Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-28
DEMANDING A TRIAL.

vss Case kvsssusliy Gsstse Before the
cssst-rhs Proceedings ssA the ED.
President Davis was prisonss at Fort
Monroe two years less eleven days
and oil that time was demanding trial.
AZ the language Of the statement Of the
Davis case,s IN "Chasc's Decisions"
The official allegation Of bis completely
In the assassination OF Mr.. Lincoln was
and uncontrovertcd belief Of its utter
falsity. absurdity. and Groundiessness.
This tcrrible charge 30 publicly
SiAde was abandoned because utterly with
ont foundation or excuse. but It hever
WAS withdrawn"
In the spring OF 1865 an Indictment was
fornd At Norfolk against President Davis
and others. but it mysteriously dissp-
peared from the records OF the court IN
tho summer OF that year. and In the same
year another indictment farce was acted
In the District of Columbia, but no pro-
ccss was ever issued upon IL. The next
act IN the shilly -shallying proceedings was
the nnding OF an indictment against Presi-
dept Davis for treason" by grand Jury
Of Underwoods court, setting at Norfolk
In May. 1896, and ut o term OF said court
held in this city on the 5th day OF june,
James j. Brady, William Il. Reed, James
Lyons. and Robert Ould appeared ne conn
ttt ioI MI. DaVi9, anu hr. httu nshen '"-
derwood what he proposed TO do about
the indictment.
Underwood did nothing, aud on the 9TH
OF June Hon. Charles OCoDnor. OF New
York, and Hon. Thomas q. Pratt. ex-
Governor of Maryland. representing Pres'-
dent Davis. and Hon. James Speed, Attor,
ney-General of the United States. waited
upon Chief Justice Chase at his residence,
in Washington. to ascertain whether ne
would entertain an application 70 release
the prisoner on bali. In view OF the Chlet
Justices objection TO exercising judicial
functions Ia territory where military law
was superior TO civil law, no application
was made TO him for bail, but few DAYS
later application was made 10 the govern
ment to know II bail would DO received
and 10 Underwood, but without success.
To quote again from the statement OF the
caseip Chase's Decisions: There seemed
some influenco-sOme power behind the
throne that kept its eve upon Mr. Davis
and vetoed all attempts in his favor.
Finally. however, on Monday. May 49,
1867. President DAVIS WAS brought before
tho United States Circuit Court in the
city, Underwood presiding. upon writ OF
habeas corpus granted by the Chief jus
tico. Shortly pnOr TO the May term OF the
court il had been Intimated that ban would
be accepted. bat why the government gave
its consent Ia Nav, 1867. but refused 1t IN
June. 1866 when ten times the amount OF
the bond was ready 70 be gwen, has mover
tTausplfod.
President Davis was brought 10 Rich |
mOnd on the steamer John Sylvester and
arrived here Saturday afternoon, May llth,
At the wharf at Rockets there was cor |
don Of seDtinels 10 keep of the crowd. |
and mono but members of the press and |
those who had business on the wharf were
permitted to go within the line. Inc
troops present consisted OF portions OF
Companies II. Of the Eleventh United |
States Infantry. II. Of tho Twenty-ninth. |
and detachment q company from the |
Fifth United States Artillery.
SCENE AT THE WHARF.
