The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-11
JOHN Il. suRRATT.

The Platter OF the Assassination of President
Lincoin-Tesfim0ny Showing His Conn ecti0n
With the Murder, &c.
The announcement which we made a few days since
by telegraph from Alexandria. In Egypt. that John H..
Surrat the last OF the immediate consplrators who
plotted and executed the assassination Of President Lin
coln had just been arrested in that distant land seemed
marvellous II not providenta AS have before stated
year and half had elapsed since the fatal tragedy had
transpred, and he had not been heard Of not
whstandng the Secretary OF War hal publicly offered
Q reward Of 900 for his apprehension. He had
escaped the observation Of his many acquaintance and
the vigant eyes Of detective officers his land and
the swiftly changing Of interest and excitement in
this active nation, had almost removed him from our
minds when, thousands of miles away across oceans
and seas and national boundaries. among a people not
one in hundred thousand Of whom had over heard Of
him, and perhaps had ever him. his identity
was discovered He had been serving for time in
the Papal Zouaves, under the assumed name OF John
Watson. His company was quartered at vero, one Of
the frontier towns of the Apprentices This sequestered
village would to have been tho last place In which
to look for the fugitive from justice.
STILL General Rufus King, our Minister at Rome. heard
Of his whereabouts and communicated the fact 70 the
authorities at home. Cardinal Antoneli promised the
General all the facilities In his power for nsurng Sur.
rats arrest. A few days after, we arc informed
by correspondent Of the London Pos, the
Cardinal showed General King series OF Geographic
strucons from Rome and the replies also BY tee-
graph OF the authorities at vero and velletr They
steps taken In compliance with the order the
actual arrest the conveyance to prison. the removal
from prison under guard OF nve solders OF hts COM
when thus led out. Surratt alias Watson, made sudden
dash from his guards, jumped over precipice moro
than hundred feet high and though holly pursued
by fifty Zouaves enabled from the fact of their pre-
ferrpg crcutous route to get across tho frontier
into the Italian territory Mea-
General King announced the escape to Mr. Marsh our
Minister at the Italian Court and orders we're given to
watch all the seaports. Snrratt however. managed to
he was arrested by order Of Mr. Hale Consul Gen.
eral and taken to Constan.nope whence he will doubt
less be sent to this country.
It will not be reudeng surrat,s case to refresh the
memory Of readers with the connection he sustained
TO the assassination compiled they shall he from the
sworn testimony that convicted his confedcratss in
crime
John H. surratt is q single man, about twenty eight
years old he is srare built Eve feet ten inches hi D.
and has the appearance OF an Intelligent His ed
ucation partly obtained in the Philadelphia High
School, but finished in the St. Charles College, Maryland
miles from Washington city. in Prince Georges county,
Maryland His mother ut the time Of the aii0n,
owned hotel IN that village though she lived In Wash.
back and forth btween the rebel capital, Richmond,
and the northern rebel base Of cperations Canada
On the 9th and 7th of April, 1856, Surrat seen
in Montreal bv witness Sanford Conover, corespon-
dent Of the New York T,fbune IN the room OF Jacob
Thompson, Financial Agent Of the Confederacy. He
Benjamin. Secretary OF State. aud one IN cipher from
President Davis This witness. conover. though
In Virginia, but had escaped and In Canada o.
tabished himself In the confidence OF Thomuson: and
thus he Leaned me nssure o. the up
said, srhis makes the thing all right referring to the
assent Of the rebel authorities to the assassination Of
Lincoln "Mr Lincoln, Mr. johnson, tho Secretary Of
War; Judge Chase and General Grant TO BE- victims
of this plot Mr. Thompson said. Of tbsse
sons that it would leave the government enrev with
out q head" "From the whole OF his (Surraits, con-
vcrsaou Inferred that he to take his mart in the
conspiracy on the Presid mt and his Cshinet"
"0n the Path Of April" David G Reed testified.
