Mr.. Ray bold. Mr. !
Ray bold did no. prspare il: witness did, Went |
to work between and $ O'clock. Witness was |
in the box; the chr'Ain was hp. and h8d been ,
mp ali day. Did not $50 AM stranger in the /
lhaater " bile preparing the box. Al ths time /
WiDessiwas preparing the box Spangler was ;
on the sta Sc fixing scene. Witness was IN the |.
box when he directed coloreti nan TO bring the
chair in. saw no stranger there. Witness aud :
a xentieman from the Treasury nepartneut /
warG decorsstIsg the box. Knew nothing a6uut
the condition OF the keepers OF the locks on
bOxes and s. Witness was in, the box Office
during the third ACT. There was \ rehearsal
on thai Friday: il was before the box was 1T.