Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1866-12-12
From the Chicago Republican,
JOHN =, SURRATT.


Tie cable dispatch from Mr. Hale, tie
Z. s. consul at Alexandria, Egypt, to
the State Department at Washin. .on, an.
nouucing the arrest of John II. Surratt,
one Of the assassins of President Lincoln
recalls with painful vividnoss the horrible
crime in which he was principal actor.
and adds a new instance to the many
which the history of crime furnishes tie
almost unc-ring certainty with which JUS
tice seeks out the criminal.
Young Surratt is the son of Mrs. Mary
L. Surratt, who was foard guilty by a
military commission Of having been en-
gagged in the conspiracy that resulted in
the murder of President Lincoln, for
whici: she was hung at Washing ton on
the eth Of July, 1868, at the same time
with the cOnspirators Payne, Atzeroth
and Harold. 1t was at the house Of this
woman, as shown by the testimony before
the commission, and the confession Of
Atzeroth, tha, most Of the details Of the
assassination were arranged, aua next 20
j Wilkes Booth, the principal assassin,
Surratt appears to have been the most
active spirit engaged in the conspiracy.
He was the familiar friend and ooaipa.i;on
OF Booth for weeks before the assasyioa-
tion, meeting Lilu frequently at the house
Of ilrs. Surrati, and holding pgotr=cttd
secret interviews with him in his own
ROOM
tOne of tn plans Of the assassi ips was
to abduct President Lincoln while riding
out, but this failing, Surratt made sud,
den visit 70 Montreal. 1t was also in
evidence before the commission which
tried tas conspirators. that, within few
weeks previous to the assassination, he
had made trip to Richmond. While
there, he claimed to have had interviews
with Davis and Benjamin, and on his re-
turn was confident i'll his declaration that
the rebel capital would not be evacuated.
The fact of his visi, to Richmond was
one Of the circumstances which went to
connect Davis aud other rebel leaders
with the assassination conspiracy. lie
was present in Washington the day before
! the murder Of TIE President, and is be-
lieycd to have borne an important part to
that atrocious affair, but was never seen
in the city again. Conscious Of his guilt,
he fed from the scene Of his crime, as is
believed leaving Washington carly sha
morning Of the 18th of AGriI, going by
way OF Philadelphia and New York to
! S,rinef.ld, Massachusetts,, where he was
delayed lay in consequence Of the fail
ure Of the trains to connect.
From Springfield lie went by rail to
Burlington, VI, where, while taking his
snapper, he dropped lis handkerchief with
his namo marked upon it, but the fac,
was knoan too lale to effect his arrest
Arriving at St. Adams, he is reported 90
have left the rain, proceeding on foot to
Canada, making his way, finally, partly or
foot AMI partly by rail to Montreal. Here
lie was secre;cd for some time by rebel
sympathizers, but was reported at tie
time to have been seen Eear monastery,
where ho.4isappearcl.
Since that time nothing has been knovu
Of his whereabouts until few days agn
a European dispatch announced thut h.
had been discovered serving as 4 private
soldier in the Papal army. lie wss ar,
rested, but, succeeding in making his cs.
cape, he next appears upon the scene il
Hgy,t. The fact that an order has jecn
sent to have him conveyed to the United
States by one Of our way vessels now in
European waters, indicates that ne is safe
in the hands of Uni;ei States oGirer4.-
It is not improbable that his capture and
trial may lead 10 new and startling devei
opmen.s OF facts counected with the as
sassinati0n conspiracy.
STICK PIN TIEEGE.