wished to go there for the purpose of continuing his theological studies. Mr. AIKEN. The inference was, if he was going to complete his theological studies, that there was a school there. Assistant Judge Advocate BINGHAM. You do not propose to contradict inferences I suppose? The Commission sustained the objection. gen REV. PETER LANIHAN. By MR. AIKEN. Beantown, St. Charles County, Maryland. I I am a Catholic priest, and reside near have been acquainted with Mrs. Mary E. Surratt, the prisoner at the bar, for about thirteen years; intimately so for about nine years. In my estimation, she is a good Christian woman, and highly honorable. never heard her on any occasion express disloyal sentiments. I Cross-examined by ASSISTANT JUDGE ADVOCATE BINGHAM. Cross-examined by the JUDGE ADVOCATE. I have a personal knowledge of her eral character as a Christian, but not of her character for loyalty. My visits were all short, and political affairs were never discussed; I was not her pastor. I first became acquainted with Mrs. Surratt from having Mrs. Surratt's character in her neighborhad two of her sons with me. I have seen hood is that of a good Christian woman. I her perhaps once in six weeks. I can not say have conversed with her since the rebellion I remember hearing her utter a loyal senti- in regard to current events and public affairs, ment since the beginning of the rebellion; and do not remember having heard any nor do I remember hearing any one talk about expression of disloyal sentiments, and I have her as being notoriously disloyal before her been very familiar with her, staying at her house. I do not remember having heard her reputation for loyalty spoken of. arrest. REV. FRANCIS E. BOYLE. REV. N. D. YOUNG. For the Defense.-May 26. I am a Catholic priest. My residence is at St. Peter's Church. I made the acquaintance I am a Catholic priest; I reside at the of Mrs. Mary E. Surratt eight or nine years pastoral house of St. Dominick's Church, on ago, and have met her perhaps three or four the Island, on Sixth Street, in Washington times since. I have heard her always well City. I became acquainted with Mrs. Mary spoken of as an estimable lady, and never E. Surratt about eight or ten years ago. My heard any thing to her disadvantage. I have acquaintance has not been intimate. I have never heard her utter any disloyal sentiments. Cross-examined by the JUDGE ADVOCATE. I have never heard much of her sentiments, and do not undertake to say what her reputation for loyalty is. REV. CHARLES H. STONESTREET. For the Defense.-May 25. I I am the pastor of St. Aloysius Church in this city. I first became acquainted with Mrs. Mary E. Surratt twenty years ago. have only occasionally seen her since. During the last year or two, I have scarcely seen her. I have always looked upon her as a proper Christian matron. At the time of my acquaintance with her, there was no question of her loyalty. Cross-examined by the JUDGE ADVOCATE. I do not remember having seen Mrs. Surratt, though I may have done so transiently, since the commencement of the rebellion; and of her character for loyalty since then I know nothing but what I have read in the papers. occasionally seen her and visited her. I had to pass her house about once a month, and generally called there-sometimes staid an hour. Her reputation, as far as I have heard, is that of a Christian lady, in every sense of the word. I have heard her spoken of with the greatest praise, and never heard any thing of her but what was highly favorable to her character. She never expressed any disloyal sentiments to me. Cross-examined by the JUDGE ADVOCATE. I never heard her speak upon current events in any manner, loyal or disloyal. WILLIAM L. HOYLE. For the Defense.—May 26. By MR. AIKEN. I reside on Missouri Avenue, Washington. I am not particularly acquainted with Mrs. Surratt. I have a store acquaintance only; I know nothing of her, and have heard nothing against her. I never heard her express any disloyal sentiments; I never had any political conversation with her. I know John H. Surratt by sight. I last saw him in this city about the end of February or the beginning of March. Just I have resided in Prince George's County, what the present reputation of Mr. Evans Maryland, about a mile from Surrattsville, among his own neighbors for truth and veracfor the last forty-five or fifty years. I have ity is. The law, in its humanity and in its known Mrs. Mary E. Surratt for a number justice, has said that no man called into a of years, but mostly since she came to reside court as a witness shall be put upon trial for in our neighborhood, about ten or twelve every act of his life; the question is as to his years ago. Since the rebellion I have not general reputation at the time he appears as met her very frequently. Of late years I a witness. Now it is proposed to go back have gone from home but little; I have not ten years. It is supposed in law that in ten visited her house often, and when there I years a man can live down a slander. have staid but a short time. I never had The question was waived. any conversation with her on political subjects. Her reputation in the neighborhood, as a truthful, Christian, kind lady, is very good, I believe. I never heard any thing to the contrary. [See testimony of Rev. W. A. Evans, page 174.] For the Defense.