Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-01-01
SURRATT.
his final Arrest in Egypt How the
Criminal was Traced and Finally Ap-
pretended.
Washington. Decemhar IN

- 'Ni' 3 tou3 december 10.
Inc correspondence sent to tho
House to-day, touching the arrest Of
John IL. Surratt, covers abont one
hundred foolscap pages. 1t es,ab-
llshes, conclusively, that the State
Department has Known Surratt's
whereabouts since early last Nav.
thus verifying the assertion made by
Governor Boutwell, The correspon-
denc includes letters from Consul
General Potter, of Montreal orr
Consul at Liverpool, Ministers King.
Marsh ond Harvey, Consul General
Hale, Of Egypt, &c. Il appears from
the papers that Surratt spent some
time, after the assassination. in Can
ada at Three Rivers, being protected
by the Catholic denomination. THOUGH
it is not known that his identity was
known to them. Thence he went to
Londonderry, Ireland, and was for a
while IN the Catholic oratory of that
city, leaving there for Rome early in
the present year AT Rome he en-
listed in the Papal Zouaves, serving
IN that body until arrested in No.
Vember. The correspondence shows
that the Government has the names
OF various vessels in which he sailed
from point to point, and generally a
tolerably full account Of his Journey
lngS, and disasters. Among the pap,
erS IS statement from a person
Qname withheld) who crossed the
Atlantic with him and who commu-
nlcates through the Consul at Liver
pool. Suratt was then passing I'M
der the name of Macarty. lie adj.
mltted to this witness that Booth
and himself originated the assassina-
ton conspiracy, and minated, with
out actually saying SO, that Jeff.
Davis IS privy thereto. He claimed
that he was in New York the night
the murder was committed, on his
way to Canada. lie owned to max
ing frequent trips between Richmond,
Washington and Canada, and said
his business was well known to many
persons in Richmond. He express
sed great satisfaction at the death of
Lincoln. His hair and whiskers
were dyed, and he seemed plentifully
supplied with money. His general
appearance was SO changed that it
was almost impossible to recognize
him, and although the Consul at Liv-
erpoo. knew his exact whereabouts
while in England, he slipped away be-
fore his identity could be established.
Such observation had been kept of
his actions that it was known on the
day Sos Fslee.lq r'.~s-'lc e. : II. &. :.
Rome, Minister King was properly
advised.
The story Of his identification and
arrest in Italy is very interesting.
1t appears that on the 22d of April, a
man whose name is also with held,
called on Mr.. King and stated that
he had known Surratt in Washing
ton and Maryland, and that he was
then under the name ofJohn WATSON,
serving in the Papal Zouaves. The
Minister was surprised, and at first
could hardly believe the story. His
informant was closely questioned,
however, and Mr.. King finally con
Guided that he was telling the truth.
The report was sent to Mr.. Seward,
and a long correspondence between
Messrs, Seward, Hale, Stanton and
King followed. The full statement
ofthe witness was taken down, show
ing that he had been q school teach
er in Prince George County, Mary
land that he knew Surratt, WEIGH
man, Mrs. Surratt and others of that
circle, and that he was informed re-
lative to all Surratt's affairs. lie
said Surratt bad told him of the con
spiracy had admitted his mothers
guilt, had expressed satisfaction at
LincoIn's murder, had given him to
understand that Davis was implica-
ted, and had expressed his purpose
to return to New York in year or
two. A photograph of Surratt was
sent from this country, and Mr..
King employed a discreet person to
compare his features with those of
the Papal soldier and the identity Of
Surratt, then posing as WATSON, was
thus fully established.
Two or three interviews had talk
en- place between Mr.. King and Car
dinal AntonelIi, and the Cardinal
was fully informed Of Mr.. Kings
knowledge, suspicious and plans.
We have no Extraction Treaty with
the Pope, and could not therefore
demand Surratt. Orders were. how
ever, given by the Cardal while the
investigation was going on, that
neither the criminal nor the witness,
who was also in the Papal service,
should be discharged without specif-
ic directions. Mr.. King, by Mr.. Sew
ards instructions, asked if Surratt
would be delivered up on the proper
indictment and proof, and he was
promptly ansveredin the affirmative.
| The Cardinal see ms from the begin
ming to nave most promptly second
ed the efforts Of our Government ia
the matter, and he himself ordered the
arrest Of Surratt, as soon as his iden~
tity had been fully established and
the necessary legal steps had been
taken.
The fact of his arrest and escape
from a guard OF six men is already
known. The orders Of the Papal au
thorities, and the regular reports ot
the Papal military officers touching
the matter are included in the cor
respondence. The Cardinal express