New-York tribune., 1867-04-24
THE SURRATT TRIAL.
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.- TRIAL.
BY 1uuKGR.PH TuBUsL
WAsHrNGToN. April 23.-M Mcssrs. Bradley. ST..
and r. T. SIcrrick appeared in the criminal court this
afternoon for the purpose of having day set foi te
trial Of their client John H. Surra indicted for the
murder of Abraham Lincoln, late President They filed
they following motion;
To he Honorable me Julge Of he criminal Court of me
District of Columbia John IL Surratt by hs counsel re-
spectully showoth That IN the month OF october last M
vessel OF the United states and IRON tt Time lofth was
Kept in close & hSay ~ S1ease he oEss fresh O &
wholly excluded from all intercourse with any human
absolute needs without change Of external raiment
obliged to wear the very dress In which he was arrested
dn S9d tSs h wS Rsp IN to % the ' jail the city Of
ington In which Jail he has been ever since ana sun
il confined. lie has no complaint to make OF the
severity OF his confinement on board snip, WHERE MWnele
he was treated with as much ienity rs e1e nd heT
he not subjected TO any indgnty or personal INJURY
allowed such Indulgence as could properly De deemed
possible toward charged with an oifense 50 henou
In It's character that alleged against liI Shorty ai
Ter his imprisonment hc was at his demand, a The
December term Of this Court, brought INTO Court anu
then arraignod the indictment which had been found
against Inn before he reached the United States. 1t -
obvious 10 this honorable Court that the 0Iense VIII
which he stands charged, ns u uoes part ~
thc history Of this country, has undergone the most
searching nyesgation that the power o ms GoDGrm
men quckcned by tho unusual ieeng 9i IN inSnSo tS.sf
and horrorto its people conld make Tnht al te iaeis
md circumstances oil that mOincnOuH event. III
qualifications and 60 all the persons con
nectcd herewith were, with the utmost uni-
gencc stimulated by the strength of human
motives ambition hate. and love OF money, sought out
recently after the occurrence, and placed III inc Sse
been tracked from country to country, from nation 10
nation through three continents 10 secure ms afc. anu
the Executive Department Of the ooNcrnment his
brought from the Papal domniOns and from England M
the witnesses beyond the jurisdiction or t9e United
States, whose testimony would be needed ~ 'no s
cuto at the trial. and placed them under the eohrOl o
the District Attorney In TINS connection We ast IA
Tho pft
vered TO In the argument OF ms motion sone w E
since and which contains the in W & Ie
lo1d deubt '6 5y eca records that the prosecution
has had the fullest notice aud the amplest means
to prepare for the trial OF tins canse at ,lS svo
term Of the Court after the prisoners ariaShhehl,
and can have no reasonable ground ul.n which to
ask its further pospcnemen InnedaiTy al1gr i ms ms
arraignment the prisoner began 10 prepare or , n's M
the DistrctAttorney and his assistant of hc pogSs' W
that preparation, and the uncertainty ot being 4p 10
cef here one particular witness tlone prevented their
fixing day for the trial. More than two weeks ago
they Informed them that they had discoVetu & th ~
witness was. and that they would beTeady Tor 'rlhi IN
two weeks time Nearly week ag2 lhel n"Neu % u, % ~
honorable Court TO have day SCI down lot e - Ia, W
the cause and u was resisted ana MOTION tetIupoh
made by the prosecuting attorney that the cause he con
exhausted In seeking the evidence 10 esbnsh Dtyohu az
doubt his perfect Innocence OF the charges preferred
against him. 10 show to all the word tha' ne y ITO
from any stain Of guilt on comPhcly IN OF n eon-
with which the prosecution seeks 70 cow, % in,ry n,;
ho IS ready. He challciges the ln}unt5 9i5
sfraon OF Justice TO all whatever their condition life.
bv the law Of the land and under The bill Of fights the
s6aTsf a st G f. csr term rt of Re That be dali rot
innocent be held longer IN close connoluet r.ecicd
and nhhOrcd by men, though guilty. qua hy ny a.if
deprived OF tho means by which he WIZ yndicaIr NJ
name aud establish his right 70 MAX abroad az re re
man. The counsel isr the prisoner Therefore coes mo
Court aud prays your honor oyerrnle e motion Of he
District Attorney ior the further continuance OF .he me
cause aud asks that you VIII designate Sur dhs ~ the
present tenn Of the Court for the trial Thereof.
r. T. MrEKItK.
JAS II. BRADLEY, ir.,
Counsel for john II. SuIiatt.
United States Attorney Darlington, after speaking oi
the kind treatment prisoner had received said Il was
ssaiy submit TO the motion Of counsel as requested
At the proper he should be abo 10 proceed with the
case and was willing that he should have speedy trial.
which would be as the inerosis Ct the accused
and the Government could be properly consulted lie
expected 10 the trial 10 be able to satisfy Tie jury the
dI@gt di@gd ana al 'n' WO''' '"'' '"''' ""' S'' "
Judge Fisher did not think the prisoner had cause to
complain aud there reason why hc should be- very
impatient, FOR prisoners werc frequently S8 months IN
jail before trial lie siil desired 70 have i9e lal ih
TO the trial about the 27th of May.
Mr. BRADLEY, ar, said: We viii be ready then ON tho
goth Of May and II the District Attorney Is not ready on
that day will continue Ia postpone the case until the
The District Attorney did not feel disposed 20 acquesce
in the proposition and still said lac could not c rtady
NJ Me,7iet-Snce tho motion for the continuance of
tho case has been Oycrncd hope The District Attorney
will siate day when he viii be ready 10 r! lo
me Dsric A,og,-I cannot Answer ihe gentleman ''I
ri present shall fret have 10 consult Win my -.
ant and IN tie mean time Will conclude ~ i0 the time for
proceeding with the case. Tho particular day cannot
now FIX but they sha hear from uc in due time thk
il unreasonable in the midst of tlo pgular Court bus
ask me 10 fix upon the exact time when shall oe
/ ready. g..
M HeyrieL-I think 81 l. scarcely right Tor him 10 Ce
/ cline 90 say when be viii be- ready.
Mr. CGTTingon-f 10 not feel under any obligations 70
| tell him when shall De ready, .
r Nrr,ck-siay II please the Court do not sre that
there h anything lcit for us but 10 announce ia opel
court ~ shall he agfrchle 20 your Honor tnt We shh
be ready proceed With the TRIAL Cf John H. surt on
| tie o0tl Of May next. -
The counsel Withdrew, ana tho usual business OF the
! COart resumed.