The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-30
TRIAL OF JOHN Il. SURRiTF.
Continued Cross Examination
of Weichman.
The Witness Again COntradicts His
Former Evidence.
Judge Fisher Takes Sick and the
Court Adjourns.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE of TINE HsaAlu.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or TINE HERALD.
Sketches of the Court. Jury, Counsel. LAW
yerss Prisoner and Chief Witness.
WASHINGTON. June %, 1851
The surrat trial Is OF the spectacles OF tho nata
metropolis stranger would as soon think OF Loving
inc CITY without seeing Congress, II Il In sesop as
90 so without getting glimpse At the court which
john H. surra,t is being tted for his completely IN the
murder Of Abraham Lincoln. Consequently tnfs is q
constant pressure Judge Fisher who holds e scales
Of justice fairly between people and the acsed for
card Of admission. happeAed to be pent OF the
Judges favor in that respect this morning d got into
tho court room before the proceedings commenced 1t
Is the same room in which tho famous Sces case was
tnsd-an obong, plain, rather dingy.looling apartment
In the east wing OF the City Hail. which sands at the head
OF -Four and Half street. The moter Of surratt was
ed with the other consprator ue foot OF the same
street, where II ends the Potomac, in the building
known as the arsenal Early as II the court room Is
nearly filled, and would be entirely II all
the persons standing at the doors and furnished
with cards of admission were gowed to go inside
But that privilege is extended 10 ladies only before
the regular opening of the court and they are
present in numbers sufficient TO occupy half Of
the inner space usually reserved for members OF the
oo's oo ousluc VI luis nSerVeu space Is puullC
territory open all who come The best par. of IT. the
central part, extending from tho railing back the
trance door, over which is fixed coin-shapcd clock, is
occupied by men Of color, and these ankcd right
and left by less favored persons OF whittier hue. They
all keep good order, Notwithstanding the efforts Of
ocous persorage-probsby the Mashal-to create con-
fusion by supe abundance OF directions.
The iurymen are in their seats, waiting patiently for
the opening of another days proceedings Their appear
ance gives you la favorable impression Of their intel-
genoe and of their general fitness for the duties OF the
jury box Some of them silver headed, and all of
them wear general air OF responsibility and RESPONSE
blity. if at the close Of the case those men should
como into the box with verdict Of guilty, no one
would think OF saying that such verdict was wrung
from the ignorance the stupidity the weakness or the
unfaness Of the jury They sit northeast side or
the room and many OF them they wait anguidly
tanning themselves for the air OUTSIDE is hot and the
ventilation inside, although all the windows are open is
not sufficient TO keep the atmosphere pure.
At ten O'Clock Judge Fisher man Of about ffty, and
who gives the impression Of prompt ready, well read
and fair disposioned judicial Officer takes his seat on
the bench and the calls to order The counsel for
the prisoner are 10 court but the counsel for the govern
mont are not The judge directs the latter be sent
for. and the buzz OF conversation again goes on.
There Is the central figure In this living picturs-John
surratt-a youngish looking slightly built pale faced
thoughtful browed quiet looking young man. He sits
besde and little behind his counsel and like the Jurors
and the ladies' he occasionally palm leaied FAM
mo terror at his heart II such there be- Ii inter-
preted or made apparent by any exhibition Of nervous
hess or woakness casual observer could not without
gsstiou conveyed by his position beside the prisoners
COUNSEL point him out the person whose lite was at
stake In this legal tournament He manacles,
and appears as unconccrned as the commones spectator
present Neither brother sister are beside him to-
day The latter said to DO attendance as witness
before the Judiciary Committee of the House Of Repre-
A. last the counsel for the government come into
court and take their seats First 10 MI Edward Pierre
charge OF the business OF the prosecutor. He quiet,
painstaking, business looking lawyer, with general
Of what Kossuh was whea be was starring
u through this country. Next him sits Mr. Nathaniel
looks, in quiet way, II he know quite a. much
the special counsel for the government and
rably moro than hrs oicial chief The latterMr Car
his long beard IN distracted Of
way, and evidently regards himself picturesque
than useful IN making up the group. Al the adjacent
table sit the counsel for the defence Chief among
Them IL Mr.. Bradley, the elder. somewhat stout,
elderly gentleman, showing polished, shining SKULL
except whore either side friendly locks have
He wears little dark side whieker In the
Epgiish style. and his thin lips closely compressed,
with certain concentratveness OF expression Indicate
~orcy arena HIS son Who .ssoea.d with him III '1 IN
che defence has many Of the attributes Of the father
lightened by youth Both OF them take notes Of the
testimony because the prisoner too to pay for
enc full minutes taken by shorthand writer's and the
government declined TO furnish them ~ Its expense.
Mr.. Merrck, the other associate counsel for the de-
fence IL evidently q person who would not yield TO
either father son In tenacously contesng every inch
Of ground In his clients behalf None OF the counsel
either SIDE have any reputation for eoqueuce for
tho highest Of the advocate They commonplace
lawyers well versed perhaps, In criminal Law. but
calculated 10 shine ms forensic orators
Mr. Lewis Wiechman Is called to the stand and his
examination is resumed by Mr.. Pierrcpont where had
been left CT Thursday. THIS young gentle.
man was a boarder in the Surratt establish ment.
Coquetted with BY the consprators; he was not
for himsei0 trusted bv them or let
into their secrets; was nevertheless, o general
utility man: drove Mrs. Surrau 70 Surrattsvile the
that Mr. Lincoln assassnaed heard her curious
there and back and requested by her, she
paced her paror oor that evening with rosary Ia her
hands, waiting for OF tho nnal blow, 10 pray for
her Intentions He did not know what her "irteu-
tons were, he says and therefore did not pray. So
much OF utility man vas he that II was his hands that
unbolted the door to admit the officers that early
next morning 10 search for the assassins Mr.
Is also confidence man. not in the
improper or vicious sense Of the term, but 10 the
sensc OF his having pretty full measure OF
10 young apparently not twenty ght), good
looking. weldressed. and fairly educated He STOOD be-
fore sdmrng audience to-day his but,oncd over
his breast profession of white handkerche displayed
from . side pocket, wsiltHinsd Eyeglasses keeping
their position without apparent effort his part:
lands generally held behind bis back answering In we'll
language and with good voice and uerance and
perfect the questions put TO him. came
away leaving him in the hands Of Mr. Perrepont and
with the conviction thai the counsel for the defence
they propose break him down ANIMATION,
viii have pretty hard time OF It.