Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-07-09
THE TRIAL OF JOHN H. SURRATT.

this morning in the Criminal Court before
Judge Fisher. As usual the room was crowd
ed long before the opening of the Court. The
Jurors and prisoner having been brought in
j. r. Eastman was sworn and examined by
Mr. BIadley.-WImess was ProfessoH at the
National Observatory. Was engagedon the
night OF the Ith OF April, 1865 in making OBJ.
ssrvstions The moon rose that night at 2
minutes past ten. At IL O'Clock the moon was
about Is degrees above the horizon. At SIX
O'Clock in the evening 1t was perfectly clear. At
nine o'clock the sky was about one third
cloudy. At twenty minutes past eleven il
was so cloudy that witness could not see stars
OF the third magnitude. The moon rose 16 de-
grees south of the eq pator and tor the first
hour there would have been shadow en-
tending on the north side Of house situated
on the south side of a street.
Cross. examined by Mr. Pierrepoint: Wit
ness had the notes Of his servations, Was
not aware of the fact that Easter was always
u or tns Of a. IN
the morning. Witness was here shown the
TribHne Almanac. Witness found the moon
rose three minutes later than stated in this
almanac. Believed his calculations to be cor
rect; were made by him and checked by an
other man.
James r. Ford sworn and examined by Mr..
Bradley,-Witness was business manager OF
Ford's Theatre, in this city, from January to
July, 1865; was in charge Of the theatre.on the
14th Of April, 1865; witness boarded at the M.
tional; knew John Wilkes Booth; had known
while in Washin gton. Witness was in the
Office at the theatre from Q until II 4 O'Clock a.
m; about 1Qk the Presidents messenger came
and secured the box for the President and
Gen. Grant that evening. Witness went to the
Treasury Department to get some flags to deco
rate the box. Witness prepared the ad vertise-
ments announcing that the President would be
there; when witness left the theatre for the
Treasury the curtain was up; witness saw
Booth about 114. 3. the corner OF f and 10th
streets. Witness went to Baltimore that after.
nnn q <. rNt Sn Y
car and rode to the theatre; the evening was
cloudy: reached the theatre about Is minutes
before II O'Clock; the doors OF the theatre opened
towards the street. About two or three weeks
before the assassination Booth had box Z he
said he engaged it for ladies; he came himself
with ladies from the National Hotel; they were
the Surratt family; did not know the prisoner.
ss-examineo.-Had seen the Misses Hale
at the hotel one was larger than the other;
they both had dark hair. Had not seen Booth
occupy the box with ladies more than twice
Question by Mr.. Pierrepoint.-During the
rebellion what side did you take!
Mr. Bradley.-I object.
MI Pierrepoint.-f have right to ask this
witness and will ask others what side thev
took, in order to show their feeling, whether
they took sides for the Government. whose
that Government.
Judge Fisher.-You propose to ask him as to
whether he was in favor Of the Government
or the rebels!
MT Pierrepoint.-Yes sir.
Judge Fisher.-You can ask il.
Question repeated by Mr.. Pierrepoint,
Mr.. Merrick.-The witness can ans wer or
not, as he chooses.
Judge Flsher.-Yes. sir.
Witness.-l decline to answer
Mr. .Pierrepoint.-You can 60.
Subsequently Mr.. Merrck said the witness
desired 10 answer the question.
Mr. Pierrepo'nt said he did not desire to ask
any further question.
Mr.. .Bradley.-Well, we will ask It,
Eishpr-Tha W hoc
missed. and you cannot now call him back to
II. You should have asked him while he
was on the stand.
Wpa. Dirnn, sworn and examined by Mr.
MeTrick.-Witness was Chief Engineer OF the
United STATES Fire Department in this c1tv
On the night of the 14th of April an alarm Of
very cloudy. About II O'Clock witness re-
ceived orders to keep the engines and appa.
ratus in readiness. as arson might be commit
ted Witness heard of the assassination from
the officer who gave him the order to have the
engines reaav. Witness could not recognize
the color Of horses tnat night
Gross examined. - Between 9k and 10k
O'Clock witness was going and returning from
the fire from box 25. Saw no moon.
A. kie$ecker sworn and examined by Mr.
Merrick.-Witness resided IN April, 1865, At
The corner OF 9th and H streets: the frs t house
west OF witness was No. 54l: his house at that
time ironted east: had since been building and
changed ne front. On the night of the assas
slnation witness was at his place of business.
went home and sat On the door step from 10 to
near II o'clock smoking the lower step of the
bouse was few inches only from II street
The night was dark Witness heard no con-
yersatlon between any parties on The pave.
ment and any one in house SAL, while he was
On his pavement; could have heard any con
versatiOD.
the next morning. Witness was alone on tho
step; saw persons pass the house; thought he
could have heard a con versation between anv
party on the sidewalk and any one talking out
of the window
BY MT. Nerrick k-Remembered the time he.
cause his wife called him, stating it was II
o'clock. and witness replied he wonld coma l.,
as soon as he finished his cigar.
James Lamb sworn, and examined by Mr..
BraGley.-Was scene painter at Ford's The
ater in April, 1865. On the lith of April wit
ness was engaged in the painting room Of rne
theater rom a. m until D. m. The room
was about SO feet above the floor Of the stage
and commanded a view OF the stage Never
saw one person raise or lower the curtain
TWO persons were employed for that purpose
There was rehearsal On the l4th of AprH: II
commenced about ten O'Clock, ana continued
Gross" examined Witness was born in E,g-
land. Had been in this country about twenty
eight years.
Odd you express any sympathy fer the
rehel side during the late war;
Mr.. Merrick objected. The question was
not proper. The prisoner at the bar was in
dicted for murder and not for treason He
hoped the Court would rule upon it, The
Court had decided that the question might be
asked of witnesses ii they were on one side or
the other; bnt wnen the counsel asked il a wit
ness expressed sympathy for one side or the
other was carving things a little too tar
Mr.. Pierrepoint argued -he questions were
proper.
Judge Fisher -Yon may put the question.
the witness can answer it or not as ne things
proper.
Mr.. Merrick said he saw the expression in a
loyal paper, some time since, that it won,d
baye been well had the hand Of Booth been
less steady and Atzerodt more sure.
Witness.-I have felt sympathy when !
have seen men on either side butchered Wca
not against the North. Did not take dinner
on the 1ath OF April. Was painting scene for
Enoch Arden. It occupied his mind entirely,
but nor to the exclusion OF other things. Some
portions Of the painting required more atten-
ton than others. The scene on which witness
was at Work was place on the rear wall
By Mr.. Bradley.-The sympathy OF Witness
never led him to wish the overthrow of the
Government Of the United States. The cur
tain could not have been lowered without the
knowledge of witness. Had his lunch in the
painting room.
BY Mr. PIerrepoint.-The lowering of the
curtain would have been very unusual
OF witness. Did not have his attention called
to the curtain on that day. The boxes were
always dark.
BY Mr. Braaley.-Had the curtain been
lowered it would have been in the way OF the
actors rebearsinR.
Lieut. charles ~ Skippon, sworn ana exam
ined by Mr.. Bradley. Winees was sergeant
OF police in 1865; his de Iict Comprised the
Third Ward. Knew OF no oyster. house on E
street, between 9th and }0.h streets was an
eating aalOon mp stairs. =
nv, vH;lecn rho Tnntiro uo, -