The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-06-28
The surra4t Trial.

sassination; another man with him ;sus-
pected he had been engaged in the as
| sassination conspiracy crossed his
path several times as he was going to
| the depot, and tried to lind an officer to
arrest him. On cross examination he
said he had no description of the man
he supposed to be engaged In the asSas-
sination, except what he saw In the Bur-
lington Times.
Mr.. Bradley requested that the wit
ness be summoned for the defence. Or
dered. The witness in reply to Mr..
PierrepOnt said the description in the
paper was of Booth, and he was look
ing for him.
Mrs. E. W. Clermont, of Washington,
testified to seeing, on Pennsylvania
avenue, in April, 1865, two men who
seemed impatiently waiting for another;
she was waiting for a car; in n few min
utes they were Joined by another and
turned my head-why, L don't know;
they spoke in an undertone; the only
name I heard Was Jim, and then /
heard the Presidents name mentioned,
and one man spoke of comiug from the
soldiers home; then heard the words,
G'teIescope. rifle" another answered,
t'his wife and child would be along"
Another replied: sit made no differ
ence; IL necessary they too could be got
was looking, both ceased CONVERSE
tion and walked down the avenue.
Their conversation was in an under
tone, and could only catch a word
here and there. They made remarks
could not help hearing. Two men were
talking at first, and the third came
dow Tenth street; L saw two OF the
men atthe conspiracy trial; Harold and
Atzerott were the two men at the cor
ner; tie man who came down Tenth
street was young man OF medium
height, and L thought had seen him
before; Ibid not know where, but recol-
lected afterwards that had seen him
on the stage, and recognized the third
man as j. w. Booth.
Edward Lawles, residing at st. AL
bans, VT, testified to seeing a man,
supposed to be Booth, at that place on
the 18th of April, 1865, talkingto anoth-
er man. Witness was confident It was
not Booth, because a telegram was re-
ceived, stating that he was being pur-
sued in another direction, though he
saw resemblance between the man and
the prisoner. 1870,
sawles was to-day summoned for the
defence.
Lewis ]. weichman was next sworn
and his evidence occupied the rest
of the day. He detailed the COM
mencement of his intimacy with Sur
raft. He first met Harold at Mrs.
Surratts, in Surrattsville-wttne said
he commenced to lodge at Mrs. Sur
rats house in Washington, Nov. 1, '64,
and to take his meals there in Decem-
Der following-boarded there on the
night OF the assassination. The FIRST
outside party he saw at the house con-
nected with the conspiracy was Booth.
In '64 or '65 was invited take a walk by
Surratt, during which he recognized
and introduced to DIR. Mudd TO mei Dr..
Mudd introduced me to Booth. Booth
invited us to his room at the National
House, then he ordered drinks and
cigars-number of room 81. Booth
Mudd and Surratt had private con-
versation in the entry which each subse-
quently told witness referred to Booths
desire TO purchase Mudd's farm. They
also conversed twenty minutes around
a table, Booth making marks on an en-
velope which witness thought We're
straight marks from the motion OF the
pencil, at the same time. Afterwards,
in reply to a question, Mrs. Surratt said
the people of Charles county were tired
OF Booth. and wanted to push him off
on John. In the Summer of '64, met
Harold at Piscataway Church. Sur
raft was there. 1t was only casual
meeting. In the latter part of '6S Sur
raft was employed in Adams Express,
and took French leave for visit to
the country. In January, '65, he also
took a leave and went to Port To-
bacco. Witness recognized the entry of
his own and Surratt'S name on the
register of the Maltby House, Balti-
more, January DIST, '65. Next morn
ing Surratt took a carriage, said he had
$500. 90; said that he was going to see
some gentlemen on business, and did
not want me along; don't know where
he went. 1 returned home that evening;
think left Surratt in Baltfmore; was
introduced to Atzerott by Surratt, at
Mrs. Surratt's house; he and Surratt
conversed, and Mrs. Surratt also; fire.
quently saw Atzerott at her house at
forwards; Booth came very frequently.
In February '65, Surratt went TO New
except that he saw Booth, who had
fine house. and had been introduced 10
Edwin Booth. Witness detailed the
appearance of Payne while at Mrs. Sur.
rats house In February, '65, under the
name of Wood; there was no sign OF
recognition between Surratt and
Wood; he took supper, by Mrs Surratts
desire, in witnesses room, on March =:
on the 18th he again visited the house,
giving his name as Payne; next day he
came back and walked into my room;
was writing at a table, and Surratt
wanted to converse privately with Sur
ratt; left the room; next day when
came home, March 10. L found NOUS
tache lying on my table; then went
up to an attic room, back, and saw Sur
raft and Payne seated on Il bed, con-
-
two reVolvers and two bowie knives;
when went to dinner I told Mrs. Sur
raft had seen John and Payne fixing
these things, and said 1, "Mrs. Surratt,
don't like this" 1 told her i had seen
them on the bed; she told me need not
think anything OF it, as knew John
was i'll the habit OF riding in the coun-
try, and he had to have things for pro-
lection; that night Payne and Surratt
attended FOId's Theatre, with ladies;
subsequently, came to my room and got
pack of cards; staid out all night;
Surratt afterwards said he spent the
night at Gautiers and would introduce
me but il was private club. On the
evening of March Sd Booth and Surratt
were conversing in Mrs. SurratL's par
lor, Booth was also there on the even
ing OF March 4th, and Harold, Atzerott
and Surratt on the Goth. i met Surratt
at the post office and he asked for q let
ter addressed to himself under the
name of James Sturdy; L saw the letter;
| Il came from New YORK and was signed
"Wood;" on reading this letter SurTatt
said nothing particular, he only showed
me the letter: said the letter was from
Wood who bad been at Mrs. Surratt's
house; did not tell me who Wood was,
On the 23d of March Mrs. HoIlRhan
came to the office where 1 was employ
ed; handed. him a telegram from New
| York. The telegram was exhibited.
| Witness recognized it. The telegram
was dated New York, March q, 1865,
and was directed to ]. Welchman, and
read: Tell John to telegraph the num-
Der OF the street at once. (Signed) j.
Booth.
1 took the telegram home and showed
Il to John Surratt; said IL must be for
him, and asked him what number and
i'Don't be SO damned inquisitive." That
morning Surratt and took q walk. and