-June 13. I I am very well acquainted with J. Z. Jenkins. He was a good Union man up to I reside about a mile from Surrattsville, 1862, I think. At the election of that year in Prince George's County, Md. I have he was arrested, and since then I have under-known Mrs. Surratt, the prisoner at the bar, stood that he had secession proclivities. I for about twelve years. She has always been believe that he once assisted in defending the looked upon as a very kind lady-to the sick Union flag with arms in his hands. Mr. especially-and a church-going woman. Jenkins was a good Union man two years have seen her very often during the last four ago, but I have known very little of him or five years, and never heard her utter a since that time. The report in the neighbor- disloyal word. hood is, that he is not at this time a very loyal man. I have never known of Mr. Jenkins committing a disloyal act, nor have I heard from him an expression unfriendly to the Government, during the past two years. I know the Rev. W. A. Evans. There is no Presbyterian Church in Prince George's County that I know of. I can not exactly say what is the reputation of Mr. Evans in that neighborhood for veracity. Mr. Evans was impeached some years ago. Assistant Judge Advocate BINGHAM. You need not state that. Q. From your knowledge of his character and his reputation, would you believe him on oath where any of his interests were involved? I am acquainted with J. Z. Jenkins; he lives about a mile and a half from me. He was the strongest Union man I ever saw when the war broke out; but I have heard that he changed when he lost his negroes, though I never heard him say any thing disloyal when he lost them, and I have never heard of any disloyal or overt act of his against the Gov ernment. RACHEL SEMUS (colored.) I have lived at Mrs. Surratt's house for six years; was hired to her by Mr. Wildman. She treated her servants very well all the time Assistant Judge Advocate BINGHAM ob I was with her; I never had reason to comjected to the question. The witness should plain. I remember Mrs. Surratt has fed first state whether he knew the general repu- Union soldiers at her house, sometimes a tation of Mr. Evans for truth among his good many of them; and I know that she neighbors. always tried to do the best for them that she Q. Are you acquainted with the reputation could, because I always cooked for them She always gave them the best she had, on his coat-collar. I did not notice whether and very often she would give them all she had he had whiskers or moustache, as I was more in the house, because so many of them came. attracted by the clothing he had on. His I recollect her cutting up the last ham she appearance was very genteel, remarkably so. had in the house, and she had not any more He did not look like a person just from a until she sent to the city. I never knew of long journey; his clothing was clean, and her taking any pay for it. I never heard her remarkably nice and genteel. I can not say express herself in favor of the South; if she that I have had any connection with Mr. used such expressions, I did not hear them. Surratt since he was quite a child; I knew Her eyesight has been failing for a long time; him by sight, and we had just a bowing or very often I have had to go up stairs and speaking acquaintance as we passed each thread her needle for her because she could not other. see to do it; I have had to stop washing to go up and thread it for her in the day-time. I remember one day telling her that Father Lanihan was at the front gate, coming to the house, and she said, "No, it was not him, it was little Johnny"-meaning her son. DAVID C. REED. Recalled for the Defense.-June 3. Cross-examined by ASSISTANT JUDGE ADVOCATE BINGHAM. [A recent and large-sized photograph of John H. Surratt was handed to the witness.) This is a fair picture of John H. Surratt; the only thing I notice is that his hair is not cut as I noticed his on the 14th of April, but the shape of the coat, the style in which it is cut, is precisely the same. By MR. AIKEN The last time I saw John H. Surratt was If that picture had been shown to me withabout half past 2 o'clock on the day of the out being told it was the picture of Mr. Surassassination, the 14th of April last. I was ratt, I do not know that I should recognize it, standing on the stoop of Hunt & Goodwin's if I saw it hanging in a window; but if I military store, and Mr. Surratt was going looked at it and examined it, I should recogpast the National Hotel. I noticed his hair nize it as John H. Surratt. It is a remarkwas cut very singularly, rounding away down (able face. TESTIMONY IN REBUTTAL. JOHN RYAN. For the Prosecution.-June 7. I have known Louis J. Weichman about a year, not perhaps intimately, but he has been quite friendly and communicative in his conversation with me. As far as my knowledge goes, he has always borne a good character as a moral young man, and I know nothing against his character for truth. I do not believe he would tell a falsehood, and I would believe him whether under oath or not. a detective. I have never heard any thing said against his character relative to money matters, veracity, or any thing of that kind FRANK STITH. For the Prosecution.