Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-10
SURRAFT
incidents 81 His CaPture-HOW he
Went 10 Rotne--DetasIs Of His Flight.

Went 10 Home Details of His Flight. 4
Oorrep ondene5 Of the Cincinnati Gazette.
WASHINGTON. January The Secreia- |
ny of State sent 10 the House, to-day, a
large number Of documents relative to the |
arrest Of John III. SuTratt. Many Of them
we're Of little interest, though attesting the
vigorous exertiOns Of our Minister at Rome
aud our Consuls at Naples and Malta 10
effect his seizure. Il appears from the pa
peers that Surratt took ont letters from Cana
Ia TO various persons In England, and az
forwards from parties in London and liy-
rrpool 90 persons in Rome. lie lived for
-ome weeks az the English ColleCeat Rome
the President thereof giving him money
from time % time. From this place be en-
tered the Papal service, under the name Of
Watson While in that service he gave
some attention 30 the study Of French, aud
Minister King incloses an original note
from him TO one Conner, the clerk OF a
book store in Rome in which Watson asks
that a French and English dictionary be
.ent him at the camp where he was sta
iioned. The clerk told Mr. King that
Watson claimed 10 be of Canadian birth,
and said that he had been a spy in the
Confederate service.
The documents contained nothing new
relative TO Surratt's arrest by the Papal
authorities, or his escape therefrom
Consul Swami writes that he reached
Naples on the 8th Of November. lie had
mo passport, was dressed in biz Z0uave uni
form, and claimed 10 be an Englishmau Just
escaped from Roman regiment lie said
he had no money and al his own request,
tine police gave him lodging in prison
They did not exactly hold him az a prisoner
hut being suspicious Of him, they kept him
under surveillance for three DAYS. He said
he had been IN Rome two months, serving
in the Papal Zouaves, before he was out Of
money; was thrown into prison for in
naturalization and escaped by Jumping from
q high window, his arm and back being
injured by doing 80.
On the third day after his arrival in Ma
pies, he asked TO be taken 10 the British
Consulate there He complained Of his
confinement. and having stated that he was
a Canadian, the Consul claimed his release
az a British subject, which was granted.
He excited a good deal Of sympathy at the
Consulates', by his poverty and appear
auce, and as he expressed great desire 20
return TO Canada, tie Consul procured him
a passage on the English ship Tripoli 10
Alexandria. Some sympathizing English
gentlemen gave him money and paid his
board on the steamer The vessel coaled
at Malta, and Consul Winthrop, at that
point, made most strenuous efforts to secure
Surrait, bat, g. is already known, without
success. The correspondence shows plainly
enough that the English authorities we're
not at all anxious 70 aid the Consul; and,
indeed, they seem 10 have thrown every
possible obstacle in his way. Surratt
passed on shipboard there under the name
Of John Augustine. Consul Winthrop
communicated all the facts TO Consul Gen
eral Charles Hale, at Alexandria, both by
letter and telegraph, and he effected Sur.
rats arrest, rs previously announced, on
the 9th Of November. Mr. Hale writes
on that day as follows: 1 was fortunate
IN finding the man in quarantine, among
the secOnd-clsss passengers. IL was easy
enough 10 distinguish him, among the
seventy-eight persons Of this class, by his
almost unmiatakable American type of
counienance. | said at once to him, You
are the man ] want; you are an Ameri-
can He said, Yes, sir, / am' | said,
You doubtless know why ] want Won.
What is your name He promptly
replied, Walters said, q be-
lieve your true name is Surratt" / then
arrested him, mentioning my official posi-
lion ss United States Consul. The director
Of the quarantine speedily arranged a suf
hcient escort, by whom the prisoner was
taken 10 a safe place within the quarantine
walls He walked close at my side while
being removed, but made no remark what
ever during the walk, displaying neither
surprise nor irritation. When we arrived
al the place Of confinement, ! gave the
usual magesterial caution that he was not
obliged 20 FAY anything, and told him what
he did say would be taken down in writing.
lie answered 81 have nothing to saw. /
want nothing but what is right He de
clarsd he had no baggage, no passport, and
only ak francs in money He has no pa
pers and no clothing but what he wears
His companions say he come 20 Naples as
a deserter from the Papal service have
not the least doubt but that the man is
ohm H. Surratt.
"His quarantine will expire in eight
dave, when he will be received into the
prison Of the local government which cor
daily give me every assistance"
The correspondents further shows that
Surratt was transferred from quarantine 20
prison on the 29th Of November, that he
coBatnnily maintained a reticent demeanor,
and was finally delivered on board of our
gunboat by order Of the government, on
the DIST Of December, and is now on his
way 10 this country. The person So. Marie
through whom his arrest in the Papal ser
vice was made, has been released from the
Roman Legion, and is also coming home
on the same ship.