The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-08-02
MEs. SURRATT.

! As there nave peen some manltesta-
tions or expressions of sympathy for Mrs.
Surratt, who has ANONYMOUSLY paid the
penalty of her crime in connection with
the assassination Of President Lincoln,
the following resume Of the evidence
elected on the trial against her will prove
highly interesting:
Mrs. Surratt on whom the principal
interest will concentrate, is married
woman, Of about forty five years of age.
She has occupied good position in So
cioty, and owns a tavern and farm at
Surrattsville, thirteen miles from Wash
iugton City This tavern is now notori-
Gus as the residence of Lloyd, the prin-
eipal witness against Mrs. Surratt, and
who was evidently a conspirator, and
would probably have been tried, had it
not been necessity on the part Of
/ the Government to use him as a
witness. For some time past Mrs. Sur
ratt has resided on FL street, Washington
City, in respectable four story brick
house. Her residence has been the rem
devious for a select company Of blockade
runners Of both sexes, one Of whom was
her son, John II. Surratt, and who also
was one of the principal actors, probably
the 1nancior, Of the conspiracy which
eliminated in the assassination Of the
President. Mrs. Surratt's house was
also the rendezvous Of the conspirators,
of whom Booth was the leading spirit
| Payne lodged there on two separate occa-
sions. Atzeroth was proved to have
/ been there, and Booth was a frequent
and always welcome visitor.
Her household consisted Of herself, her
daughter, Miss Mary e. Surratt, Miss
Honoria Fitzpatrick, Mr. Holahan, and
Louis Welchman.
All Of these individuals have appeared
on the stand as witnesses, with the ex-
ceptiou Of Welchman, who has been con-
fined in the Old Capitol prison None of
them have been suspected of completely
in the plot, though they are known to
have been in sympathy with the Rebel
. Ion. The authorities at Washington
held Wclchman as prisoner, not being
willing to believe that any man was per-
mitted to know so much Of a conspiracy
without being intrusted with the whole.
| lie was called to the stand four times on
the part Of the Government, aud sub
Iiectod each time to a rigid and lengthy
. cross examination by the defense; but
notwithstanding all their efforts to prove
him co-oouspirator, FROM having been
employed by Booth, John IL. Surratt
and Mrs. Surratt, it was shown, beyond
doubt, that they ayaiIed themselves of
his good nature and obliging disposition,
without ever entrustiDg him with the
secrets of their scheme.
1t is hard to believe that a woman,
under the mask Of a oomely face and mild
domoanor, could eycr be guilty of com
plicity in q deed so foul and hazardous as
the capture or assassination Of the PreSi-
dent and the heads Of the Government;
but this Woman's history furnishes, per-
haps, the only instance in modern times,
of spirit as wickcdIy capable and malig-
nant as Lady Macbeth. We are ready,
however, to believe, for humanity's sake,
that John H. Surratt first determined
upon these terrible deeds, and that ho
aYaiiCd himself Of his mothers affection
to draw her into completely.
That the plot Of the l4th was not the
first attempt Of these dosperadoes, it isl
abundantly evident Wclchman testified
that about the Goth of March, while in
Mrs Surratt's parlor, she manifested
great excitement, and wePt bitterly that
her son John had left the city never to
return. That afternoon John Ii. Surratt
returned to the house in a state OF great
excitement, pacing the room more like a
maniac than a sane man he HouIished a
pistol, and sworo that his prospects were
blasted, and lis hopes gone, that he would
shoot any one who came into the room
he also was armed, aud was laboring I'M
der great excitement; be was immodi-
ataly followed by Booth, who, also, was
so much excited that he did not for some
time notice the presence Of Wclchman
Observing him, however, at a suggestion
from Booth, these conspIrators withdrew
to an upper room, where they held a
heightened interview. Ii Is evident that
these parties left Mrs SurratL's house
that day intent on some foul plot Of as
sassination; but, from causes which have
never been fully explained, the scheme
failed, and the guilty participators re,
turned, foilod, reckless and cnragcd.
The principal witnesses against Mrs.
Surratt were John III. Lloyd, the keeper
Of the SuuattsvilIo tavern, and Louis
Welchman. About six weeks before the
assassination, Lloyd testiGcs that Harold,
Atzcroth and John II. Surratt came to
Lioyd's tavern at Surrattsville, bringing
with them two Spencer carbines, fOrmid-
able seven shooting rifles, also ammuni-
ton and a rope. Surratt wished the wit
! ness to conceal these weapons, and be
] IL