The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-22

JUS II. SUKRATT-llow He EXPLAINS
Il. NISIr To CANADA AND ELMIRA.-The
agton correspondent OF the Boston
SAYS the following statement IS the
zee which Surratt ana lis friends set
z lis behalf:
"Surratt maintains, in the first place,
.. he had no hand in or intimation Of
..s riol for the assassination Of President
lincoln, General Grant, or any member
III" Cabinet. He says nothing of his
anticipation in a plot for the abduction of
Tie President, but as this is proven be-
ral a doubt, whatever he may say in
..trcrarl cannot weigh against the posi-
i've evidence.
Samuel Arnold, one Of the Dry Tor
:.-1s prisoners, il q confession which he
..d. land now on file in the War Depart
g. states that Surratt was present at
.-rr,Dg Dctd in March, 1865, at which the
.@H.u0u plot was virtually abandoned.
From this time the friends of Surratt
AIN thai he never appeared with the con-
..!ra:urS, but left for Richmond, where he
received special commission from the
.s1e! Government to 90 to Canada, and
.a-Acc to Elmra, New York. This COM
Mission related 70 the condition and treat
men, Of rebel prisoners in the hands OF
t- Government, and came from Jefferson
.a..s, through one of his subordinate
..y.Al,--G~neI0l c. T. Lee, a witness for
- Geirnc" on The late trial here. Sur
sit, bearin. tits commission, left Rich
.-544 in the last days of March, and ar
we'd at Washington on the morning
Il: the 81 day of hpril-the day
Tie news Of the fall Of Richmond
s.> received. He left the same afternoon
,r Montreal, Canada, and after comforting
o..t. lie rebel officials in that city, started
.. tie 18th Of April for Elmira, N. T.,
here he arrived on the afternoon OF the
.gl. He intended to make drawing OF
TIE prisoners depot at this place, obtain
Tie number OF prisoners there, and the
way in which they were treated, but aban-
doLyi the execution Of his commission in
Ills regard on hearing of the surrender of
Lee He started back for Montreal, where
b. arrived on the 18th Of April, and claims
,9hayc gone by the way of Canandalgua,
Albany, and Whitehall, to New York, and
,ii St. Adams, Vermont, where nc
aA't.'t. 4.IS L4.ALN IlIISl, 90 SN"st4Se ~
and Were lie first heard Of the assasslna-
%yu Of the President. From Montreal,
having seen the reward for his arrest, he
ven; into the country, aud was concealed
ty q Catholic priest until September,
When he embarked for Europe. The de-
.aee attempted TO prove On the recent
la. s.l ottLc details contemplated in Sur
&."syl>i, 10 Elmira, n. T., by this General
t.1.L,n, but the court refused to receive
evidence. The prisoner further claims
III, ,La confessions Of Payne and Atze-
..,.. on lie in the War Department, show
'e was not here on the day of the as
.:on, Tor neither OF them mentioned
Pre-. aacc az the conference held during
.e lay, Or the meeting.at the Hcrndon
" Sc which took place about two hours
lie. re the assassination, and at which time
Az. place Atzerodt pretcnds that he first
-rald Of the plot 10 murder, and from
"ach lie broke away, and in which pre-
tension lie is confirmed by the separate
y.uic,>lon o.: PAYNE, made without posi-
e COLLISION with AtZerodt. This is Sur
IS position, brief and simple, and fully
r..t!e Of proof, he claims, if he is per-
2..s,.1 10 present the evidence. 1t IS
..'~a, rs stated in the opening, as his re-
E..en.a;ion, through bis friends, and in
,.@. ..h: Il can be taken for what 1t is