Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-05-17
JEFFERSON DAVIS IN COURT.
He is Released on Ball-Interest-
ing Incidents.
From the Cincinnati Gazctte.l

rum NV NNHSNNNsI
RICHMOND, May l3,-The proceedings
in court to-day in the case of Jefferson
Davis occupied about an hour aud half
The programme, heretofore indicated
as probable, was fully carried out, and
the great chief Of the rebellion has been
set at liberty.
{ There was some doubt early last even
ing what course Judge Underwood would
pursue, but it was believed at late hour,
by those most likely to be informed, that
he had determined to release the pris-
oner on bail. Mr.. Davis friends csnfi-
dentially announced this morning that
he would be at large before night.
understood that Mr.. Greeley's ar.
gument probably had something to do
with influencing the Judge to the deci-
sion he finally reached,
The city was astir at an early hour
this forenoon. The court did not open
till eleven o'clock, but large crowd was
gathered about the customhouse, in
which it was to be held, an hour before
that time, and as soon as the doors were
opened the little room was filled to over
flowing
( Mr. Davis was taken from the hotel
about quarter before eleven, and after
reaching the sustomhouse, sat till he was
wanted, in the room he formerly occu-
pied as an office for transacting public
business. He was accompanied by Gen.
Burton, the United States Marshal, and
two or three friends
As soon as court was opened, Judge
Underwood announced that the regular
order would be put aside for to-day:
Some formal objections were given, and
then, at about twenty minutes past eleven
he said he was ready to hear the return
of Gen. Burton to the writ OF habeas
corpus heretofore issued. ..ar.f
There was buzz of excitement as
Gen. Burton appeared with the prisoner,
but it did not equal that occasioned by
the entrance of Mr.. Greeley.
After the writ and return thereon had
been read, the Judge, in q very grave
manner, paid handsome compliment
to General Burton, and then, no one
objecting, directed the discharge of the
prisoner from military custody, following
this decision, with an immediate order
for his arrest by the civil authority, on a
warrant issued under the indictment for
treason found by the Norfolk grand jury,
about year ago. The Marshal went
through the form of making an arrest,
Mr.. Davis resuming his seat at receiving
the paper, with a slight inclination OF
the head, and passing it to his counsel.
There was some stir at this point, but
nothing like demonstration.
Mr.. 0'Connor rose to make = motion
that Mr.. Davis be admitted to bail. The
spectators pressed about as closely as
possible, to see the prisoner and the pro-
ceedings, and there was the most intense
interest and quietness manifest during
the brief colloquy of counsel.
Several gentlemen hoped that the bail
would be fixed at a quarter of a million,
so that the South might show how ready
its politicians and moneyed men were to
become security but the amount named
and agreed upon ($l0O, ,O00), appeared TO
be generally satisfactory.
There was decided sensation when
Mr.. Greeley's name was called, aud be
stepped forward as first bondsman, The
paper on which the names Of jeff DAVIS,
Horace Gresley, Augustus Sehell, Jehn
Minor Bolts, and dozen leading Rich
mond secessionists appeared together,
is certainly curious and suggestive doc
ument II is understood that the two
blanks on the bond are to be filled with
the signatures of Gerrit Smith and Cor
nelius Vanderbilt The attendance in
the court room was mainly that OF the
rebel friends Of the prisoner. Beside
those and their attorneys and correspond
ents, there were few soldiers and thirty
or forty colored men. Every inch Of
space was occupied, and many persons
clambered upon chairs, benches, tables,
window sills, etc, that they might see
and hear TO better advantage. Mr..
Davis sat very quiet and erect durihg the
proceedings, smiling from time to time
as friends came forward to shake his
hands aud congratulate him on bis re-
lease. Judge Underwoods bearing was
throughout grave. dignifed and every
way becoming, a fact Of which il seems
necessary, ia view Of his recent Grand
Jury charge, to make special mention.
Mr.. Greeley looked quite as happy as
aay OF the late Confederates when the
Court announced that it would accept
bail. and the greeting be gave hr. Davis
vas very cordial There vas most
hearty and foroible cheer when the Judge
directed The Marshal 10 release the pris-
oner. and for q moment or two there was
a great struggle on the part OF those
,,,@;oos "a erfend CONGRATULATIONS The