Monday May 22nd 1864 [1865]
This forenoon I went down to the Old Penitentiary and visited the Military Court in session there trying the conspirators. I had a fair opportunity to view the prisoners who all sat on a raised platform which ran across across one side of the room. The room was not very large perhaps 25 or 30 feet square. There was nothing very striking about any of the prisoners excepting Paine, the one who attacked Mr Seward. He is a splendid specimen of a Man (physicaly 6 feet 1½ inches) but his countenance indicated the desperado which he probably is. Herold looks rather weak minded or silly. Azterot like a low villin. Spangler has an Italian look. Dr Mudd is a very ordinary looking man with red hair or (rather Sandy hair and beard). Saml Arnold does not look like a bad man. [Mc]Laughlin might be one. Mrs Suratt sat at the end of the row by herself [draped?] in deep black and veiled. Genl Hancock was there as a spectator.