The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-05-10


taken down by Judge Holt himself, he
The Judge, so Jealous was ho in the cause
actually accompanying the witness to
tile magistrate, Mr.. Coustiu, to see that
the work was properly done-and when
the affidavit was made, Campbell was taken
to the White House and introduced to
the President and Mr.. Seward and Mr..
Stanton.
"Was this Deposition" asked the com.
uittee, "writtep out by Judge Holt pre-.
sisely as you gave it to him on the occa-
sion of its being taken p
A. Yes.
Q. Where was it taken
A. In Judge Hollis office.
Q Did you go with Judge Holt to the
President after this deposition was taken ?
and was it read over to the President in
your hearing and did you assent to it
A. Yes, sir.
@. Wero you Intercepted by the Pres
ident and Mr.. Seward on that occasion
A. Yes.
And again he was asked
How much did you receive after making
this affidavit
A. / think altogether for expenses
s625-Sl00 from Mr.. Conover and the
balance from Judge Holt.
Now, this affidavit is a most remarkable
and startling production-the leading
points being that Campbell had been in
the Confederate service-knew John IL.
Surratt intimately, was with him in Rich
moDd short time before the Lincoln
murder, and was present when Mr.. Davis
and Mr.. Benjamin authorized and insti-
gated the assassination of the President,
Vice President, the Cabinet and General
Grant. "As we were about to leave (and
we can imagine with what delight Holt
wrote down the precious words), Mr.. Da.
Wis shook our bands kindly and said be
hoped we would act bravely and succeed,
adding that there bad been SO many at
ton,pts at this thing which had failed that
he had not much confidence in them.'-
We wish we had room for this affidavit as
we'll as SnevePs, but the points are fairly
given. Such was the cherished testimony
of the Bureau of Military Justice |!
Now for the sequel 1t Is almost in
credible and yet it is literally true.
On or about the 9Th of May, 1866,
Campbell-this same man whom Holt
had clutcbed and embraced and intro
duced to the President and whom Seward
had acknowledgement before the
Judiciary Committee of the House Of Rep
reseutatives-all radicals but one-and
thus its record speaks;
O. Was the deposition made by you
before Judge Holt true or false, Gu Nov.
1869
A. False.
Q. Have you ever been in Richmond !?
A. No.
@. Do you know John Surratt?
A. No, sir.
@. Did you ever see Jefferson Davis !?
a. No, sir.
Q, Were you ever in the Confederate
service
A. No
O. Did you ever see Judah p. Benja-
min
4. No, sir.
And so on to the end the witness
testilying and the others confirmed it,
that the November affidavits we're fabri-
Gated by Conover at a meeting at the
National Hotel i'll Washington in October,
1S65-.written out and committed to mem.
DRY, the original sketch in Conover's
writing being in possession of the witness
and by him given, on his confession, to
the government.
Now, here at the end Of this dark chap
ter we pause, leaving to our readers this
food for meditation, aud meaning from
time to time, to continue it to the bitter
end. We have exposed perjury and sub.
ornation enough for to-day. The story
increases in interest as it goes on.
"Why," asked the Judiciary Committee
of William Campbell, "did you make this
false affidavit ?"
That" replied Campbell, twill require
little explanation. | was informed by
Mr.. Conover that Judge Holt had offered
reward of 100000 for the capture of
jefferson Davis-that now Davis was
taken they had not enough against him
to justify them in what they had done !;
that Judge Holt wanted TO get witnesses
to prove that Davis was interested in the
assassination Of President Lincoln, so as
to justify him in paying the reward.'
Another most creditable motive was by
this gang attributed to the Bureau, that
it was thought if they would exhibit q
great array of written testimony inculpa-
ting Mr. Davis in the murder, he might
be induced in terror to consent to vol
untary exile, and thus relieve the Gov
ernment from the awkward attitude it was
in in relation to his trial for treason. We
feel free to say that we do not charge any