Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-07-20

Much has been said in the public press in
regard to the execution of Mrs. Surratt,and |
various means have been employed to
create sympathy for her, and stir up
opposition TO the Government. 1t is well |
to reprint the resume of evidence against
Mrs Surratt:
The principal witnesses against Mrs. Sur |
ratt were John VI. Lloyd. the keeper of the |
/ Surrattsyille tavern, and Louis Wolchman.
! About six weeks before the assassination,
! Lloyd testified that Harold, Aizcrodt and
John II. Surratt came to Lleyd's tavern at
! Surrattsvillc, bringing with them two Sren
Ger carbincs, formidable seyon-shoOting
rifles, also ammunition anda rope. Sur
ratt wished the witness to conceal these
weapons and no himself showed Lloyd
where to conceal them, between the joists
and the second floor
On the Monday preceding the Friday of
the murder, Wechman was sent by Mrs.
Surratt to Booth to obtain from him the
the use ol his horse and buggy. Booth had
sold the buggy, but gave Welchman $40,
with which to hire one for Mrs Surratt.--
He did so, and drove her to Surrattsvile,
to Lloyd's tavern. What took place there
is not fully known. nthe afternoon OF the
l4th, the day Of the assassination, WEIGH
man again drove Mrs Surratt to Loyd's
tavern, Booth having had conference with
her few minutes before she left. Wech.
, man testlfics that, on thai occasion, she took
with her two parcels Lloyd testifies that
these parcels contained field glass and two
bottles of whisky, and hat in her conference
: with him. she desired him to have those
sheotingrons ready for parties who would
: call that night"
1t was afterwsrd known in Washington
that other facts had come to light a. con-
elusive as any which came out upon the
:. stand, implication Mrs, Surratt in these
!, deeds of death During the ride to Sur
:. rattsville, on the afternoon of the l4th she
q inquired of person who lived on the road
n if the pickets remained out all night, and on
. being told that they were called in al
!. o'clock, replied that she was glad to know
= it. On the evening of the l4th of Apri
=. she was pacing her sitting-roon, counting
. her beads, in a state Of highly nervous
!. excitement. A torchlight procession wa
h parading the city in celebration of tn,
~ national victories; sheinquired of Welchmal
. the direction the procession was taking
rs remarking that she had great interest IL
70 that procession. She desired Welchmai
70 and her daughter, Miss Surratt, also Mis-
Df Fitzpatrick, to pray for her intentions
L
- noise with their talking and laughter, an
10 she excitedly bade all of them to leave tn
- room Before this, some one came to tn
- y house and rang the bell. Mrs. Surrat
= answered at the door. 1t was afterwar
y. ~ known that the person who called was J
:" Wilkes Booth, who doubtless came to il
i auire the result Of her visit to Lloyd's taver
~ and to ascertain if the arrangements mad
- were such that he might rely upon then
~ ~ The fact that Lloyd had the shooting
~ .. irons" ready, in obedience to Mrs. Surratt
"a M instructions, and that Booth and Hayrolt
@ ro in their flight after their guilty deed, d
Id call at Lloyd's tavern and obtained enc
na na the two oarbines, Booth confessing h
%. o. inability from his wound to carry the othe
- leaves 10 question as to Mrs. Surratt
no guilty knowledge of the participation in Il
~ -, conspiracy.
as, oc Another proof of the guilt Of this wont
' 'oo is circumstantially furnished in the retu
,ast of Payne to her house, as to place
or ,a refuge. after three days and nights of skull
o or ing before the pursuing officers Of justice.
ha The Surratt house was taken possession
an n' by a military guard. Thoy had not occu,
~ ed it an hour, when a ring at the door W
,oo,' heard 1t was answered by an officer.
A'o man stood at the door, hpving dirty han
.,o and soilea garments, pick upon
;n, shoulder and upon his head, for cap, wi
';ar ';" aiterward proved to be sleeve cut from
nra wooden shirt.
Gre Gre Finding himself entrapped, he profess
up to account for his visit at so unseasonal
., an hour bv stating that he had come to
da, ,hn I,aiH ~; | BE- so;a bo .s Iahor;
i'm o,ne, ,hi.L,eI nI 'am "o wa wa n,,n, ,an
for o., nu u; ',iI' H., ' n"a w oy G ;n aI that
I've I've had to sleep in the trenches round Washil
Ian Ino ton. The discovery of $40 bill, too
'o, M brush, pockst-compass, a ar Of proma
!, oon ~ pocket-dictionary and other items VIII
: t." laboring man do not usually carry, v
,ho T." deemed sufficiently suspicious to detain hi
,he .he Mrs Suiratt was asked if she knew hi
'he and she solemnly appealed to her God Il
81. she hadnever seen him before. This man
ouA .a Lewis Payne, the assassin Of Secrets
~ Seward