Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-08-01
LOCAL NEWS.
THE TRIAL OF JOHN n. SURRAIT.

when the Court was opened, and gsei
Dir. Merrick, for the defense, resumed his
argument He said he had observed in the
report of his argument several errors, and
statements which he did not make; but as the
reports were not stenographic ones, OF course
there must be some errors He would take
occasion to correct some of the statements
before the close of his argument Mr.. Mer-
rick states that the errors referred to were in
the other papers. and not in the Star, which
has contained the best, fullest and most accu-
rate report OF the proceedings and OF his
argument in the case.-RRP.I Mr.. NJ then
said. yesterday when the Court closed he was
commenting on the testimony OF Sergeant
Dye, and he would NOW show the Jury how
utterly mistaken Sergeant Dye was. The
counsel on the other side will endeavor to rep.
resent to you that Mr.. keisecker was sitting at
his steps on 9Th street, and not on H street, He
testifes he heard no conversation, and as far
as negative testimony can contradict afirma-
tive he contradlcts Sergeant Dye. Yet we have
another witness, q lady OF the highest charac.
ter. who reading the testimony in this case,
observes the testimony Of Sergeant Dye. She
Al once remarks, here Is a most extraordinary
coincidence, as that conversation took place
with me, and at my nonse. The description Of
her house answered the description OF Mrs Sur.
rats in every respect aad it certainly would be
a most extraordinary coincidence IL that con-
versation had taken place at both places that
night, with TWO different soldiers. Gentlemen
OF The Jury. you viii not hang a man because
Sergeant Dye sees his pale face in his dreams
over his pillow. Then come to the testimony
OF MrniperUhl who saw Surratt in the theatre
He comes before Us stranger; we know no.
thing OF him. he tells you ne entered the the
atre impeied by curiosity. A day laborer
working at his trade, supposing him to be
honest, he was consuming prohtabl hours in
the prisoner in the box. He tells you a new
curtain was down, and the man disappeared
from the box towards the stage. The learned
counsel will say to you that the man was In
the first box when Rhodes went in and went
IN the second box, the partition being up; but,
gentlemen, that partition was down. MI Ray
" here c id this man that Rhodes speaks OF re-
treat tot He had to come out of the same door
that Rhodes went In: there was no other door
The Stage was crowded with the actors pre-.
pairing for the nights performance, and the
curtain was up. Lamb testifies the curtain
was up. You have these things cOntrauictiuR
Rhodes, and you have the further fact that at
that hour OF the day the doors were locked,
and there was no admission TO the theatre ex-
cept by special privilege. These two wit
pesses, Sergeant Dye and Rhodes, are the
oaly two who bring Surratt near the
theatre AZ all and I think that you,
a. sensible men, viii conclude that their
evidence is not TO be taken as the basis Of
any judgment in this cause Who is the next
witness? MI. Nanuerpoel He goes to Metro
politan Hall; sees Booth and the prisoner with
others drinking; the first and only time he
ever saw thy prisoner. There. amidst dance
and revelry, he singles out the prisoner, and
points him TO you: and, gentlemen. you saw
At the end OF bis testimony when he eyiden ed
the vulgarity OF a blackguard after having
gwen the testimony of perjurer. We show
you that there was no rehearsal and no per-
fornance in the afternoon: no music: no dane
Ing s, 10 IeSelTy, to attract the notice OF the
some other hall! Why did they not prove :
Did they leave 1t to the jury 10 infer, An,
gentlemen, you too sen sible for ANYTHING
like that. Gushing and Coleman say they
think Surratt is the man they saw talking wivh
Booth on the avenue. We ask one OF them,
Did You not tell the counsel on the other side
You could not identify the man. He replies
g. did not say so loud enough for you to
hear" Ianghter.l
Judge Fisher directed the Marshal to station
his officers in different parts Of the room. and
instruct them to arrest ana bring before the
Court any one found laughing or disorderly
Mr. Merrick resumed:-Gentlemen, we pro-
du1ed 10 you the man with whom Booth was
talking. 1t was Matthews talking to Booth
ana not Surratr. Those two witnesses are mis-.