The DIsrATcH Of Monday. May 18th. de- |
scrbiug the scene at the wharf, says:
The sun shOne bright and warm. and |
It's golden beams danced IN the ripplcs OF |
the James The surrounding hills and |
Folds smiled with vordure and all nature |
seemed calm. as around the bend below |
Rockets the Sylvester appeared, Just as |
the dial plate told half-past 3. The little |
crowd OF the wharf gathered quickly |
around the landing-place and awaited |
eagerly the coming OF the boat. |
Slowly she ploughed her way up
and at quarter 20 q touched the wharf. |
few persons went aboard of her. among |
them Hon james Lyons, of this city, who
went 10 meet Mr.. DAVIS and take charge |
~ y
Mrs Lyons and himself. Ascending the |
stars to the saloon Mr.. Lyons met Mr.. and |
Mrs Davis, and the greeting of the gen
tlemcu was one of mingled affection and |
emotion. II was entirely silent. but the |
manly tear told the story better than a
volume. All present were deeply af-
fectcd"
AT length the party came forth. First |
came Mrs. DAVIS and Hon. james Lyons, |
then Mr. Davis and Judge Ould. followed |
by General Burton, Or. Cooper, and Bur |
ton n HARRISON. ESQ. The President |
walked ont Of the boat steadily with that |
lofty and dignifed bearing which our citi- |
zcus knew SO we'll
The party was Immediately placed in |
hacks aud. followed by a detachment of |
cavalry, went rapidly up Dock street to |
Eighteenth. up Eighteenth 10 Man. and |
thence To- the SpotswoOd Hotel.
The DISPATCH, ia referring 10 the greet |
inc President Davis received rom the peo- |
pie. SAWS: The immense crowd that had |
gathered along Main street expecting |
that he would pass there. IA soon as they |
learned that be had gone up Dock Imme- |
diatcly made a rush up Nam or across To |
Dock TO head the line and get glimpse |
of him as he passed. In second |
the surrounding hills seemed alive !
with people. all rushing in one direction |
and with the ono intention. Little and |
big. old and young, ricn and poor, white |
and black, all joined IN the rush. As they |
would reach the sidewalk the people |
would halt, and rs the line passed most of |
them would take of their hats. His long |
confinement and the manner III which he |
had borne It has modified the resentment |
Of even that portion of the northern peo- |
pie who were bItterest against him." |
As the line proceeded rapidly along |
Main street the crowds of citizens on the |
sidewalks involuntarlly uncovered their |
heads as an impressive mark of respect for |
the distinguished prisoner.
THE Spotswood Hotel Is at last reached
and Mr.. DAVIS is at his journeys end in the
city IN when he so long resided AS the
honored and loved leader of the Lost
Cause As the carriage drew up at the la
dies entrance nj the Spotswood the crowd
on both sides separated, making an avenue
winch was lined with policemen. As he |
aighted voice called Hats off. Vir. |
ginians and III an instant every head |
was uncovered. The same veneration was |
observed towards Mrs. Davis as she passed |
ill.,"
IN THE COURTROOM. |
Monday morning the United States |
Court room in the custom-house was |
crowded. There were present of counsel |
for President Davis Messrs. Charles |
John Randolph Tucker, and Robert 0uld. |
and among Others Governor Plerpont,
Generals Schofield Granger, and Brown, |
Judge Chambers, Rev. DIR. Minnlgerode. |
Judge John A. Meredith. Judge w. W. |
Crump, Hon. James Lyons. Hon. Robert |
johnson. James Neeson John Mitchell (the |
Irish patriot. Gustavus A. Myers. General |
John lmboden. Horace Greeley. aud Au- |
gustus Scheil.
Messrs William NJ. Evarts and District |
Attorney Chandler appeared for the gov |
eminent.
At the Spotswood an hour before the |
time for the opening of the court large |
crowd had assembled and q detachment |
of soldiers and q number OF policemen |
had taken position before the building |
Ostensibly to open the way for President |
Davis. While the crowd were waiting, |
however, Mr.. ". NJ. l.. Millward. of the |
Spoiswood. quietly conducted President |
DAVIS and General Burton, DR.. Cooper. |
aud Mr.. Burton N. Harrison through the |
rear gate of the hotel premises and placed |
them in carriage which was driven |
through the alley 10 Ninth street, up Ninth |
10 Bank and down Bank to the custom |
house. This carriage was followed by an |
other in which were seated General Gran |
ger, Colonel Dupont, OF the United States |
artillery. aud DIR. Charles Magill, of this |
city.
THE PRISONER IN COURT.