Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-08
The Washington City Presbytery.

THE MEETING TO-DAY AT EVANSVILLE.
The sessions OF the Washington City Presbytery,
begun last evening in the Presbyterian church at
Hyattsville, were resumed this morning Rev. Dr.
Byron sunderland was elected moderator ami Rev
DR.. Bittinger clerk, and DR.. w. IL Hartman assist
ant clerk. A communication was read from Rev.
Z. X Van Romondt asking 10 be dismissed TO the
elassis OF the Reformed church OF Passaic, " j.
The following committees were appoint
ed Cd; Narrative to the synod. Revs.
bills and overtures. Revs. Chlds and NourSe and
MT Bokasus; judicial, Revs. Todd, Peck and MI.
Newman minutes Of general assembly. Revs
chester, Farley and Mr. Fish; finance and accounts.
MeSsrS GUSTS, Depue and Knight: leave or absence,
Revs Little, Burdick and Mr. strong; revision OF
book OF discipline, Revs. Bartlett. Dudley and Mr..
Greenless; reduced representation. kevs Ramsdell,
Nourse and Mr.. Easily.
The moderator appointed the following delegates
to the synod, which meets In Frederick, Md, next
Friday: Revs DR.. Bitunger, Chester Nourse,
Ramsdel, Todd, Burdck, Bartlett, Sunderland
Elders-MessrS. Randolph, Trimmer. Drake, Green
less, Depue, Knight, Pearson and Bond.
Rev. Mr.. Henry, OF Amelia county, Va, made a
statement that his work was interferei with by
certain persons who came there TO engage In mis-
Slonary Work. A committee, consisting OF Reys.
Cralghead and Grimkie, was appointed TO inyesti-
gate the matter.
The call extended to Rev. l. F. Miller to the
church at Amelia Courthouse. Va. was referred TO
the committee on bill and overtures
Rev. Mr.. Grimkie recommended four young men
Messrs Thomas, Pnckney. Austin and Henderson
to the board or education.
At one O'Clock the presbytery adjourned for
lunch, which was served by the ladies Ia a grove
near the church.
The Richmond Conf idence Game.
DETECTIVE WREN LEAVES FOR VIRGINIA WITH FRANK
SCOTT, WHO WAS ARRESTED IN THIS CITY.
Yesterday afternoon Detective Wren. OF Rich
mond, arrived here TO look over Frank Scott alias
Charles Thompson, the prisoner arrested yesterday
morning with W. j. Curtis and Albert Taylor by
Independent Detective McDevitt, Lieut.. Arnold and
Sergeant Perry, for being concerned with A. ID.
HowellS alias Hamilton in a scheme to defraud
Richmond merchants. Mr.. Wren identified Scout
alias Thompson as the party who was operating iu
Richmond with Howels. and left with him for
Richmond HOwellS turns out TO be son OF the
notorious Jimmy Hopes, now serving out sentence
In the California penitentiary. Curtis is still held
at the Nth precinct, and Taylor Was released.
Baltimore officer and merchant came over yester-
day afternoon and Scott was identified bv the mer-
chant as man who last week beat him out Of $225
and they at returped to his indict ment
SO as to lay detainer In Richmond The detectives
think that Curtis worked the Baltimore end OF the
scheme, and from the fact that those In Richmond
were supplied with blank checks and drafts on
every bank in the District there but little doubt
that they intended TO try their game on the banks
here. and ii is regarded fortunate that they were
arrested before they had had chance TO do SO.
Marcus r. Norton.
A RECOLLECTION OF THE LINCOLN ASSASSINATION
CONSPIRACY TRIALS.
