The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-12-22
BOLTVAR, HARDBLAT COUNTY, TENN, December %, 1866
Arrest of surratt the Consplrator-
Narrative OF his Wanderings.


Arrest of surratt the Consplrator-
Narrative OF his Wanderings.
The official correspondence touching the
i arrest of John II. Surratt covers about one
/ hundred foolscap pages.
J 1t establishes conclusively that the State
/ Department has known Eof Surratt's where
: abOutS since early last May thus verifying
/ the assertion recently made by Gov Bout
I well. The correspondence includes letters
/ from Consul General Potter. of Montreal,
/ ourEConsul at Liverpool, aSMinisters King,
Marsh and Harvey, Consul General Hale in
Egypt, etc.
sURRATT IN CANADA
It appears from the papers that surra t
/ spent some time after the assassination in
1 Canada, at the town of Three Rivers being
protected by the Catholic denomination.
/ it is not shown that his identity was known
to them. Thence he went TO Londonderry.
and was for a time IN the Catholic Oratory
of that city, leaving there for Rome early
in the present year.
wANDERINGs.
At Rome he enlisted among the Zouaves,
serving IN that body until arrested in No
yember.
The correspondence shows that the Gov
I
which he sailed from point to point. and gene
rally tolerably full account of his wander
ings and DISCUSSES.
/ THE UNNAMED WITNESS
! Among the papers is long statement
/ from a person whose name is withheld, who
crossed the ocean with him, and who COM
/ municates through the Consul at Liverpool
/ Surratt was then passing under the name
of Mccarthy. He admitted to this witness
| that Boothe and himself originated the
| assassination conspiracy, and intimated,
without exactly saying so, that jeff Davis
was privy thereto. He named that he was
! in New Y orz the night the murder was
/ committed on his way to Canada He
owned TO making frequent trips between
Richmond, Washington and Canada, and
said his business was well known to many
! persons in Richmond He expressed great
satisfaction at the death of Lincoln His
hair and whiskers were dyed, and he seemed
! plentifully supplied with money. His general
/ appearance was so changed that It was al
most impossible to recognize him, and the
Consul at Liverpool knew his exact where
abouts while in England He slipped away
before his identity could be established
Such observations had been kept of his
actions that it was known on the day he
shipped that he was bound for Rome
Minister King was properly advised Of
the story of his Identification and arrest in
Italy
IDENTIFICATION AND ARREST IN ITALY.
It appears, on the 22d of last April, man
whose name is also withheld, called on Mr.
King and stated that he had known Surratt
in Washington and Maryland, and that he
was then under the name of John Wasson,
serving in the Papal Zouaves. The Minis
ter was surprised and at first could hardly
believe the story His informant was closely
questioned, however and Mr.. King finally
concluded that he was telling the truth.
/ The reportgWas sent to Mr.. Seward and a
long correspondence between Messrs
Seward, Hale Stanton and King followed
The full statement of the witness was taken
down showing that be had been a school
teacher in Prince George county, Nd that
he knew SurTatt, Weicham, Mrs. Surratt and
others of that circle, and that he was well
informed relative to all Surratts affairs He
said Surratt had told him Of the conspiracy,
had admitted his mother guilt, had expressd
satisfaction at Lincoln's murder, had given
him to understood thatD was implcica-
ted, and had expressed his purpose to return
to New York In a year or two
A photograph of Surratt was sent to this
country and Mr. King employed a discreet
person to compare his features with those of
the Papal soldiers, and then the identity Of
Surratt then passing as WassOn, was thus
fully established Two or three interviews
had taken place between Mr. King and Car
dinal AutoneIii, and the Cardinal was fully
informed of Mr. Kings knowledge, sus-
picious and plans
We have no extraditiOn treaty with the
| Pope and could not, therefore, demand Sur
ratt
Orders were, however, given by the Car
| dinal while the investigation was going on,
that neither the criminal nor the witness,
| who was also In the Papal service, should be
! discharged without specific directions.
Mr. King, by Mr.. Stewards Instructions,
asked If Surrat would be delivered up on
proper Indictment and proof, and he was
/ promptly answered IL the affirmative.
The Cardinal seems from the beginning to
! have most promptly seconded the efforts of
our government in the matter, and he him
| self ordered the arrest Of Surratt as soon as
his identity had been fully established, and
the necessary legal steps had been taken
The fact of his arrest and escape from q
guard Of six men Is already known.
REGRETS AT HIS ESCAPE.
The order of the Papal authorities and
the regular reports of the Papal military Of
ficers touching the matter are included in
the correspondence. The Cardinal expires
sed great regret at Surratts escape.
The most vigilant efforts were at once re
sorted to to re-arrest him lie was traced to
a hospital at sara, and thence to Naples pas
sing in the latter city under the name Of
Walters He escaped from Naples before
ne could be arrested.
TRACED TO AFRICA.
The authorities, knowing he had taken a
steamer for Alexandria, the necessary in
formation and suggestions were sent to Con
sui General Hale. Assistant Naval Secre-
tary Fox reached Rome about this time, and
he and BIr. King sent word to Admiral
Goldsborough, through Minister Harvey, at
Lisbon, to dispatch one Of his vessels OF
war into the Eastern Mediterranean.
HIS Ar REST AT ALEXANDRIA
Mr.. Hale effected Surrutts arrest as soon