The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-06-18

court 10 try this cause as any murder case. Tho
country desired 70 know whether the prisoner
was guilty Of this murder or not lie would
hold tho matter under advisement until to.mor-
row morning.
DR.. Barnes, Of this city, surgeon general U. s.
A, was called for the prosecution. He knew the
Of the United States; was called on the
night Of the 14th April 1885, found him dying
from effects Of gun.shot wound In the head was
lying on Tenth street, opposite Ford's Theatre;
the ball entered the skull, and was the cause Of
death; he lived until 20 minutes past .. m. OF
the 18th; he was not possessed Of reason at any
time; he never spoke. Witness was present at
the post Siorteni examinationI II showed the
wound spoken Of was the immediate cause Of his
death; several other doctors were present at the
eIaminationj the ball vas pistol ball, Of small
size.
The defence did not question the witness.
James M. Wright, chief clerk In the Bureau
Of Military Justice was called for the prosocu.
tion, and at the request Of the District Attorney,
examined the pistol, records, 40, concerning the
death Of Mr.. Lincoln, saying they wsro In the
same condition as when entrusted to his care
These came, witness said, from the War Depart.
msnt to his possession. He received them open,
as they now are.
DR.. Barnes recalled. He said he recognised
the bone In his hand as the fragment Of bone
taken from Mr. Lincoln's head; also recognized
the shred Of lead taken from his head. The
bullet taken from the head Of the victim he rec
ogniEed, and said he thought, at the time, the
bullet was made Of Britannia. II was harder
than balls usually are. DR.. Woodward, Of the
army, made the examination.
William T. Kent resided on Eighth street east
near d street; was at Ford's theatrej recognised
the pistol as tho one no picked up In the Presi.
dents box at the theatre, Immediately after the
assassination. Witness here gave q description
Of the operation OF the doctors and others In the
box In examining the wound. Ho gave the pistol
70 Mr.. Gobright, Of the Associated Press. Saw
Il next morning at tho police station.
Henry R. Rsthburn, city of Albany, In State
Of New York. Was brevet lieutenant colonel In
the regular army. Was we'll acquainted with
PIesident Lincoln, aud was present with him at
the time Of his assassination. On the evening Of
the 14th Of April, at $40, in company with Miss
Harris repaired to President Linoolns and with
him and Mrs. L. went to the theatre The per.
formers stopped playing, and the band played
Hail to the Chief" The party then procee ded
to the box. During tho second part Of the third
act some one from behind fired and shot Presi-
dent Lincoln. Witness spraug up and seized
him, and he cut at him with a large knife, and
witness parted the blow, receiving a bad cut on
his left arm The assassin jumped down into the
theatre and escaped. He rushed to tho door Of
the box to procure medical assistance. Found
tho door barricaded. Afterwards proceeded with
Mrs. Lincoln to the dwelling opposite the the.
atre. Witness here explained the relative posi-
lions Of the inmates Of the box at the time Of the
assassination.
Judge Fisher here asked II the counsel could
make arrangements by which recess Of half an
hour could be had after q session Of two hours
and then sit two or two.and.a-half hours there.
after each day. He asked this because Of hi
ill.health, SO that he might retain strength sufi
cient to 20 through with the case. He would
also suggest that the jury DO exercised as much
ss possible during their intervals or recess, 81
that they too could preserve good health, ant
SEQ the case through.
The counsel on both sides agreed to this, ant
the court lat 11.46 o. M took q recess Of hal
an hour.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The court reassembled at 1915, when
James d. Stewart was sworn. Witness re
sides now In West Chester county New York
Was at Ford's Theatre on tho night Of the 14ti
Of April, 1865, and occupied seats in front Of or
chestra, and was seated on the LETT hand corner
chair on the right hand aisle. Witness could
see the President and the company with him In
the second tier box. He was in position to sec
from the breast up Of Mr.. Lincoln. At a mo
msnt when there was q pause or interlude In the
play, saw q fash and heard q report. Noticed .
man coming over the balustrade, and saw 4 cur
of smoke On coming down no exclaimed ISL
Ssmper tyrdnHis." He came down with his bach
| to the audience. He held a very largo knife il
his hand. Witness leaped over the bsnistel
and over the footlights to the stage, keeping hii
! eye on this man When he 'made the seconC
step he threw his ego to the box and saw tn,
other persons, but not the President. When HI
reached the stage witness saw the man, not In
full run, but in quick walk go towards the lef
hand and disappear. Witness said to those OF
the stage, "stop that man, he has shot the Pres
ident." Heard the door slam. Saw as man!
as Eve persons on the stage, who came into tn,
passage way. Noticed man standing rear tn,
| back door with his face towards the door
but he gradually turned TO witness. Hs diC
not appear excited, He heard some ono ex
claim, "Ho's getting on horse" Witness 60
to the door and took hold Of the hinge side bu
rectihed II and passed out; heard tramp Of horse
feet. His attention was fixed to the man on th
horse, who was imperfectly mounted. The hors
was moving agitatedly, describing q semi. circl
from right to left. At the same instance no
ticed row Of tenements to which horse woul
have brought up If he continued. Ran up +
get hold Of horse, when rider brought horse u
against him Followed over to the right side Q
alley; the rider held knife in his hand, turnet
his horse around witness commanded the persol
| to stop when no first came out, and heard som
one go out of the alleyi Afterwards heard tw
| taps and a shrill whistle from tho direction o
+ street, when the rider started the horse h
rode furiously out Of the alley witness ran few
steps after the horse; heard the horses feet as HI
receded out of the alley-way, and heard tn
sound Of the horse on F street. The man wa
John Wilkes Booth. Witness examined dia
gram Of tho alloy.way, and described the tract
Of Booth; as also 4 diagram Of tho stage, and de
seribed his course as, also, that Of Booth
BY Mr.. Bradley: Witness was seated abou
twenty feet from the right hand side of the stag
at the time.
John D. Petit. Witness resided on the lat
of April, 1865 in the dwelling house No. $3.50
street, below Tenth. His room was In the roa
part Of the building. which was from one hundro
and ffty to two hundred feet from the back doc
Of tho theatre. Adjoining the house was an eat
ing saloon, kept by Mr.. Gilbert, and In the rear
with the exception Of q small tenement, 1t wa
vacant ground adjoining the theatre lot. Wa
sitting with back to vacant ground, when his al
tention was directed by several low Whistling'
as though they were signals, from the vacan
ground Witness stopped reading once or tWie
on hearing them thought 1t was mischief gOin
on by boys. That, In connection with hors
which appeared to be uneasy in the alley lcadn
from the theatre from the cast, attracted him
He saw nothing nor did he know anything o
what had TRANSFERRED until the nOxt morning
Heard the sound of horse going out Of tn
alley. All this passed in about quarter Of a
hour Tho last whistle was very loud and shrill
Witness heard tho report Of gun or pistol tina
night. Could hear the voices Of the actor In hi
room.
By Mr.. Bradley; There was no fence on tn
alley in the rear of the vacant lot. There wa
a small alloy between the eating saloon and Mrs
Lindaeys house, in which witness roomed.
James p. Ferguson, sworn. Witness was q
the theatre on the night of the assassination
Witness kept restaurant next door, and vas IN
formed in the afternoon by Harry Ford that tn
I, ! anA