The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-01-18
Particulars of The Arrest of Surratt.

i
The following is Consul General Hale S
letter in full, relative to the arrest IF Sur
rett. 1t is dated at Alexandria, Egypt,
and is addressed to Secretary Seward
agency AND CONSULATE GENERAL
OF TIE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Nov. p, 1866.
SIR have the honor to report that in
consequence of telegram received via Con-
stantinople from Mr.. King, United States
minister at Rome, and of several letters re-
ceived from Mr. Winthrop, United States
consul at Malta,-the Mediterranean wire
being unfortunately broken between Malta
and this place,-I have this day arrested a
man calling himself Walters, dressed in the
uniform OF zouave, who arrived at Alex
andria on the 23d inst, in the steamship
to be John Harrison Surratt, one of the
conspirators for the assassination of Presi
dent Lincoln. The telegram and some of
the letters having been delayed in the trans
mission, was fortunate in finding the man
still in the quarantine, among the third
class passengers, of whom there is no list
whatever. L. was easy to distinguish him
among IS of these, by bis zouaye uniform,
and scarcely less easy by his almost unmis-
taxable American type of countenance. |
said at once to him ''you are the man |
want you are an American. He said,
eyes sir, am" | said, you doubtless
know why | want you. What is your
name" Hereplied promptly. walters. :"
L said, Il believe your true name Is Sur
raft, and in arresting him [ mentioned my
official position as United States consul
general.
1.-The director Of quarantine speedily ar
ranged sufficient escort of soldiers, by
| whom he was conducted to a safe place
within the quarantine walls Although the
walk occupied several minutes, the prison
! er, close at my side, made no remark what
ever, displaying neither surprise nor irrita-
ton. Arrived at the place prepared, | gave
him the usual magisterial caution that he
was not obliged to say anything, and that
anything he said would be at once taken
down in writing. He said, Il have moth
ing TO say, | want what is right He de-
clared he had neither passports, nor bag
gage, nor money, except six francs. His
companions confirmed his statements in
this respect. They say he came to Naples
a deserter from the papal army at Rome.
l find that he has passes and no clothing
but those he IS wearing. The appearance
of the prisoner answered very well the des-
cription given of Surratt by the witness
Weichman at page ll6 of Pitman's report
officially sent to me by the government, and
is accurately portrayed in the likeness OF
Surratt, in the frontispiece Of the same
volume. ar. King and Mr., Winthrop
speak III confident terms of the identity o.
the zouave Walters and Surratt, and after
seeing the man | have not a shadow Of {
doubt Of it. According to the well estab
lished public law Of this place, as the rris
oner avowed himself an American and sub
mitted without objection to arrest by me
on my statement that | acted fer the Uni
ted States, and especially as he has no pa
per to suggest even prlma facia claim fol
belonging to any othes jurisdiction, there i,
no other authority which can rightfully
interfere here with his present custody, anC
| have good reason for saying that no at
tempt at interference will be set on foot by
any authority whatever pretentons h.
makes. The prisoners quarantine will ex
pire on the 10Th. He will then be received
into the prison of the local government
which cordially gives me every assistance.