The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-14


point of the diplomatic correspondence in
relation to the escape of John II. Surratt
to Europe, and his arrest in Rome, whittier
he escaped to Egypt, where ne was subse-
quently rearrested. The foreign news by
the cable, already given, stated that the
man who gave the information which led
to the arrest of Surratt is a French Cana
dian, named st. Marie. lie was formerly
q Union soldier, and afterwards served in
the Papal Zouaves. Both he and Surratt,
it is alleged, were in love with the same
lady in Washington, and st. Marie be-
trayed Surratt through Jealousy. The fol-
lowing is said to be the affidavit of ST. Ma
rie, on which Surratt was first arrested
while serving as a Papal Zouave
"I was living in Maryland, at a small
village called E~llangowan, or Little Texas,
about twenty-five or thirty miles from Bal
timorc, where | was engaged as teacher for
a period of about five months. There and
then got acquainted with Lewis J. WEIGH
man and John III. Surratt, who anne to
that locality to pay a visit to the parish
priest. At that first Interview great deal
was said about the wal and slavery, the
sentiments expressed by these two indi-
viduals being more than secessionist. In
the course of the conversation | remember
Surratt to have said that President Lin
coin would certainly pay for all the men
that were slain during the war. About a
month after l removed to Washington,
at the instigation Of Wsichman, and got
q situation as tutor - where he
was himself engaged. Surratt visited
US weekly, and he once offered to
send me south, but 1 declined. / did
not remain more than a month at Washing
ton, not being able to agree with WEIGH
man, and enlisted in the army of the
North, as stated in my first statement in
writing to General King. have met Sur
raft in Italy, at a small town called Velle-
tri. He is now known under the name of
John Watson. / recognized him before he
made himself known to me, and old him
privately, you are John Surratt, the per-
son | have known in Maryland He ac-
knowledged he was, and begged of me to
keep the thing secret. After some con-
vcrsation we spoke of the unfortunate af-
fair of the assassination of President Lin
coin, and these were his words Damn
the Yankees, they have killed my mother.
But | have lone them as much harm as /
could. We have killed Lincoln, the niggers'
friend He then said, speaking of his
mother, Had it not been for me and that
coward Weichman my mother would be
living now. 1t was fear made him speak
had he kept his tongue, there was no
danger for him. But if | ever return to
America and meet him elsewhere, | shall
kill him. He then said that he was in the
secret service of the South, and WEIGH
man, who was in some department there,
used to steal copies Of the dispatches and
forward them to him, and thence to Rich
mond. Speaking of the murder, he said
they had acted under the orders of men
who are not yet known, ONE of whom are
still in New York, and others in London.
I am aware that money is sent 10 hin yet
from London. When | left Canada,
he said, l had but little money,
but / had a letter for 4 party in
London. / was in disguise, with dyed hair
and false beard that party sent me to a
hotel, where he told me to remain till |
would hear from him after a few weeks he
came and proposed to me to go to Spain,
but | declined, and asked to go to Paris.
He gave him seventy pounds, with a letter
of introduction to a party there, who sent
him here to Rome, where he joinedthc Zou-
ayes. He says he can get money in Rome at
any time. believe he is protected by the
clergy, and that the murder was the result
of a deeplaid plot, not only againstthe life of
President Lincoln, but against the existence
Of the Republic, as we are aware that priest
hood and royalty are, and always have
been, opposed to liberty. That such men
as Surratt, Booth, WeichGan, and others,
should, of their own accord, plan and exc
cute the Internal plot that resulted in the
death of President Lincoln, is impossible.
There are others behind the curtain who
have to make these scoundrcls act. Ihave
also asked him if he knew Jefferson Davis.
He said not, but that he had acted
under instructions Of persons under his
immediate orders. Being asked if JEFF
ferson Davis had anything to do with
the assassination, he said Il am not
going to tell you Ny impression is that
he brought the order from Richmond, as
he was in the habit of going there weekly.
He must nave wished the others to do it,
for when the event took place he told me
he was in New York, prepared to fly as
soon as the Iced was done. lie says he
does not regret what has taken place, and
that he will visit New York in a year or
two, as there is a heavy shipping firm there
who had much to do with the South, and
he is surprised that they have not been
suspected. This is the exact truth of what
| know about Surratt. More l could not
learn, being afraid to awaken his suspi-
cions and further | do not say"