Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-05-12
Trial Of the fonspirators.
THE PARTIES ARRAIGNED..
r. THEIR ANrECEDENTS.


-- THE PARTIES ARRAIaNED.. -
- THEIR ANTECEDENTS. q
The prisoners now on trial on charge OF
being concerned in the assassination con.
spiracy are David E. Herold, George A. Atze-
rott, Lewis Payne, Michael OLaughlin' Id
ward Spangler. Samuel Arnold, Mary f.
Surratt, and Samuel E. Mudd. we have
already given the antecedents Of some OF these
parties, and as there is a general interest to
know all possible concerning them, we append
the following further particulars coming to
our knowledge:
sf5.1 -a,.--s MRS STRRATT .y.
Mrs. Mary E. Surratt was raised near
Waterloo, on Calyerts manor, in Prince
Georges county, Maryland. Her maiden
name was Jenkins. Her father died when
she was quite young. AS she grew up she
displayed considerable force Of character, and
expressed a desire to have q better education
than was obtainable In her neighborhood, and
che was sent to a female seminary In Alex.
andria.
Returning to her mothers home, she became
an acknowledged belle in Prince Georges
county. and quite as noted for her strong will,
she seldom falling in anything she undertook.
She married Surratt about the year 1885, and
the couple first settled at place known as Con-
din's Mill, near Camp Stoneman, (Giesbero)
which property Surratt inherited from an
uncle, named Neal. After they had lived here
q few years, the house was set on fire by .helr
slaves, who seemed to have been infuriated by
some cruelty to which they were subjected
through the imperious will of Mrs Surratt
The Surratts barely escaped from the fire with
their lives. 90 - '~.-' .
Surratt afterwards engaged on the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad as contract and
on finishing his work returned to Prince
Georges county, and bought a farm, on which
he established the ia vern known al SIS urratts,"
and afterwards was appointed POSTMASTER at
that point, but he being an pneducated man,
the duties OF the office devolved upon his
wife.
They had three children, daughter and
two sons: One of the latter (Isaac) went South
at the outbreak of the rebellion, entering the
southern army, 1t is said. The other son { john
staid about home, spending hts time in idleness
or worse. The father was known as a pro.
slavery man, and a sympathizer with the South
in the rebellion to some extent, but was not
looked upon as an open secessionist. He was
an inoftensive, good.tempered man. and was
generally esteemed in his neighborhood. He
died very suddenly about three years since,
and soon afterwards his widow leased the
property and came to this city, where she
opened boarding house on II street, which
house has since become notorious as the scene
whefe was concocted some OF the most stupen-
dous deviltry Of the worlds history.
''Surratt's' (house and farm) ia situated on
the mail route from Washington to Leonard
town. Md and is twel~s miles from Wash
lngton post office, at the junction of the MARI
borough and Piscataway roads, The house is
comfortable two-story double frame build.
ing containing nine rooms, and ON the front
and one side are portcos for the visitors to en-.
JOY the fresh air during the sultry seasons.
The farm is we'll adapted tor gardening pur-
poses, and though not very extensive is profit.
able tor wheat and tobacco.
John NJ. Lloyd, the party to whom Mrs.
Surratt leased the premises, came originally
from Port Tobacco, Md, we believeys He is
we'll known in this city as one of what was
known as the "Berret Police" of which force
but seven declared themselves in favor OF the
Union. s,>-.
Since the rebellion we had lost sight OF
LIeyd until his late arrest. Last year he
leased the Surratt house at q rent Of 700 Der
annum, and continued to keep up the old
tavern. Lloyd was arrested after the assasst-
nation and taken to Bryantown and delivered
TO Provost Marshal Wells.
When the officers were on the trail of Booth
anu 6oIOlQs Ouo "a tucm WHO knew lllOyC
saw him under arrest, and remarked to him
"You have got yourself into a nice scrape"
Lloyd replied, ayes; don't know how 1 did
it," and preceded. to tell that some time ago
two carbines and some pistols were left at the
house. The Friday before the assassination,
Mrs. Surratt came to the house and told him to
have the carbines and pistols ready, as two
gentlemen would call for them. The night Of
the ASSASSINATION Booth and Herold rode mn 10
the door. Herold dismouD ted and went in and
took a carbine and the pistols Booth would
not take his carbine on account of his lame
ankle. They took something to drink and
rode off. c.
A romancing correspondent Of New York
paper states that .sSurratts yiIle," asohe terms
It, contains nine or ten dwellings. ThGfact is
that there are no dwellings there but those be.
longing to the tavern premises! proper-the
house, stable barn, &c. .s,.
.rr- OLAUGHLIH p-e
Michael O'Laughlin is young man of 25 or
whereabouts. In size and some other particu-
lars he resembles Booth, with glossy black hair
and black mustache, and rather gentiemanly
appearance. He halls from Baltimore.
O'Laughlin was the first person confined on
the monitor He was brought from Baltimore,
where it is said he surrendered himself to the
military authorities. tIHsA ..' ~
q = +ATZEROTT FE
George A. Atzerott is Short thick. set, round
shouleered, OF muddy complexion, with brown
hair, light colored mustache and geates, aged
about 33. and 10, blacksmith by trade He
was born in dermany, but, raised, we learn,
In Charles county. Nd, where he has spent
mcstof his life. His character has stood none
Of the best heretofore, and for some years he
had been living with q woman not his wife
near Port Tobacco, by which woman he has
one child. For some months previous to the
assassination he had been missing from Port
Tobacco. and it is believed he had been engaged
in blockade running and other traitorous
praetlces. 7'5' 81