Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-06-22
The surratt Trial--what They ln-
tend TO Prove.

1
tend 20 Prove.
The following ia an abstract OF the open
ing address of the district attorney in the
Surratt case:
Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson, assistant district
attorney, then addressed the jury, and said
all were aware that in criminal cases the
custom Ia for the prosecution at the begin
ming of case to make known the subject
of inquiry, and to state in outline what
proof would be brought forward to support
the charges contained in the indictment.
The Grand Jury of the District of Colum-
bia have indicted John II. Surratt, the pris-.
oner at the bar, for the murder of Abraham
Lincoln, late President of the United States.
The duty of the jury is to ascertain whether
the accused is guilty or not guilty, and an
INQUIRY of a more solemn character was
never submitted to human intelligence
They are, in fac., to turn back the leaves OF
history, to shut the red page on which are |
written the awful incidents of that April |
night, and to inquire as to the blow that
was there and then struck, not only at hu.
man life alone, but blow against the per-
petuity of this Government and against lib
erty ITSELF They would scarcely need wit
nesses to describe the terrible scenes Of that
awful night.
| A vast audience was then assembled at
| public place, whose hearts were filled with
the Joy of peace, an6 among that audience
was he who had presided over the country
through years of sorrow, but who was now
regarded as victor. A victor he was, in
deed, but victor in whose heart there was
no emotion but kindness. To him death
came in the most sudden and terrible form.
Witnesses who will come here will tell you
that upon that night John Wilkes Booth left
the front of the theatre and went back to
the box occupied by the President.
Mr.. Wilson then rehearsed the circum-
stances of the shooting of the President, of
Booths leaping from the box to the stage,
and of his subsequent flight. Mr.. Wilson
then continued, and said the prosecution
would prove, as no case was often proved,
that the prisoner at the bar was present,
aiding and abetting the murder, and that a
few moments before the shot was fired he
was present in front of the theatre, in con-
sutation with Booth. You will see him as
from the light of the lamp that shone full
in his face He shall be known also as the
friend and companion of Booth, and as the
director of the bullet that pierced the brain
: of the President and of the bloody knife
which fell with such terrible force upon the
: person of the Secretary of State. 1t will be
fully proven that he was present with Booth,
directing the murder, and that the act was
not the result of moments thought only,
but was apremeditated plot, and that the
prisoner at the bar was the chief and main
mover in this matter. 1t will be proved
, that he was traitor to his country and q
spy upon the action of the Government, and
who travelled regularly between Washington
e and Canada, all the time weaving net and
t plotting the destruction of the Government
and the overthrow and slaughter of the ar
mics of the United States; and as an indi-
cation of the motive that possessed his
mind, the jury shall hear how he boasted
: how he had shot down unarmed Union SOL
. diers while they were escaping from rebel
prisons.
1t shall be shown how the prisoner made
his home in this city the rendezvous for the
perfection of their bloody work, and that it
was he who left at Surrattsville the arms
s which Booth took possession of i'll his fl light
, and one Of which was taken from him after
his DEATH It will be shown that in April
!, 1865, Surratt went from Richmond to Cana
: da; and that while in Montreal, he, on the
n 10th of April, received letter from Booth
n commanding his presence in this city.
He came home and it will be shown ex.
g actly by what route; and the prosecution
= will prove by testimony as clear as the noon
J day sun, that Surratt was here on that fata
Friday, and was walking through Pennsyl
vania avenue, booted and spurred, and that
J. but two hours before the fatal shot was 6red
q he purchased the disguises which the assas
:. sins were to use in their fight, and that
y when the last blow was struck he set iortt
s upon his shuddering fight.
That fight will be traced, because in law
fight is the criminals confession, and be
e cause during the flight the prisoner, in the
# fancied security of friendship, makes &C
| lolr xpb. tbt
. guilt 1t will be shown that after the assas
. sination the prisoner went to Canada, ant
! his whereabouts in Montreal will be shown
l. 1t will be shown how long he remained there
and where he was secreted, and how he wa
there in disguise during the time the tria
"a was in progress at the Arsenal, when b,
n could have thrown much light upon th'
II trial and done much to establish the gull
e or innocence of those then charged.
10 From Canada he crossed the Atlantic, ant
.. it will be shown that when in mid ocean b,
;, spoke freely of his connection with the con
spiracy, and, when he landed upon foreign
shore, he raised his impious hand and ex
pressed a wish that he could return ant
70 serve Andrew johnson as Abraham Lincoll
had been served.
In England he found sympathy, but con
e science still haunted him, and he fled again
this time to Rome, and hid himself in tn
le Papal army, and enlisted as private soldier
n. He might have felt himself secure there
es anywhere; but he was recognized and dis
er covered by the companion of his youth, VIII
pierced through all his disguises, and whe
,e he found denial was useless he acknowledge,
le his identity. and gave utterance to the mem
DC orable words, ~ have done the Yankees q
G. much harm as l could. We have kille
d Lincoln, the negroes friend"
c. The man TO whom Surratt was revealed
as in duty bound, maIe the fact known t
vs. the American Minister at Rome. We ha6
n, it is said, no treaty of extradition with tina
IN country, but so horrible was the prisoner
or crime, and so notorious was his name, tina
e, the Pope and Cardinal Antonelli surrendere
him. He escaped again by lesping from