The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-18
The Surrntt Trial.

ASHlNGTON, June II.
The Surratt trial was resumed to-day, Judge
Fisher, who has partly recovered, presiding.
j. ii. Bradley, Jr., submitted an affidavit Oh
Surratt, setting forth the non-attendahce OF
his witnesses and praying for an order 10 COM
pei attendance. 1t was postponed.
Judge Fisher then asked the counsel II they
were ready to proceed 10 trial OF the case.
Mr.. Darlington said the Assistant District
Attorney would open the case.
Mr. Wilson Assistant District Attornav
then addressed the jury, and said, IAN were
aware that in criminal cases the custom is for
the prosecution, at the opening of a case To
make known the subject of INQUIRY. and to
state in outline what proof would be brought
forward 10 support the Indictment The grand
Jury OF the District OF Columbia have indicted
John ID. Surratt, the prisoner at the bar. for
the murder OF Abraham Lincoln, late Presi-
uen. OF the United States. 1t will be the duty
Vi the jury to ascertain whether he is guilty or
NOT guilty, and an inquiry more solemn was
never submitted to human intelligence. They
are, IN fact, to turn back the leaves of history
70 that red page in which are written the aw-
Iul incidents OF that April hight and to en-
quire as to the blow that was struck, not onl,
AZ human lite alone, but a blow at the popular
ity OF this Government, and against liberty it,
self. They would scarcely need witnesses to
describe the terrible scenes of that awful night
A vast assemblage was then gathered at
public place, whose hearts were filed with the
Joy Of peace, and among that vast audience
through years of sorrow, but who was not re-
cognized as victor. A victor he was indeed
but q victor in whose heart there was no emo
non but kindness and love to his late enemies.
10 nim, death came In the most sudden and
terrible form. The witnesses who will come
here will tell you that upon that night John
Wilkes Booth left the front of the theatre and
went back to the box occupied by the Presi-
dent" Mr.. Wilson then rehearsed the circum-
stances of the shooting of the President OF
ROOtl'S leaning from ha hny IN fha Sta
OF his subsequent flight. MIR. Wilson then
continued and said that the prosecution would
prove, as no case was often proved that the
prisoner at the bar was present, aiding and
aDetting the murderer and that few mo-
ments before the shot was fired, he was presen,
IN front of the theatre in consultation with
Booth. You will see him as from the right O.
lamps that shone full in his face. He shall be
known as the friend and companion of Booth
and as directorof the bullet that pierced the
brain of the President, and of the bloody Unit,
mat Tell with such terrible force upon the per-
son OF the Secretary of State. 1t will be
fully proved that he was present with Wilkes
Booth, directing the murder, and that the
act was not the result of a moments thought
only, but was q premeditated plot, and C. &
prisoner at the bar was the chief and main
mover in this matter. 1t will be proved tha
he was traitor to his country and spy upon
the actions OF the Government and who tray.
eled regularly from Washington to Canada
all the time weaving a web and plotting the
destruction OF the Government and the over
throw and slaughter of the armies of the
United States, and as an indication of the mo-
tive that possessed his mind the iurv shall
hear he boasted that he shot down unarmed
Union soldiers while they were escaping from
rebel prisons. 1t shall be shown how the pris-
oner made has home in this city the rendez-
vous for the performance of their bloody WORK.
and that 1t was he who left at Surrattsyille ths,
arms which Booth took possession Of in his
hight, and one of which was taken from him
after ms death. 1t will be shown that in April
1860, that Surratt went from Richmond to
Canada, and that while in Montreal he on the
10th day of April, received a letter from Booth
commanding his presence in this city; he came,
anu u VIII be shown exactly by what route
and the prosecution will prove by testimony
as clear as the MONDAY sun that Surratt was
mere on that fatal Friday and WIS walking
snroush pennsylvania avenue, booted anu
spurred, and that but two hours before the
fatal shot was fired he purchased the disguise
winch the assassins were to use IN their flight:
and that when the last blow was strucx he sci
forth upon his flight That flight will be
traced, because in law flight is the cri1p;n.i,s
confession, and because during the flight the
prisoner in the faneied security of friendship
makes acknowledgements which fix upon him
the guilt. 1t will be shown that upon The AS
sassination the prisoner went to Canada and
MS whereabouts in the meantime will be
shown. 1t will be shown how long he re-
manned there, and where he was secreted and
how he was there in disguise during the time
the trial was in progress at the Arsenal where
he could have thrown much light upon the
triai and done much to establish the guilt or
Innocence OF those there charged. From Can
ada he crossed the Atlantic, and it will be
shown that when in mid ocean he spoke freely
ct his connestiOn with the conspiracy, and
when he landed upon foreign shore he raised
ms lmplous hand and expressed a wish that he
could return and serve Andrew Johnson as
Abraham Lincoln had been served. In Eng
land he found sympathy, but conscience still
haunted HIM, and ne fed again, this time to
Rome, allied himself in the Papal army and
enlisted as private soldier. He might have
felt himself secure there if anywhere. but he
was recognized and discovered by the compan-
ION OF his youth, who pierced through ali his
dIsguises, and when he found denial was use-
less acknowledged his identity.