Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-22
THE EVENING STAR.
ARREST oF THE SURRATr FAMILY;

THE EVENING STAR.
ARREST OF rHE sURRATr FAMILY.
Colonel Wells, Provost Marshal General Of
this Department, was pursuing investigation
INTO the recent assassinations. He had decided
IN arrest Mrs. Surrstt, who resides in this city,
~ No Sal II street, but So bsequently decided 70
arrest the whole family, including her daugh.
ter Kate, Two young ladies, whom she calls her
nieces, and two colored servants Col. II. s.
aIcot., Special Commissioner Of the war De-
partment, was called upon for the requisite
forces, and he detailed his Deputy r. @. Nor
merskirch and Sasch, OF the New York detse.
tive force, who, with Major Smith Ass tsd ~
Adjutant on Gen. AuGur's Staff, preceedeo 70
the house about II O'Clock. 49,. s,ons a,ons
Major Smith proceeded mp the Steps aIons,
The house being three Story Dli.h ia ~ LIZ
s.oop, and raped. A woman 1alseu VIM
Cow COW and a SEQ LEI me in" The door was
onened and the Major entered. Immediately
after the res. Of the party entered one by one,
nrtii Ali were in. The purpose OF the visit
announced and the inmates seemed some
wnat surprised, the daughter especially being
frightened, but the mother took IL calmly as
though she had been expecting Il.
They were all assembled in the parlor. and
cot allowed 10 communicate with each other
while the officers hunted up the bonnets,
khawts and shoes of the ladies, preparatory to
conveying them 10 Colonel Ingranam's office.
This took some little time, during which Miss
Kate SurTatt broke ont into sobs, seeming
for such an exhibition of her feelings
Jus, as the ladies were ready to proceed,
Officer Devoe having brought up carriage, q
loud rap was heard at the door. Mr. Morgan
.tepped into the ball, followed by Major
Smith and officer Mermerskirch, who were
each armed with pistol. Morgan opened the
door, man stepped in and the door was al
once locked by Morgan, who handed the key TO
Mermers kirch. The man seemed rather sur
pTised, and said, ~ guess I've made mis- take. :"
When asked what he wanted, he said he was
looking for Mrs. Surratt. He was assured
that he had made no mistake, and was told to
Sit down IN the parlor.
The women being now ready 10 depart, they
were 81 once put In the carriage. with officer
Devoe, who conducted them to the office of
the Provost Marshal, whence they were sub
secuently sent 10 the Old Capitol Prison.
The man who thus had entered the house bore
evidence at once of having partial disguise
He mad heavy pickaxe on MS shoulder, wore
a cap made from the bottom part of the leg of
q pair of drawers, which fitted closely to his
mead, and hung down behind, gray coat and
vest, black or dark Celored pants, a light pair
Of boots. Both boots and pants were COM
pIe,ely covered with mud up to his knees.
When ne sal down he WIS asked by Morgan:
sWho are yeui What do you want here at
this time OF night ~ He pulled out OF his
pocket q copy Of the oath of Allegiance, and
said. Stop, will show you who, am" fe-
marking that ne Got il in Baltimore last June.
On examination it proved to be an oath of al
leglance administered to Louis Paine, OF Fau-
Inier coanty, Virginia, dated Baltimore, March
II, lS65. He was further interrogated by Mr..
Morgan as to his business a the house at that
time Of night with pickaxe on his shoulder.
He said be had come to dig gutter for Mrs.
Surratt, and wanted TO know what time he
should begin in the morning. He also stated
hat be was but twenty years old; that he had
10 money, and that he obtained his living by
working as laborer with that pickaXe, to
WHICH he seemed 10 cling with peculiar tena-
city. He stated he could neither read ROT
write that ne had been obliged to work on his
fathers farm in Fauquier county for living
for the last four years. and could not go to
school; that he was down on the Rebels and
much more OF the same kind of stuff, which
only convinced the officers that they were in
the presence OF party connected with the
murderous assault on Mr.. Seward.
He was subsequently, inter rogated by Major
Smith and officers Sampson and Mermer-
skirch, 10 whom he made various replies, some
OF them conflicting with the stories he had
told Morgan. When asked where he intended
to sleep that night, ne said he did not know. as
he had no money, and the night before he had
slept on The railroad track
The man was conducted to the carriage by
officer Sampson, who took him to General Au-
gIrs Office, where he underwent search and
another examination, and S25 in money was
discovered on his person also pocket COM
pass, with comb and brush, and several mi.
nor articles. Here he told other stories as TO
his Whereabouts for the last three days, and
Is 20 his means Of support.
close examination and scrutiny Of his per-
son revealed man Of good physique, about
twenty-five years of age, six feet high, very
good form. dark, rich black hair, light COM
plexion, and refinement OF person which
His dress was much soiled, from evident ex.
posure, but was OF very good material. Had
he been really well dressed he would have
presented the appearance OF stylish gentle
nan.
The coiored servant who admitted the MUIR
derer 10 Mr.. Stewards on Friday night was
now sent for. The room was darkened; when
he came in the gas was turned on, when the
boy WAS told 10 pick out the man. As soon as
his eyes fell on the prisoner he threw up his
hands and exclaimed, There he is; know
Il r. hn
only impression produced upon the man by
this development was an apparent nervous
ness. but otherwise he seemed to master his
feelings completely.
Without further conversation, at ab out
O'Clock g. m he was heavily ironed and sent
off 70 safe spot, where he can never escape
from his captors and where public violence
canno: reach him.
While Mr.. Morgan was interrOgating Paine
a. the house, Major Smith and officer Samp-
SON were instituting search OF the dwelling,
which was continued by Smith, Morgan and
Mermerskirch after the departure of officer
Sampson with the prisoner. Much evidence
was found showing II to nave been regular
treason brewing nest. Letters were found
containing expressions of diabolical hate to-
ward the President, and In Miss Kate Suratt's
portfolio MAJOR Smith found an envelope ad.
dressed TO J. Wilkes Booth, National Hotel
A card, about half as large again as a playing
card, was found, which was certainly EN-
blematical OF the hate viii ch Secessionists have
fostered toward the President. On the top
was this line "Thus ioill 1t eper be Nth tyrants il
Their shield in the color of red, white and red,
and the original thirteen States. This was sur
mounted with the small Rebel flags, between
which was the State coat-of.arms OF Virginia,
with the motto, ''Sic Sempsr Tyrannisr Be-
meath this, in large red letters, s,Virgnia, the
Mighty, and at the bottom OF the card, in cir.
calar shape, another copy of Virginia's coat.
Of arms and motto.
The house was found in very dIsordered
condition, the beds all unmade, the clothes
piled on chairs, and everything in confusion,
showing very plainly that the inmates had
other business on hand than the usual bus-
ness OF housekeeping Two colored eryants,
man and girl-the first OF whom was found
sleeping on the back parlor f1oor-were also
apprehended and locked Washington cor
r,,Fon 6eRce y. y. Times.
FROM SAVANNAH