Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-06-15
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Trial Of John III. Surratt.

WASHINGTON, June 10.--The trial of John
Harrison Surratt, on an indictment charging
him with the murder of Abraham Lincoln,
late President of the United States. COM
menced this morning, at forty five minutes
past ten o'clock, in the Supreme Court OF
the District of Columbia, before one of its
Judges, the Hon. George p. Fisher, sitting
US the judge of a criminal term of said court.
The Grand Jury indicted Surratt on the
4th of February, 1867. This was prior to
the arrival of the accused in this city, but it
was then known tha: he was on his way.
On the 10th of February bench warrant
was issued for the arrest of the accused. On
the 23d of the same month he was arraign-
ed in open court, and pleaded mot guilty"
On April lS the counsel for the accused
submitted a motion to fix day for the trial,
and on the same day the District Attorney
submitted motion for continuance. On
April 30 the latter motion was ordered, and
the same day the counsel for the prisoner
gave notice that they would be prepared to
proceed to trial on May "a. t
The case was called up on that day and
the prisoner was brought from the Jail into
the court room, where the District Attorney
made motion for pcstponement OF the
trial until to-day, on account of the absence
resisted by the counsel for the prisoner,
when, it appearing to the satisfaction OF the
court that due diligence had been exercised
to secure the attendance of witnesses, the
IN lotion for the postponement was granted
A few minutes before 4 o'clock the Judge
raped on his desk, and a general cry of
"Silence in court" followed from the Mar
shal and his deputies. Judge Fisher, look
ing at the District Attorney and the pris-
oner's counsel, said id:-"Gentlemen, are yon
ready to proceed with the trial of John II.
Surratt, the prisoner at the bar" The Die
trict Attorney said MAY it please your
Honor, we are ready" 1--WE are also ready"
promptly said Mr.. Brady, "and have been
for some time," he added in an undertone.
There was general feeling of graduation
in the crowded court room, and the prisoner,
as if relieved, raised his head with pleased
expression on his face. AS be had been
arraigned and plead not guilty some time
ago, that form was not necessary now. He
therefore remained seated, near Mr.. Merrick,
one of his counsel. ..... ..-
There was another demand for silence as
the District Attorney arose to address the
court. He said he was glad to announce
that the prosecution was ready to proceed
with the trial of John ii. Surratt, under an
indictment for the murder of Abraham Lin
coin, on the l4th day of April, 1865, but,
before proceeding, he had u motion to make
which was, to quash the present panel OF
jourymen, ON the ground that they had been
illegally drawn. This motion took the
prisoners counsel by surprise, and after some
discussion, it was decided to adjourn unit
tomorrow, to afford time to look into the
legal technicaites which had been raised.
1t was said outside, that the reason for the
motion was, that there are too many par
tisans of the prisoner on the present panel
of jurymen for the trial. Thus ended the
first days trial of John III. Surratt.