-June 7. I have known Louis J. Weichman intimately for about sixteen months. His reputation as an honest, truthful man is very good indeed, as far as I have heard. I have never heard it questioned. We were both in the public service, in the same office. His reputation for loyalty was excellent, and he was open and outspoken in his friendship for the Government. He was a member of the volunteer military organization formed for the As regards his loyalty, I only remember one conversation that distinctly bore on that question, and from that conversation my impression was that he rejoiced at the restoration of the Union. I have no recollection of his ever expressing sentiments that left a defense of this city. contrary impression on my mind. Cross-examined by MR. AIKEN. Cross-examined by MR. AIKEN. My relations to Mr. Weichman, outside of I was not a visiting friend of Mr. Weich- the office, were not very intimate. I never man; our meetings were casual. I am a heard of his being a detective in the departclerk in the War Department, but in a differ- ment. It might have been considered that ent department to Mr. Weichman's. He a refusal to join that military organization never represented himself to me as being in would be equivalent to a dismissal from the confidential relations to that department as office. Mr. Weichman did not always wear JAMES P. YOUNG. For the Prosecution.-June 7. blue pantaloons about the office. I can not once at breakfast. The name by which I Bay that he only wore his blue pantaloons on knew him was Wood. John Wilkes Booth drill and rainy days, or that he made use of I have seen there frequently. I have seen hateful expressions on putting them on, and him in the parlor with Mrs. Surratt and the immediately retired to change them for his young ladies. I never knew the prisoner, citizen's dress when drill was over. David E. Herold, to call there. I remember, about two weeks before the assassination, seeing a carriage at Mrs. Surratt's door, and a person, whom I afterward learned to be Mrs. Slater, got into it one morning as I was dressI am in General Meig's office in the War ing. Mrs. Surratt was on the pavement talkDepartment. I am intimately acquainted ing to this person as she was getting into the with Louis J. Weichman; have known him carriage. John Surratt was with this Mrs. since 1856. I was a college class-mate of his Slater. This was the last time I saw John at the Philadelphia High School; we both Surratt previous to the 3d of April. The last entered it in 1856. He remained at that col- time I saw him was on the night of the 3d lege for two or three years, then left and went of April, the day on which the news of the to Maryland to another college. I frequently fall of Richmond was received. He knocked heard from him, and about eighteen months at the door of my room at about 10 o'clock, ago I met him in this city, and have been after I was in bed, and wished me to exchange very intimate with him since. His reputa- some gold for greenbacks; and I gave him tion as an honest and truthful man is excel-$60 in paper for $40 in gold. He said he lent, and his character without any reproach wanted to go to New York, and that he could whatever. I have had many conversations not get it exchanged in time to leave by the with him on political matters, and he was early train in the morning. always most free and unequivocal in his ex- I never knew any thing of Mrs. Surratt's pressions of loyalty to the Government. I defective eyesight while I lived with her; I regard him as a very radical, loyal man. do not remember its being alluded to by any Both he and I are members of the Union member of the household. League. Cross-examined by MR. AIKEN. Cross-examined by MR. AIKEN: Atzerodt passed by a nickname when he I have never known him as a detective in was at Mrs. Surratt's. I was usually from the employ of the Government. P. T. RANSFORD. For the Prosecution.—June 7. I have known Louis J. Weichman since last September. I am a clerk in the War Department, and he was a clerk in another branch of the War Department; he has visited me at my own rooms. His reputation for integrity and truth I have always regarded as being very good indeed. I have had very little conversation with him about political matters, and am not competent to give an opinion as to his loyalty. Cross-examined by MR. AIKEN. Mr. Weichman and myself belonged to the same military organization, called the War Department Rifles. A refusal to become a member of that organization I understood to be equivalent to a dismissal from office. I have simply met Mr. Weichman as a friend. JOHN T. HOLAHAN. For the Prosecution.—June 7. home in the evening, and therefore can not say whether Mrs. Surratt could read or sew by gaslight. I never heard any political conversation at Mrs. Surratt's, and never heard of any plot to capture the President, or of any plot or conspiracy to assassinate the President, or any members of his cabinet; if I had, I should have endeavored to prevent it. By MR. EWING. Mr. EWING. I have two or three questions to ask the witness. It is not properly a crossexamination; but I propose to treat him as my witness, if there is no objection. Assistant Judge Advocate BURNETT. The gentleman announces that he desires to ask some questions, making the witness his own; as we shall be entitled to rebut, there is no objection. I never saw or knew of Mr. Judson Jarboe, or of any person by the name of Jarboe coming to Mrs. Surratt's, nor have I ever known of Dr. Mudd coming there; I never heard his name mentioned. Mrs. Surratt's house is on the south side of H Street, about forty-five feet from Sixth Street. It is the first house from the corner