"about three o'clock, AZ standing just below tho
atonn theatre John II Surratt and We bowed 10
each other as he passed" sAsk atft
Lous j. Wechman clerk in the once az Gen,rsl Hofr.
man. Commlssary General Of Prisoners testified that ne
boarded with MIRA SMrra IN Washington from the LIST of
j. Wkes Booth frequent visitor ~ the house. hav
ing private interviews with Mrs Surrat and with John
boarding Al the Merndon House for Lewis Pa,ne who
attempted the assassination OF cretarv Seward that
Surrat returned from Richmond on the Sd Of April icu
Immediately for Montreal, where he arrived the OH
and returned the 18th This witness stated that
Az rodt. who was u, have taken v,cs President
ssasd % see sarrsa soon sfsr Boo os began
visiting At Mira Surratts. and that he must
have called ten or fifteen times; that surratt
when he returned from Richmond, had nine Or eleven
$40 gold pieces, but had gold when he started 70
Richmond that on the 1lh dav Of April the day Of the
with her 70 rra,tsvile where she had private inter
Wow with N Floyd. her nant Of the hotel
This Mr. Floyd test ned that Ave sx weeks before
the assassination John H. Surratt DAVID Harold and
Ale rodt came 10 his house. and tfat surratt asked
him 70 conceal for him until called for two csrb,nea
Ma sa on Ia S sS% ,Ss od
HIM 10 get them out ready that they would BE- wanted
soon; that on the l4h OF April he found Mrs. urrau
hs house. who told him 70 have thnse shooting irons
ready that night. - there would BE- some parties
who would call for them; that about midnight
Harold 70 hts house anl eHaro,d FOR ODDS
sake make haste and get those things" thai he gave
him the carbnes whiskey and held glass; that tho
who was with Harold said;-r will ten you some news
We have a. fascinated the President and Secretary
Seward" that he supposed the man TO be Booth, &C.
Another witness, Il. l. Smoot who u ed about q milo
from Surrattsvle testified that Joseph T. Mott OF Sur
ratisvile. on being asked II he knew where Surrat
after he had been charged with beng one tie con.
snirator) smiled and said lac reckoncd Joan New
York by that time On being asked whv, he answered,
"My God John knows all about tho murder Do YOU
cato him l could have told Won tha' this
thing was coming to pass six months ago" He added,
keep that in your own skin. my boy. Don't mention
that, n you do, 10 will ruin me forever"
pUf TIER TESTIMONY nv LOUIS wElCuMAN
John II surratt is Catholic. and was q student OF
at college cxcesnt leaving college he sired tears
and .he President dppruach ng him. told him not 70
weep that bis conduct had been 80 excellent during the
three years no had been thorc that he would always no
remembered by those who bad charge Of the institution
John II surst 10 about six feet hgh with worry prCmi-
nent forehead. avery large aud sunken ewes; he
has goacc and worry long hair Of light color; my
acquaintance with John II. Surratt common ID the
fail OF 1850 at S. Charles College, Msryiasd left
college together In tho summer Of 1862 aud renewed
my acquaintance with HIM 10 January 1898. In this
city fwashing,onl on the FIRST Of November, 1854.
went 10 board at the house OF bis mother. Mrs
surrait at No SAL II street, between Sixth and
Seventh sree,s and boarded there up 70 the time or
the assassination; was upon very intimate terms with
John n surratt seeing him almost every day when he
at home sat at the sam, table, roomcd together
and shared The bed surrat was continually speak
ing about cotton speculatons and Of going Europe
some time In March man calling himself WOOD came
10 Mrs suras and Inquired for John H. Surratt that
tho pointing 70 Lewis payne; went 70 the door
and told him Mr. SurrAu not n home he thercupon
expressed desire 10 Mira surratt he stopped the
house all night no had supper served up in my room;
took Il TO him frum the Kitchen he rcprcented him.
sef Bapsiss preacher; about three weeks after he
called again; the lsst occasion he dressed In .
compiets suit OF gray returning from nv o1foe
day while Payne there went up stairs 70 the third
ory. and found Surrau and Payne seated bed
payine with bowie there also two rcvovers
and four sets Of new Supra The witness here Identified