The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-01-04
Z JOHN 4. SURRATT, y
Interesting History Of His Con-
RectiOn with the Assassination
Of President Lincoln. 5ss

neCtl0n Win the ASSASSINATION
Of President Lincoln. .s
The announcement, q few dayr
since, by telegraph, from Alexandria
Egypt, that John,H. Surrstt, the last
of the immediate conspirators who
plotted and executed the assassination
Of President Lincoln, had Just been
arrested in that distant land, seemed
marvellous if not previdential. I A
year and a half had elapsed since The
fatal tragedy had transpired, and ht
had not been seen or heard of, not
withstanding the Secretary of Wal
had publicly offered a reward Of S25,
600 for his apprehension. He had ca
capped the observation Of his many
acquaintanoes and the vigilant eyes
Of the detective officers. in his OWL
land, and the swiftly changing scenes
of interest and excitement in this nc
tive nation, had almost removed him
from our minds, when thousands 81
miles away, across oceans and seas
and pational boundaries, among q
people, not one in o hundred thou.
sand Of whom had ever heard Of him.
and perhaps none had ever seen him
his identity was discovered. He had
been ssrving for some time in the Pa
pal ZOuaves, under the assumed name
Of John Watson. His company was
quartered at Veroli, one Of the from.
tier towns of the Apprentices. This
sequestered village would seem Ia
have been the last place in which to
look for the fugitive from justice. ,
Still, Gen. Rufus King, our Minis
ter at Rome, heard Of his wherea-
bonts and communicated the fact -tC
the authorities at home They at
once directed his arrest. Cardinal
AntonelIi promised the General all
the facilities in bis power for iDsuring
Surratts arrest. A few days after
as we are informed by a correspond
ent ofthe London Post, tho Cardinal
showed Gen. King q series of tele-
graphic instructions sent from Rome
and the replies, also, by telegraph, oi
the authorities at Veroli and Velletri
They recorded the order to arrest
Surratt, dlids Watson the successive
steps taken in compliance with the
order; the actual arrest; the convey
ance to prisonj the removal from
prison under a guard Of FIVE soldiers Of
his company;but the series closed with
the announcement tnat, when thus
led out, Surratt dhaS Watson made a
sudden dash from his guards, jumped
overa precipice more than one hun,
dred feet high, and, though hotly. phr
sued by fifty zouAyes, was enabled
from the fact of their preferring q
more circuitous route, TO get clear
across the frontier into the Italian
territory. ,.a,s lf
The foregoing is the story told by
the Roman officials or course We
do not vouch for its accuracy. Gen
sral King announced the escapo tC
Mr.. Marsh, our Minister at the l,al
ian Court, and orders were given tC
watch all the seaports. Surratt, how
ever, managed to got out Of the king
dom, and had reached Egypt, wherc
be was arrested by order Of Mr.. Hale
our Consul General, and taken to Con
stantinople, whence he will doubtless
be sent TO this country 2.
1t will not be preiudging Surrattt
case to refresh the memory of oui
readers with the connection he sus
tanned to the assassination, compiloC
as they shall be from the sworn testi
mony that convicted his coufederatel
In crime. tt.t-.r. ~ ~. ..gt ~, !.
John III, Surratt ia q single man
about twenIy-eight years old, he L
spare built, Ave feet ten inches high
and has the appearance Of an intslli
gent man, His education was partly
obtained in tho Philadelphia Higl
School, but finished in tho st. Charles
College, Maryland, His father hat
given name to tho village Of Surratls
Vile, ten miles from Washington City
in Virginia. His mother, at the tim
Of the assassination, owned a'hotel il
that village, though she lived u
Wasbington, the bon boarding witt
her, when not passing back and fortl
between the rebel capitol. Richmond
and the northern rebel base of opera
tions, Canada. fg ftrrvvou - 'a.
On the 9th and 7th Of April, 1885,
Surratt was seen In Montreal, by wit
ness Sanford Conover, correspond
ent of tho New York Tribune, in th
room Of Jacob Thompson, Financis
Agent Of the Confedcacy. He ha
Just brought. dispatches from Rict
mond, one from Benjamin, Secretar
Of State, and one in cipher from Pre-
ident Davis This witness Conovel
though a Northern man, bad bee
compelled 10 serve the rebel cause /
Virginia but bad escaped, and ID Car
ada established himself In, the conf
| denoe Of .ThompBon and thus \