The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-11
THE SLAYERS OF LINCOLN
HOW THE AssAssINS or THE MAR
TYRED PRESIDENT WE'RE TRIED.
The Great Military COmmission OF
ing n Band of Murderers.


Lincoln the government authorities at
Washington were prepared to proceed with
the trial of the conspirators. The United
States Arsenal building situated at the
foot of Four-and-a-half street and on the
bank of the Potomac river, was selected as
the place for holding the approaching trial.
AS a result of the preliminary investigation
under the direction of the War Department.
the following persons were held as prinei-
pals and accessories for the murder of the
President and the attempted assassination
of Hon. William H. Seward: David E.
Herold, George A Atzerodt, Louis Payne.
Michael O'Laughlin, Edward Spangler,
Samuel Arnold, Macy T. Surrat, Samuel A.
Mudd. 1t was a matter of much discus
sion and speculation as to how the accused
parties should be tred-whether by military
commission or by civil court. The subject
was referred by President Johnson to the
attorney general of the United States, the
Hon. James Speed, for decision, and that
official, after consideration of the question,
gave it as his opinion that the conspirators
were subject to the Jurisdiction of and law
fully triable by military commission. The
commission so appointed was, under orders
of the President of the United States COM
posed of the following officers: Major Gem
eral David Hunter, United States Volun-
teers; Major General Lewis Wallace, United
States Volunteers; B.eVet Major General
August " Kautz, United States Volunteers
Brigadier General Albion p. Howe, United
States Volunteers; Brigadier General Rob-
ert S. Foster, United States Volunteers;
Brevet Brigadier General James A. Ekin,
United States Volunteers; Brevet Colonel
c. II. Tomkins United States army; Lieu
tenant Colonel David r. Clendenin, Eighth
Illinois Cavalry; Brigadier General Joseph
Holt, judge advocate anG recorder The
| judge advocate, General Holt introduced as
his assistants, special judge advocates
Hon. John A. Bingham and General Henry
L. Burnett. The officers of the commission
were men who had rendered eminent service
| to the country during the war of the re-
! bellion. Some o. them were excellent law
yers, and all in their personal characters
were above reproach. They were an ex-
ceedingly fne-looking body of men, and
made a good impression on all who visited
the court during the hot and exciting days
| of the trial.
| Two of the members of the court wera
Indanians-Generals Wallace and Foster,
and both were striking samples of man.
| hood. Foster, tall, erect, straight as an
! arrow, with coal black hair, and the eye
of an eagle; Wallace, somewhat older but
one who on the score of good looks won
as many compliments as his comrade, Fos-
| ter
Joseph Holt, the judge advocate general
| of the United States army and recorder OF
! the court, was Kentuckian by birth, and
was then about fifty-eght years of age.
| He was one of those brave sons Of the
| South who remained true to his country
when millions faltered. Not only was he
a man of great legal attainInents, of fine
culture, of splendid appearance, but also of
| consummate judgment. During Buehanan's
administration he had been postmaster gem
eral, and in it's closing days. when treason
raised its Shiny head and disloyal men were
trying to dismember the government, Holt
and Stanton, by their steadfast devotion tc
| the Union rendered a service 80 the coun-
try so conspicuous and exalted that it will
never be forgotten by the people who love
the union of the States. Abraham Lincoln
had appointed him to be judge advocate
general of the United States army, posi-
| ton which he filed with credit to himself
and glory to the Nation. In his own per-
son he brought dignity and luster to that
office until then unknown.
Hon. John A. Bingham, one of the special
| Judge advocates, was at that time a repre-
sentative in Congress from the State OF
Ohio. In selecting him as special judge adj,
vocate, Judge Holt chose the right man for
the right place. No better lawyer could
have been selected, and in the two months
of fierce legal battle which came to him ha
was equal to every emergency, physical or
mental.
Gen. Henry L. Burnett also special judge
advocate and, like his legal brother, Bing-
ham. a native of Ohio, was equally well
| frox w
had rendered yeoman service to the gov
eminent as judge advocate in connection
| with several of the treason trials in the
| West notably in the Bowles and Milligan
case. and for that reason had attracted the
attention of the secretary of war and the
| Judge advocate general. When the Prest-
dent was struck down he was one of the
| first men summoned to Washington to
serve the government in its dire extremity
Upon him principally devolved the detail
work, the preparation, collecting and sift-
| ing of the great mass of evidence the gov
eminent would use, and nobly and loyalty
did he perform his part Of the work.
Gen. John f. Hartranft, the marshal OF
the court, had achieved great fame for
himself in the closing days of the rebellion
as the ''hero of Fort Stedman." He was tan,
erect and handsome, but these fine qualities
| We're tranScenQeu Dy MS hlildlicS5 VI AStA
and by his gentle dealings with the unfor-
tunate prisoners placed in his charge.
SCENE OF THE TRIAL.
The room in which the prisoners We're
tried was about twenty-five feet wide and
thirty long, the entrance to which was
from the end opposite the penitentiary.
Lsngthwise it was divided into two Sec
lions, that on the right being taken by the
court, who sat around a long, green-cov-
cred table. while Judge Advocate General
| Holt with his assistants, at the left
! end A portion of the room was set aside
| for spectators, all OF whom had to be adj
mitted OH pass countersigned by General
| Hunter the president of the court. The
| official reporters had a space to themselves
| near the witness box in the center OF the
room. At the further end of the apart
! ment, behind a wooden railing, on an ele-
waited platform, the accused were seated all
| in row. First at the left came Mrs Sur
raft, then Heroic, Payne, Atzerodt,
| O'Laughlin Spangler, Mudd and Arnold.
| Next to Mrs. Surratt a stout iron door,
which led into the corridor where the cells
of the prisoners were. All Of them, with
the exception of Mrs. Surratt, We're hand
cuffed, and TO the left leg of each male
prisoner was attached a thirty-two-pound
ball and chain. When not in court tho