The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-21
r-o,,.,,,s novelntlons OF surratt.


inalysis of competent jury, may warrant the
unnosition that bis conviction as an accessory
to tbe murder of Mr.. Lincoln is not an impro-
bable result of the legal investigation. In say
ing this much we do not of course, mean to
preiudee the case, but simply to hint at proba-
blities as indicated by the facts sworn to.
Testimony yet to be produced by the defense
NAV change the whole phase Of the case,
which, in its present bearing, would appear to
tell hard against the prisoner. Hints have been
thrown out that in case Surratt should be CON
yieted and condemned, chance for life Will be
offered TO him on consideration of his reveal
inc the whole story of the assassination plot
and the completely of all those connected with
it. Should these anticipations be realized, we
may expect some very curious, starting, ana
highly important revelations. Immediately
subsequent to the murder OF Mr.. Lincoln 1t
will be remembered that great many per-
sons, more or less conspicuous, were charged
with being connected directly or indirectly
with the bloody transaction. Indeed, the
charge was officially made by proclamation
of President Andrew Johnson on the I'd OF
May, 1885, in the following terms:-
A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
whereas IL appears from evidence in the
Bureau Of Military Justice, that the atrocious
murder Of the late President, Abraham Lincoln,
and the attempted assassination OF the bon. W.
ii. Seward, Secretary of State, were in1ited,
concerted, and procured by and between Jefer-
son Davis late of Richmond, Va, and Jacob
GEORGE N, sanders, W. 9. GleaTy, and other
Rebels and traitors against the Government OF
the United States, harbored In CaDada:-
Now, therefore, to the end that justice may be
done, i, Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States, do offer and promise for the
arrest of said persons, or either of them, within
the limits of the United states, so that they can
be brought to trial, the following rewards:-
One hundred thousand dollars tor the arrest
Twenty-Five thousand dollars for the arrest of
Twenty-Five thousand dollars for the arrest of
Jacob Thompson, late of Mississippi.
George N. Sanders,
Twenty five thousand dollars for the arrest of
Ten thousand dollars for the arrestof William
@. Cleary, late clerk of Clement O. Clay.
The Provost Marsnal-General of the United
States is directed TO cause description of said
persons, with notice of the above rewards, to be
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
of May, in the year of our Lord one thou
sand eight hundred and sixiy-tive, and of
the independence OF the United States Of
By the President: ANDREW JOHNSON.
w. HUNTER, Acting Secretary of State.
Now, as it has been shown by the evidence
that Surratt had repeatedly gone back and
forth between Canada and Washington pre-
Vious to the assassination, while many of the
parties mentioned in this proclamation were
resident in Canada, it is fair to presume that
he is fully acquainted with whatever know
ledge Jake Thompson, George N. Sanders,
Beverly Tucker, Clement G. Clay, and William
G. Cleary possessed of the plot to abduct or
assassinate President Lincoln. Surratt, acting
as the medium of communication between the
conspirators in Washington and the selfexiled
chiefs in her Britannia Majesty's North Ameri-
can possessions, where the schemes for hotel
burnings in New York and bank robberies in
st. Albans were securely concOcted, can pro-
baby tell when the plan of abducting Mr..
Lincoln was changed into the dernier resort of
his assassination. Nobody, surely, knows
better than Surratt when this change of pro-
gramme took place. 1t is a curious, we'll
known fact, that the abduction of Lincoln was
projected and discussed in the Southern
papers two or three years before his death.
Such plan was regarded at that time as fair
game. 1t was not very vehemently discou-
ragged, and there was little blame attached to
the idea even in the North, A reward was
offered by gentleman of Alabama-made no.
torious by the fact-for the capture of Presi-
dent Lincoln, and that gentleman has since
received the pardon of President Johnson.
1t is quite evident that, through the instru-
mentality of somebody, the plan of abduction,
with a view to hold Mr.. Lincoln as hostage,
was abandoned for the more terrible result OIL
the plottings which eliminated at Ford's
theatre, and it is reasonable to suppose that
Surratt is better acquainted with the circum
stances than any other man who is now inte
rested in making the revelation, and may, per
haps, assist in sounding the mystery to the
very bottom.
II is fresh in the memory of every one thai
when the collapse of the Rebellion was almost
inevitable, Jake Thompson, Sanders, and thu
other refugees in Canada got, hold of Greeley
through the instrumentality of Colorado
Jewett, and set on foot the memorable negotia
tions with Mr.. Lincoln in which Greeley anC
Jewett attempted to lead him into an absurd
compromise with Rebellion. 1t was imme
diately after these negotiations failed that th
assassination of Lincoln appears to have beeI
decided upon. 1t is presumed that Surrat
can tell the whole story, and no doubt he can
It is suggested that he may supply the testi
mony as to the completely of parties othe
than those who have already suffered, which
was so positively announced to be in the pos
session of the Bureau of Military Justice, bu
which, singularly enough, was not produced
upon the trial of the cOnspiratOrs who hav'
already expiated their crime. 1t may be tina
Surratt's confession, if he makes any, will
furnish this mysterious testimony which ha
not vet seen the light, and which it is desira
BILE for the furtherance of the ends of justic
and the vindication of the accused bot
living and dead, should be produced, If
has any existence either on the records OF tn
Bureau Of Military Justice or in the breast {
Surratt.
summer Session Of Congress.
From Che Independent
e.. ~ I,,JI 1. l.,