To the Editor OF TIE EVENING STAR:
1t was late In May or early in June OF 1865 II
write from memory alone) something more than
nineteen years ago. The writer was taken as
witness from Carroll prison In guarded ambu-
lance to the arsenal in this city, where the trial OF
DR.. Mudd and Others was progressing, charged be-
fore .court mart al' with conspirtng to XIII and
with the crime OF killing. &c The horror OF the
crime-which had shocked all c,vilization-had
made such an impression and provoked such re-
sentiment in Washington that prisoner or a wit
ness for the defense was generally viewed and
treated with undisgulsed cOntumely. and at times
with abuse and assault, no matter how innocent or
unfortunate, when. at the same time, witnesses
for the prosecution were to certain extent petted
and rewarded. This state or affairs naturally in
Inundated some from performing hopeless duty
to the parties arraigned, and encouraged other un-
scrupuOus parties to be swift and eager volunteer
witnesses supplying links OF evidence with avidity
II not with integrity.
few days before my visit the venerable Rev.
erdy johnson, appearing as counsel, had made an
argument as TO the legality OF the tribunal, re-
Gen. Tom Ewing, OF Ohio. {well worthy OF his lin
cage, was still courageously defending Mudd. Ar
mold and Spangler. Hon. Frederick Stone. now
worthily filling JudgShip in the Maryland court
Of appeals, was representing Herold (wnkes
Booths cOmpanlon.) The male prisoners were
the corner Of the enclosure The Hon. joseph Holt
and Judge Bingham were at the prosecutors
table, and the court, composed OF generals and
noticed the prosecution was embarrassed as to
lack OF proof Of some OF the prisoners being (on
certain day some months previous, at the National
hotel. where Booth roOmed Ii was esSeni lal as
far as 1t applied to those not connected with the
crime OF April 18th, but who were charged with
conspiracy In that connection. Just then man,
rather pOrtly In size, wearing godrlmmed glasses,
pressed up and handed a note TO one of the prose-
cutors which was followed by conversation, and
witness He gave the desired testimony, swearing
to his seeing the parties at the hotel In question
etc. He admitted he had not been summoned, but
had volunteered as a witness. Gen. Ewing ap-
peared astontshed at the evidence, and evidently
did not believe In its truth; SO he made immediate
inquiry as TO who Norton was Some one referred
Judge
Either that day or the day following Judge DIN,
an answering Union man and republican, dspar-
aged Norton's testimony as unworthy OF entire Gre
dence. Yet IL was accepted, and evidently influ-
enced the judgment OF the court martial as TO some
Of the prisoners who were convicted ana sen: to
Twas much impressed with the occurrence ana
ever since then Norton has been in my "mind's
eye" as one devoid OF principle and TRUTH willing
to swear away a Life, callous to all after conse.
Quencea He appeared lawyer enough to know the
yalas o. nseasa proof and gave It without the
always unfayorabiy OF him since, and the reading
OF his arraignment for crime In Boston has brought
vIvidiy 70 my mind the terrible scenes Of that menu
orable trial In 1885 J. T. FoKD.
Washington, OCT 9th, 1884
WILLING 10 MARRY THE GrRL.-Detective Hand
ley, OF Chicago arrived here this morning to take
there ]. Harry Clampiit arrested here on Q tele-
graph dispatch by Detective Block on Saturday for
the larceny OF q watch, chain and money from q
young lady Of that city few weeks since and WIN
wait for the proper papers Mr. Handley says
as car driver In Chicago he became engaged to
the lazy, who lives with wealthy family, and that
he got possession OF her 1ewelry and left Clampitt
stating that he IS perfectly willing 70 marry the
young lady. The or1cer viii. however, walt for
his paperH
A CHARGE or ApuLrIRY DKKrRD.--In the case Of
Miranda Bailey against James K haley Tor d.
vorce, In which the respondent Med answer yes
terday, Mr. Bailey positively DENIED the charges
made IN the bfn OF adultery with MA Adeline Nc
Farlaud.
The two gas companies OF Baltimore have come
to an agreement, and the price OF gas h TO Be ad
vanco0 70 e. 90 per Thousand feo6