Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-04-27


"Pm an officer, let ME in The door wa
opened and the Major entered. Immediatel,
afterwards the rest of the party entered ont
by one, until all were in. The purpose of the
visit was announced and the inmates seemed
somewhat surprised, the daughter especially
being frightened, but the mother took it as
calmly as though she had been expecting it
They were all assembled in the parlor, and
not allowed to communicate with each other
while the officers hunted up the bonnets
shawls and shoes of the ladies', preparatory
to conveying them to Col. Ingrahams Office.
This took some little time, during which Miss
Kate Surratt broke out into sobs, seeming
deeply affected, while her mother ehided her
for such an exhibition of her feelings.
Just as the ladies were ready to proceed.
officer Devoe having brought up carriage, a
loud rap was heard at the door. Mr.. Morgan
stepped into the hall, followed by Maj. Smith
and officer Mermorskirch, who were each
armed with pistol. Morgan opened the door
a man stepped in. and the door was at once
locked by Morgan. The man seemed rather
surprised, and said, 81 guess I've made q
mistake" When asked what he wanted, he
said he was looking for Mrs. Surratt He
was assured that he had made no mistake,
and told to sit down in the parlor. . .-
The womon being now ready to depart.
they were at once put in the carriage with
Officer Devoe, who conducted them to the Of
fee of the provost marshal. whence they were
subsequently sent to the Old Capitol prison.
The man who thus entered the house bore
evidence at once of having assumed a partial
disguise. He had heavy pickaxe on his
shoulder, wore cap made from the bottom
part of the legs of pair of drawers, which
fitted closely to his head. and hung down be-
hind. gray coat and vest, black or dark col
ored pants were completely covered with mud
up to his knees. When he sat down he was
asked by Morgan: Who are you? What do
you want here at this time of night?' lie
pulled out cf his pocket a copy of the oath of
allegiance, and said "S Stop, I will show you
who | am, "-remarking that he got it in Bal
timorc last June On examination it proved
to be an oath of allegiance administered to
Louis Paine, of Fanquier county, Va, dated
Baltimore March IA, 1865 lie was further
interrogated by Mr.. Morgan as to his busi-
ness at the house at that time Of night with
pickaxe on his shoulder He said he had come
to dig gutter for Mrs. Surratt, and wanted
to know what time he should begin in the
years old, that he had no money, that he OBJ
tanned his living by working as a laborer
with that pickaxe. to which he seemed to
cling with peculiar tenacity. He stated he
could neither read nor write, that he had
been obliged to work on his fathers farm
in Fauquior county for living for the last
four years, and could not 60 to school that
he was down on the rebels, and much more of
the same sort of stuff, which only convinced
the officers that they were in the presence Of
party connected with the murdcrous assault
on Mr.. Seward.
He was subsequently interrogated by Maj
Smith and officers Sampson and Mermcr-
skirch, to whom he made various replies,
some of them conflicting with the stories he
had told Morgan. When asked where he in
tended to sleep that night, he said he did not
know, as he had no money, and the night
before he had slept On the railroad track.
The man was then conducted to the car
riage by officer Sampson, who took him to
General Augur's Office, where he underwent
search and another examination. when $25
ip money was discovered on his person, also a
pocket compass, with comb and brush, and
several minor articles Here he told other
stories as to his whereabouts for the last three
days. and as to his means Of support
A close examination and scrutiny of bis
person revealed a man of good physique,
about twenty-five years Of age, six fe ct high,
very good form, dark rich black hair, dyed
light complexion, and n refinement of person
which gave the lie to his profession OF hard
labor. His dress was much solcd, from eyi
dent exposure, but was of very good material
Had he been really well dressed he would have
presented the appearance of stylish gentle.
man.
The colored servant, who admitted the
murderer to Mr.. Stewards ON Friday night
was now sent for. The room was darkenc:
when he came in, the gas was turned on
when the boy was told to pick out the man
soon as his eyes fell on the prisoner, he threw
up his hands and exclaimed. :. There he is
know him 1 doa't want to ace him no more.
The only impression produced upon the mar
by this development was an apparent nervous
ness, but otherwise he seemed to master hi
feelings completely
Without further conversation, at about I
o'clock A. NJ. he was heavily ironed and sen
of to a safe spot, where he can never escap
from his captor, and where public violenc