The national Republican., 1866-12-24
The Burratt House.
The following correspondence will sufi-
ciently explain itself: r

The following correspondence will sufi-
ciently explain itself: ....
.a wAsnrNoros, Dec. 10, 1889.
EDITOR BosroS Posr Sir: I beg yery
respectfully to call your attention to The en-
closed paragraph, going the rounds Of the
papers, copied from the Post:
Is MRs. SUKRATrs HOUSE, HAUNTED -
There Is three-story brick tenement In the
middle Of block fronting upon one Of Wash
ington's lesser thoroughfares that is making
itself peculiarly obnoxious to timid people,
and ridiculous among the stouter hearted.
The building in question Is mono other than
that belonging to Mrs. Surratt In the
course Of settlement Of her estate, the house
In question was offered for sale, and even
then the public seemed shy and Indifferent
to the purchase, and so It came that prop
erty worth, by moderate comparison, 8l6,-
900, fell under the hammer at the insignif-
cant sum Of $4,000. The new landlord,
therefore, instituted such improvements az
entirely changed the aspect Of the property,
and all but transferred It's site, and III course
Of time came tenant, but not TO remain
In less than six weeks the lessee had flown
from beneath the roof, forfeiting his years
rental, and was ready to swear, with chatter
ing teeth, that his nervous system was shat
tered for lifetime. Others succeeded ~
the occupancy Of the house be had. vscated.
in turn, to make shudderins exit. Mn
surratts house is haunted. There can be no
reasonable doubt upon the subject She
herself persists in tire. ding is halls, and per.
ampuisting tne premises, In the dead Of night,
ciad IN those selfsame robes of serge in
which she suffered the penalty Of the law.
In costume she differs from the woman in
white unmistakably, but that the general
effect is none the less thrilling, and alto
gether fatal to the composure of he observer
Is positively averred by each successive occu-
pant Of the mansion."- Wash. Cor. Boston
Post.
What could have been the motives which
influenced your correspondent to pen such
an article can hardly imagine. From its
absurdity should judge him to possess q
vivid imagination. It's effect has been to
subjectmy family to the petty annoyance OF
curious people whose inquiring minds lead
them to explore these famous premises with
more freedom than genuine Yankee house.
wife is willing to permit The facts in this
case are simply these At the death Of Mrs
Surratt the house was rented bya lady y
occupied 1t until 1t was sold at aucts "ao
June Of this year, when 1t was pur~' ..oI ~, ~
one Of our wealthiest and most ;aasea ny
citizens, John O. McKeldep r.. enserPrissns
it was put in thorough ~ -. = hsq; Dy wnom a
Of OFT the most dsarasls residences % IN Wishing. 81 @
but not wiship- n the lst Of August last,
from New p to move my family here
in aid No, hampshire until cool weather set
her, Il occupy the premises until Octo-
nj. smce which time my family have occu-
y d 1t in peace and quietness-"n neither
olack spirits or white, blue spirits or gray
have as yet disturbed or in the least inter.
iered with my Occupancy. The only spirit
Barleycorn," and he would at once find him.
self in hot Water.
am very respectfully, your obedient ser.
want, GEo. w. BALLocH,
Brevet Brig. Gen. Vols, Chief Disbursing
officer Freedmen's Bureau.