of Sixth Street; a brick house, painted During the winter and spring, and up to the drab or lead color, with a basement and a night of the assassination, I boarded with Mrs. Surratt. While there, I saw Atzerodt door. several times, though I did not know him by Q. Will you state whether Mr. Weichman that name; he seemed to be with John Sur- gave himself up after the assassination of the ratt most of the time. I also saw Payne there President? flight of eight or ten steps up to the front Assistant Judge Advocate BURNETT. You need not state any thing about his expresneed not state that. sions. Mr. EWING. My inquiry in regard to Mr. Weichman is for the purpose of proving acts in regard to him in association with Booth and other men connected with the conspiracy. I want to show by his acts at that time that he was really a guilty party in the plot to kill the President. If I show that he was, and that instead of being indicted he appears here turning State's evidence, it will tend very much, I think, to impair the value of his testimony. It is not the ordinary form of impeachment of a witness by laying the foundation in his examination for contradicting his statements upon the stand. That is not the purpose, but it is to show that he occupied the position of a co-conspirator, and that he comes here clearing himself by being a swift witness against others. By ASSISTANT JUDGE ADVOCATE Burnett. The excitement on account of the assassination was very general throughout the city. It was some weeks after Mrs. Slater had been there that Mrs. Surratt told me the team in which John Surratt and Mrs. Slater went away was a hired one, and that John was then down in the country. When Mr. Howell was at Mrs. Surratt's, it might have been about the 1st of March; he remained, I think, three or four days. JAMES MCDEvitt. For the Prosecution.-June 7. On the night of the assassination, I went to Mrs. Surratt's house with Mr. Clarvoe, and Assistant Judge Advocate BINGHAM. What several other officers of the department. We the gentleman calls the act of Weichman rang the bell, when a lady put her head out never can be proved by any human being but of the window and asked who was there. by Weichman himself. He has testified that We said we wished to enter the house. As he was taken into custody. Nobody doubts she retired, Mr. Weichman opened the door; it. He has testified that he was in custody he was in his shirt, which was all open in when he was brought on the stand. Nobody front; he had his pants on, and was, I think, questions it. It is utterly incompetent for the in his stocking feet. He appeared as if he gentleman to prove any thing he said about had just got out of bed. He had time from that matter, until he has first laid the foun- the moment we rang to dress himself to that dation by a cross-examination of Weichman, extent. We did not arrest Mr. Weichman and then it is never competent, except by then, but we did subsequently when he came way of contradiction. There is no such foun- to our office. Mr. Weichman accompanied dation laid, and it is therefore incompetent me to Canada; I took him to identify John and illegal at any stage of the case, either now or any other day. H. Surratt. He went with me willingly in pursuit of the assassins, and was zealous and The Commission sustained the objection. earnest in performing the part allotted him I saw Mr. Weichman the morning after the in the pursuit; and though he had every opmurder; he was a good deal excited. About portunity to escape, he did not. I left him in 2 o'clock on that morning, Mr. McDevitt Canada when I returned to New York. I and Mr. Clarvoe, detectives of the Metro- could not state, from my own knowledge of politan Police, entered Mrs. Surratt's house. John Surratt's writing, that the entry on Mr. Weichman opened the door for them. the register of the St. Lawrence Hall is his. These officers were in the passage when my wife woke me up. Whether Mr. Weichman was in bed or dressed when the officers called, I do not know. I slept in the front room, and he in the back room on the same floor. Q. Was Weichman then arrested? A. I took Weichman down myself to intendent Richards. Q. When? Cross-examined by MR. AIKEN. Mr. Weichman came to our office the morning after the assassination, with Mr. Holahan. Weichman made no confession in regard to himself. We did not find John H. Surratt in Canada. I saw that he was regSuper-istered on the books of the St. Lawrence A. In the morning, after breakfast. Q. When you took him down, did you know he was to be arrested? Assistant Judge Advocate BINGHAM objected to the question, and it was waived. Q. How did you come to take him down? Q. Was that expression the expression a wish to be delivered up? A. No, sir. You of Hall as "John Harrison, Washington, D. C.," on the 6th of April, and again by the same name on the 18th of April, but without any city or State address. I received the first intimation that John H. Surratt would be likely to be found in Canada from Mr. Weichman. Mrs. Surratt also told me, on the morning after the assassination, that she had received a letter from him on the 14th, dated in Canada. We were inquiring for her son, when she said she had not seen him for two weeks, and that there was a letter somewhere in the house, which she had received from him that day. I asked her for the let Assistant Judge Advocate BINGHAM. You ter, but it could not be found. |