The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-19
THE SURRATT TRIAL.
WASHINGTON, June Is

Joseph w. Dyer was called to the witness
stage Mr. Pierrepont said when the court adj
journed question ad been asked, but was OBJ
jected to and Withdrawn. He now desired to
ask the question in form, and reserve the OBJ
lection for the defence.
The witness was then asked the question by
Mr.. Pierrepont as to what occurred on the way
out OF III street after the witness and his COM
panion started for camp Berry after they had
received information of the assassination of the
President
Mr. Bradley objected unless the prosecution
first stated what the connection of this matter
was with The prisoner, or what they exp cted
to prove Mr. Pierrepont said the prosec ution
would offer no evidence that they could not
connect with the prisoner.
They proposed to prove that the house refer
red to in yesterdays question was Mrs. Surratt's
house; that John H. Surratt had left it a few
minutes previously, and that it was Mrs Sur !
raft who asked the question of the witness. e
Mr.. Bradley said Mrs. Surratt was not here
80 answer.
Mr.. Pierrepont-Neither is Booth
Mr.. Bradley-Booth was not there at the
time. t4.l }.
The court decided to admit the answer and
said he would rule it out if it did not connect
the prisoner with the assassination.
Mr.. Bradley noted an exception.
The witness then resulted his answer to the
question as follows:- i,.-
AS we passed out of H street a woman raisel
the window of house and asked what was
wrong down town. told her President Lincoln
had been shot. She asked who had done it and I
told her Booth. She asked how knew that
and told her man who knew him saw him
that night. The moon was light enough to see
objects distinctly 1 believe the moon was up
but could not say if it was full. The woman
was an elderly lady, stont as otherwise, but she
resembled the lady Mrs, Surratt who was tried
at the arsenal. have seen the house since it
is No 5il III street. The house is on the right
hand side of the street going towards camp
Berry. The witness then described the house
known as the Surratt house. The woman
asked the questions in an ordinary tone of
voice, but the witness does not recollect that
the woman was much excited. When the wit
ness saw Booth, Surratt, and the other party at
Ihe theatre neither Of them was disguised.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Merrick.-The wit
ness is % years of age and testified that he was
from Washington County, Pa, where he resid-
ed before the war, going TO school and working
at bis trade as printer He lett w ashington,
Pa, in 1861, and enlisted in the army in 1862 at
camp Berry. The witness was first sergeant OF
his company and during his absence the next
sergeant in the line called the roll Witness
did not have pass on the night OF the assassi-
nation. He had previously been quartermas-
fers sergeant of his company and had pass
while in that position but he had no right TO
use it as first sergeant, In answer TO the ques-
tons about his being in town without leave
that night the witness said that nearly all the
companies were in town to witness the torch
hight procession. IL was a frequent occurrence
for him to come TO town but in doing so he did
not altogether justify the confidence reposed in
MIN by che captain of the company. The wit
mess repeated the evidence given yesterday re-
latiye 10 the position lac occupied while sittin
ON the planks In front of the theatre.
Q.-1o whom did you first communicate
what you saw that night? Alto my father.
Q-To whom next? A.-Well, to no one in
particular. mentioned my suspicious to Ser
geant Cooper that night
Q.-Wbo did You first tell what you could
prOse on the subject? Al told no one what
i couil prove. L only told what had seen.
The first time that knew my evidence was
known l wis summoned to appear and testify
at the assassination conspiracy trial. When L
first arrived In Washington 1 went first to the
Provost Marshals Office and was then taken TO
the old Capitol to see If could identify the
man mentioned as a yillaenous looking man at
the Provost MarshaPs office. was questioned
by aa officer who had right to question me-
Witness was in Washington before in March
last when the trial was postponed, and also on
Monday last After coming to Washington
witness spoke about the case to Mr.. Darlington
and Mr. Wilson, but to no one else.
ON answering the questions put by the
proseeutor why did you describe the third par
ty as 4 neatly dressed man and not mention
his name as you knew him to be Surratt? A
Because 1 did not think 1t necessary until
was asked the question. g.
O.-Why did you use Booths name and not
Surratt's? A-Becanse / did not deem it ne
cessary TO mention Surfatts name.
Q.-Were you not tod not to name him I'M
til asked? A.-No, sir, was not.
Witness repeated portion of his testimony
given yesterday. He did not know where the
neat dressed party come IRON, but he came
from the direction of FL street. The three par
ties stood together in conversation at the time
of this rush and when the remark was made by
Booth, think he will come now" the three
parties were standing together below the door
and looking into the space the President must
pass if he came down. The villaenous looking
man stood next to the theatre, Booth next, and
John H. Surratt next.
The witnesses suspicious were first excited by
seeing 50 gentIemanly looking man as Booth
talking 10 SO villaenous looking man as the
ether appeared to be. Witness here repeated
his testimony as to SurrattS moving 10 ana
from the theatre. When Surratt called time
he did not address Booth and his companion
particularly, but simply called the time. Ii
they had talked out loud about their plot they
would have been heard and tile men who are
engaged in such plots are smarter than to let
everybody know their business. Surratt did
not whisper the time to Booth and his compa-
Mon, but called it out loud. He appeared to
have business to attend to out at III street and
there was some one up there to whom he had
TO communicate time. Witness believed Sur
raft was regulating the whole conspiracy.
Q.-Thsn he was general commander?
A.-No, sir. (Laughter) When Surratt
moved up Tenth street witness could not see
him cross Il street. He appeared to be in a
hurry, and had not time to whisper, as he APP
pearSd to have no business up at II street or
in that direction. Whenever he came from III
street he came in a great hurry, walking as
faJt as he could, Alter calling the time for the
tbirl time Surratt moved hurriedly up to I'll
street. His lips and cOuntenance were very
male Witness could sse this as Surratt stood
O.-fIow could you see his face if you were
sitting on the boards and he was between you
and the light? Very readily through the back
of his head? A.-No, sir; he was a little be-
low towards the restaurant. Surratt race was
the picture Of excitement and nervousness;
Witness saw Surratt in March last AZ the jan
here. l was admitted by Gen. Carrinston ~, 10
see if could identify him AS the man VINO
was under the gas light that night, ana recog.
nized him Immediately. Did not tell Surratt
for what purpose he was sent there, but when
he saw HIM, accosted him with "Halloe john
The face witness saw in the Jail was the face
he saw in his dreams, and the face he saw in
front of the theatre.
O.--And this is the man? tpointing to Sur
ratti Ayes, sir; that is the face
OZN ,ould you have known that face if you
had seen n elsewhere? Ayes, sir; it is a
face that once seen is not easily forgotten. !
did not request to 60 to Jail to see him. Invent
because was requested to do so.
n. nfrndt Iaa hat ra