The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-06-20
Trial of suyratt.

A jury having been obtained af.
ter a week effort to that end, the
taking of testimony in the Suiratt
case was commenced in Washing
ton on Saturday last. Tho only
important evidence thus far ELECTED
is as follows:
Joseph Dye, a recruiting Sor-
geant, testified On April 18th,
1865, witness belonged to Battery
c, Pennsylvania Artillery, and was
stationed at Camp Barry, about
two miles from Ford's theatre; wit
ness and Sergeant Robert Cooper
We're in town the night of the mur-
der; at the time OF the murder wit
ness was in an oyster saloon; went
there from Ford's theatre at $50
o'clock; Sergeant Cooper was in
company with the witness and was
sitting on the same plank in front
of the theatre, and saw Mr.. Lin
coin coming there; the street in
front Of the theatre was lighted By
a lamp; while witness WAS sitting
there Cooper was walking up and
down; while witness was there par
ties came out OF the theatre and
went into the saloon; before they
came down the witness overheard
a conversation there; witness knew
j. Wilkes Booth; he was one of the
persons entering into that conver.
sation; the first that appeared was
J. Wilkes Booth, convcrsing with
/ low, villainous looking person at
tho end Of the passage. 1t was but
a moment before another person
Joined them and entered into con
versation. This person was neatly
dressed. The crowd then came
from tho theatre and Booth re-
marked: Il suppose he will come
out now as witness supposed, re-
ferring TO the President. The par
ties 10 conversation then ran thGR
selves where the President was to
pass, and watched eagerly for hie
appearance. Ho did not come, and
one of them examined the carriage,
and Booth went into the restaural I
aud remained there long enough to
take drink. He then came out
and stepped from the street into
the passage leading to the stage
! He appeared in moment again to
the party above mentioned us neat.
ly dressed, who stepped up and
called tho time to Booth from q
clock in the vestibule; as soon as
he called time he moved up 10th
street to ii street. lie did not re.
main long, but came down again
and stopped in front Of the thcater
Looked at tho clock and calleC
time again, looking directly a
booth and his companion, and be
ing somewhat excited he then turn
/ cd on his heel again and went bacl
toward Ii street. 1t was tbon tha
tho witness thought something wa
/ wrong. Witness carried revolv
/ er, and had a handkerchief wrap
ped around it, and bis suspicion
{ were 80 aroused that ho undone th
/ handkerchief from about the re
q volver.
1t was not long before q wei
. dressed man came again from tn
direction of III street. The ma,
stood in front Of the thoater, and
q light shone full in his face. Their
was pictured in his countcnano
1 great excitement and exceeding
{ paloness, and he told them Cor th
third time the hour--it was l
minutes past 10 o'clock.
Witness swears that at this tim
u il was 10 minutes past 10 O'Clock
Witness swcarS that he saw tn
man distinctly.
question by Mr.. PteyPont. Di
. you see tho man distinctly
D A. Very distinctly.
q Do you see him now?
: A. | do, sir (poinling to Sur
. ratD there he sits. have seen bi
0 face so frequently in my sleep, i
{ was SO very pale, could neve
. forget it. | have not seen him msinc
: until lately, and now, the man
. then saw, was John II, Surratt, th'
e prisoner at the bar.
Surratt moved towards Ii street
+. Booth entered at tho front OF th
o theatCr. Sergeant Cooper and | the
4 went to an oyster saloon; wc ha
nel lime to ont our oysters who