taken. Next we have Grillo, VINO says he
thinks he saw Surratt at Wizards. Is it pos
slble tor man 10 remember a face casually
Scent Could one of you gentlemen remember
tue face OF a person you casually met yester-
day on your road from the Seaton house to
this Court ROOM l never would give credit 10
The testimony of a witness who simply saw
the face OF an individual in passing and two
years afterwards attempts to identify that
face. Imagination lends wings to memory
and IL takes flight beyond the reach or
Judgment or power of recollection The next
witness upon whom they rely is Ramsdale. He
sees SuiraIt on the road to Baltimore, asked
him il be had heard the ne WIS of the assassina-
ton. He did not answer, but only gave a
keeping with his character as BeelZelub. The
prisoner Is told 10 stand up with mis- back to
witness and the witness says l think l have
seen that back before. Another witness is
John Lee. What shall l say OF John Lee
overwhelmed with infamy, and whom they
found IL necessary TO protect from contradict
ton by refusing 10 allow us to show that he
had made contradictory statement after Ieay-
ing he witness stand! Such CORFU ption posons
this couri room, and poisons the counsel for
6 the prosecution, and poisons their case.
refer 70 Lee l N ma yr-hj ch
smells rank IN the nostrils Of honest men
" God comes next. He says he shaved Surratt:
mclaughlin was with him. Do we not prove
70 you where Mcllaugh lin was all the time. by
Early and Murphy; and contradict this servant
eUphattcaliy as 10 McLaugh,in's presence /
say servant He was negro barber. The
Gentleman says he cid not know II WOOD was
while or black There are good many per-
ftos VINO Go not know whether they are white
OF hIack X, in our days You know, gentlemen
tbaJ a. O'Clock IN me morning BARRIERS shop
+ almost Invariably crowded Can he PICK
one man out OF j hundred who were in hi
SEop on that morning! But the conclusive
aheWe TO this testimony of Mr.. Wood is the
position III which the learned gentlemen have
paced Surratt. Tney have said to you tn at
SuFratt reached Baltimore at 7:25 a m Now,
DIR i.oontz testifes that the next train leaving
ttitig ore after that hour was that which ar.
rived here a lu:u5. Give Surratt time to meet
LIS trIeEGs, and you have il nearly IL O'Clock
when hat barber testified, they the prosecu.
u"n] expected TO have Surratt here ats O'Clock,
but could NOT. That, gentlemen, is q conclu.
siNe answer TO Wood testimony. Again. W God
trSilfes tue prisoner had no beard, but q light
nouStaene. Every other witness VINO has testi-
Leo on that point gives him goatee at the time.
lis barber says he shaved him all around.
ms, gentlemen, is not the man he shaved
t'eIng themselves grow weak in the testi.
MonT. they fell back upon Mr.. Cleaver. must
confess That was very much surprised when
law Cleayer come upon that stand, and
~Aen / remembered the denun ciations which
The DIsiTc, Attorney had hurled against him
a t-w weeks ago He was convicted in this
court @. a crime for which there is no name,
and the spirit of The girl he II ordered stands
Eefore the eternal throne as his accuser. A
ar d he stands for trial IN this court, s.murder
Nor Cleayer alone, but m auip ulafed BY Con.
over; not Gonover alone, but by Ashley.
touover, the III or OF the man " no sits here by
the SIDE OF he counsel Richard montgomery
tuDoyer, tie vile tool of al master scarcely
liter This man Cleayer, manipulated by
tonoNer, brought on by Ashley. is put upon
That stand To swear away The lie of lhat poor
oEy. Oh, gentlemen, not only dis believe. hut
spun II. Then we have David T.. Rf ed: YOU
EhoW his baSlness; you know what he ia He
tells you be has known Surratt siuce child.
hcOd, and he is between 81 and - years of age
l. OK upon the prisoner face gentlemen
There has bseH enough addiction upon him
%Ishiu the past two years 10 make him al pear
aS ferry. Could L out show y.u ms heart
g'uusmen, your own would bleed I'll y learned
bFoIheF speak OF one ~ my witnesses de Al.
d. II iA,qulty-U hisksy. Who 10 David G.
Rrrd what does he deal g:tske him. sIr with
tbt witness you have as-a:l1d. reputation