AMERICAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 554, 22 August 1865, Page 6

AMERICAN NEWS.

run ?*ew ork pipers are al-no-t exclusively occupied with reports of the 11 nils ofthep rsons"alleged to be implicated in the I> mth ass i.-sination conspi- \ corr-.'spondent of' the Xtw I'o-/' after d s rih.ng th ■■ court, and the p-rs-Uial api'i a i in',-of the va rion- p-isoacrs. sivs : — I i e la-t an 1 most p omin 'tit ot the ''ecus d is Mrs. who sits from liie other p-isoners, nt the we-t en i ot til" r-port rs' table. :n,d n- ai- her counsel. l"nis ivoriein i- .; r, ss d in tiiil mourning; she wears her bonnet and veil during the s- s-i ms of t'.e cotu-mis-ion. ller age is probably lif'ty. >h- is a 'urge "iinaoini ill class of w-nian squ ire-built, masculi o ii ill Is, rather full face, dar - gr,-\ lifeless , y,., hair nt deci lediv dark, conip exi >11 swarthy : altogether her face d-notes more than opii a r y ititclligence. -he seems too strong t ■ be w.-ighe 1 down bv t n crushing testim >ny aguinst her. and whilst conclusive evidence was been r-ndere 1, which, if true makes her part in the bonible tragedy of the most C 'Id-1 -lo alcd, fie irtle-s < h rater, sic lint "lice seemed disturbed. Her eve l- rather -soft i expr ;md sTangely a' Villi nice with the gen.-ial har.-bne-s of ii'.r otli-r features Sb- sei ins a oman I nndaunte! ir,et:l-, und fitted f-r .Macbeth'- injiun tion to "bring filth men ehilden o;-,ly und v.-t she do-s not app-ar a- Lady Ma-tieth priy-d tj he, " fr un ciown t" to. top lull of dip -t cru-I y." This unfortuna'e woman, like the o:her jiriso-iers, is in irons. A l.'ui' of about ten inches iu length passes from one aucl ■ to the other, and there is attached t ■ it an iron 1 and thai encircles each leg. Her hands are free-

All the other prisoners, except Dr. Hud , are heavily ironed Their feet and ancles are ironed, as in the case of Mr-. Surratt, an i attached to each leg is a chain about six f et long, to wliich is appended a bab weighing lllty pounds. Hesi les this, a bar and bands lik>* th-so about t.he feet confine their arms When the pri-oncrs thus heavily ironed, are required to move about, the otllcer in att-udaiice upon each carries the ball. Nearly all the accused ar.' required to wea ■ a peculiar cap wli n they ivturn from the court to their rooms. The cap is cons'ructed of cotton cloth, padded, and covers helmet like, the entire head an I n arly •>!! the face. It was suggested some weeks ago by the attempt of Payne to take his life by butting his head against the prison walls.

Tiie con tuc of all the bu in-*s- of the commission is entrusted to Central 11 urtraufT, whose position is relatively that of a a eritV to a civil c mrt, or marshal to a Unit d Stares eoii't ; and the eoriespondintr positions of bulili'- are filled by colonels, majors, and captains. All business is transacted in a scrupulously dignified and orderly manner. Upon entering the court room we found the Commission engaged in revising the minut-js or journal of the precedi g day's business, and we were instructed by the President that whilst we were permitted to hear this journal read, it was cot intended that any p »rtion of testimony should ut this time be <*iven to the public The reasons for this are such as sh uld satisfy every well meaning citizen, and when these are given to the public, as they will hereafter be no blame can be attached to th<- Government for the secrecy it Ins observed, nor for directing tho Commission to sit with closed doors.

On the of M»y, Mr. Jefferson Davis wai removid to Fori.'ess Monroe, from tho sU-amer which had brought him to Hampton Ko icU Mr. (Jluy was also taken t » Fortresi Monroe. Vice-president vtephens was se-t t<> F>>rt Delaware. Postmaster-Gen rd (General \Vh»e!cr, and otheis uf President Mavis's party were =ent to Fort Warren, in Boston harbour

The prison<-r-> were conveyed in the steamer Clyde, escorted hv the gunboat luscarora. Mr 'avis was landei ■ ecre ly, uri'ier a utmr I, and eonfi u>d in the casemates of the fort. Pr •• aufiou was taken to prevent Ids es -ape. True bills wee subse pienth fund hini aid Gen -ral ''Teekenndire for having levied wir in dune, lISGt, against the United Stat-3 in the district of • olmnbia The accused are, in fa -t, eha ered upon one of the raMs undo by the Goi.f ■ derate troop* into United States teni orv.

