The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-11
THE CAPTURE OF sURRATT.

The Assassination Planned at RIchmoud,
with the Assent OF Jefferson Davis.
The Montreal Herald, December 6, has the fol-
1--WE have to thank one of our fellow-citizens
for some interesting particulars relating to the
discovery and arrest OF this person (John ii.
Surratt). They are contain ed in q series of let
ters addressed to him by relative, gentleman
some time ago Well known in Montreal, but
who gave up his engagements here and after
serving in the American armies, enlisted in the
Papal Zouaves. It appears that during his resi-
dcnce the South he became very intimate
with the SurTatts, and, of course, was
thoroughly acquainted with the person of tue
one who is accused OF completely in the murder
of MIR. Lincoln. He had no sooner arrived in
Italy than he saw him and recognized him in
another company OF the Papal troops.
''The first of the letters which have been COM
munlcated to us merely speaks OF the writer
having hit upon something which was likely to
be worth great deal of money to him, without
mentioning the nature of the discovery. This
letter was written in April. In July be wrote
again, informing his correspondent here that he
had discovered here, in Italy, John H. Surratt,
one of the assassins of Lincoln, for whom you
know reward was offered of fifty thousand
dollars. / went to the Ambassador at Rome
and told him all ! knew. He Immediately
wrote to MIR. Seward in Washington for in
structions, which were received three weeks
ago. made declarationIunder oath of the facts
i kne W, which was sent to America, and now
expect TO be sent in few days to Washington
to give my evidence Writing again the lst of
OClODeT, Iue LOudNe gives some 1urLuoc DarJlCu-
lars, from which it appears that the representa-
tive of the American Government at Rome had
by that time received instructions from Wash
ington, in consequence of which he sent his
informant to see and converse with Surratt
from whom he learned that the assassination of
Mr.. Lincoln was planned at Ricnmond, and
with the assent Of Mr. Jefferson Davis. He made
another deposition Of these conversations, which
is no doubt by this time in the hands of the
authorities at Washington. He is now on his
way to this county.
'Of course, these statements are given as they
come to us. There is no doubt we think that
it was from the Information of the writer of the
letters now in our hands, that Surratt was de-
tected and arrested in the first instance, an
arrest from which it is known that he escaped,
and thus gave occasion to his subsequent cap
ture at Alexandria. We may, however, add that
we have always been 10th to believe that Mr..
Davis had anything to do with so foul murder
as that of the late President, and that with
every reason to suppose that the gentleman
whose letters we have quoted has acted in good
faith It would not be wise, upon the short state
ment az to the precise value of the conversations
which Surratt had with him in Italy; nor, with
out fuller examination of the facts, to con.
denim gentleman who, whatever his political
faults, has during a long life borne an irreproach-
able private character. 1t is somewhat remark
able that 1t was a Canadian in the American
service who earned the reward for the capture
of Booth and that it is another Canadian who
seems to have entitled himself to that offered
for the capture of Surratt."