The until jury in have t mid a true bill <»i indie!ni'Mii for t •<*as.>n against Mr Davis. Tin* k r i\md jurv 11>i• aUo indiett'd ir.-neral Bivck uridine •or t • fio'i, timl 11 Bench warrant li:i•* been is«ti.»d for liis arrest Th-; in t'ie i niiet ment ot both Mr Davis and (jn'nend Hreeki'ri lg in that they, u aid lilolity to the i/ni'ed States di 1. with m v it* w to subvert I he Q-overnme'it thereof, in Julv last, invade the l diMriet- of <' lumbii, make war on its deft-nre-*, and kd and wound a number of tin? soldiers of the Unit d >tate.*, Gf-nord Breckinribeing person in present and Mr. Davia constructively. Mr. Davis has been ulaml in so'itiry confinement, and Honied the use of liirhts, books and paper. The Philadelphia Jri'H'.urr reports that manacl--*, connected by a i haiit ihree fe--t lotiiy, have been placed upon his anrlei. lie violently resisted tludr application, and to be slit l'ailiur than be compelled to submit a indfijnity. IT<* was h wevor, thrown down, anil be) 1 upon h:s ba<'k until :i black smith ri et d li.piro'iS up"ii linn. J his statement is considered to borrib]'* und disgraceful lor credence, and in verv £er endlv disoeliuvud, but it has nut been contradicted on otliciul authority. At for ress Monro-, Mr. I).-ivi« occupied the rear room of a casein itu ■ ii' t*vu ap utment-i, the window being heavily barred Two guards occupied the room with liini : while iu the outer room were constantly stationed a commissioned officr and guard, all ch;irged with the duty of seeinp th it thd prisoner did not escape. No one was permitted to speak a

word >obi n. Mr. ('lav, who surrendered himself to an.-wer the charge of complicity n the ass is-ination of Mr. Lincoln, was confined in an adjoining ca-e----mito. Mrs. Davis, her four children (onean infant), her brother ind sister, and Mrs. '(.;. Clay were ret' .s-'d permission to go Nurih, and were sent back to Savannah. A dav or two previous to the removal of Mr. Davis from Fortress Moni'jc his irons were removed. an attending physiuan, ' r. Craven,» having dec lared that the pri -oner could not otherwise live tlir e days, his health having become danccoulv affected. While i.he wore upon him, which was for three d i\ s. Mr. Davis remainel in a reci.mbent position upon his pallet and final! refused food, llis diet wa-, in order to p event his death, changed, and he was supp.icd with decent food by Dr. (..'raven.

Colonel Pritehard h is p-csentcd to the Wardepartmt nl the waterproof cloak and shawl in which his men informed • ill! Mr. Davis v.'as disguised when capture'd Ttie cloak was worn „ 9 a shirt, and the shawl drawn hood fashion over his head. Colonel Pritehard asserts that Mis Davis acknowledged her husband thus disguise 1. The i*!oak and shawl have be n sent to the Soldiers' Fair at Chicago for exhibition. The capture of the C.'onfed rih- Governor Harris, of Tennessee, together with tIOh,DOO dnllors in specie, and a large tinv unt in bonds and other property belonging to thj State, is aim nine d, without mentioning the date. Tin. l ex-' 'ouf-deiate .Secretarvof W .r, >Jf<ldon OX-Govcrn ir Letcher of Virginia, and Judgo Campbell, have ben arrc-ted at their home- in Virginia Secretary Mdlory and Mr. Howell Cobb have also been arreted. Mes-r.-. Soddon and ' "ampboll are confined on bo imi ginio ,ats in the James Kiver. General Letcher has been taken to Washington and consigned to the Capital prison ; it. is rumoured, both iu Washington and Kichmond, that General Lee has aUo been indicted for treason