New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-20
THE ASSASSINATION CONSPIRACY.

Minister Resident 10 Ecuador
THE ASSASSINATION CONSPIRACY.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT
THE PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF SURRATT
THE SEARCH FOR sURRATT'S ABETTORS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The Speaker laid be-
fore the House a message from the President OF the
United States incosng communication from the secre-
ry OF sta together with the following letter from Geo
A. Sharpe, dateo Kingston, N. y, July Is, 1907
Hon. w. H. SEWARD, s,y;ffdry Of State
SIR In the month o % January last left for Europe
pursuant TO siructOns from the State Department ~
which twas told that there might be reason 10 appehehd
tnt ctgens 81 the limited States IN Europe other than
those who had heretofore been suspected or charged with
the O1ense Dsgators or concerned IN the assassl
nation OF the ate PRESIDENT 1nsV anu tne 6ped
proper In connection with the anticipated tal OF JOhh
IT, Surratt TO make effort 10 identity such persons,
and It was made my duty 10 examine any evidence
existing abroad, so that the Government might gudRe
whether not ought To demand the surrender OF any
persons in Europe. My attention drawn To the cir,
cumstances already developed that the cCnspratos had
made use Of considerable sums OF money III iaNeng 10
and from Canada and elsewhere In the pay OF the Confed
crates In providing means OF retreat and refuge IN the
hire OF horses and boats ana IN liberal eNIenul.uIvs
through the long preparation and execution Of the plot
These moneys which must have amounted IN the agge-
gate 10 large sums, were furnished 70 mem III gQu, az
time when 10 very difficult for private individuals 10
obtain and when even Official beIsonases Vteo is ~,
ployment unless InpeiatlNely dehahueu iol VIZ us -,
the G9yernihent. was snrratf sncb paper rs
and evidence might be brought forward as would tend TO
direct inquiries In Europe. ON my arrival IN England
communicated with leading Rebels there or on the con,
tinent HE way the Papal States smratt reached
30 he left for London on the o'clock train arriving ut
the Eastern Square station about o'clock r. NJ Follow
tros portion of The London cabs, It thought that
clue was obtained 10 the particular cab when
Of the e" TAIN S,i 10 The driver OF The cab
ferred 90 was found. but was an old man
Frustrated with serious lingering disease from which he
did during my stay IN London ana was inca
Ties uafie
tending 10 throw light on surfatts connection
through letters from Sr. Adams brought into COM
municatiOn with our consus at London ana Liverpool
from whom, ~ Mr. Moran secretary OF LEGATION, ana
some American gentlemen long resident abroad every
ASSISTANCE received, 30 that 1t believed every Ac
inquired INTO when had any hlShln,dnst' unueI I'D!
Instructions. This examination falling 10 disclose any
Of facts deemed sufficiently Vel estaDilshed' or
Of sufficient Importance Ia DIlhs 10 ihe hoNleuEe vi to
Department, attention was turned To the manner IN when
whether bis flight there was through me procurement oI
any persons, citizens Of the United States An inquiry
learned tha @ To- D' th ~, Wn ~ TSupnreh over The
signature OF the country manager OF bDahklns
Institution at London, aud ON the following DAY,
October 49, 1868, the passport was Issued There were
several rcustanccs this which led me 10 Inquire
into H. One was, after suriatts ARRIVAL lh LONDON
The name was tie one under which ho enlisted In the
Papa service and the direction OF the bank under whose
auspices the application was made included some ol ho
to suppose therefore that surra had gone under
lie wOnld have LEES facilities for changing the one
chosen for passport nud that nc pLopAny ehla,Su
under tho by which he entered the states oi Tue
probability, that SurfatiE passport was
obtained at the British Foreign once ana that te nnu
ence which procured IL could be traced An examination
was made at Edinburgh where hye John Watsols were
found, one OF whom proved 70 De le pelson VII t
the passport Of oct 49, 1861 which was seen ana eled
This instance is briefly detailed IN order TO sh0W the
proper for the time occupied ~ other Instances
had 10 be taken that no wrong should De dOe anu
suspicious raised unless nsilnrd 10y lhe ttss , C
the 10Th April left London, and proceeded dtect 10
Rome bearing note Of introduction from MI Adams TO
Gen King with whom and with Mr.. Hooker con
suited. Gen King introduced me Informally 10
Gen Kauser, the Papal Minister OF war, Win "ho i
info
might be permitted to see any papers OF eeSs ley w
suiratt Gen kauser caused such 10 DC made anu ~,
probability destroyed such a. he had At the time of the
also left no effects He obliged by military reguia.
ton 10 dispose Of his citiZens apparel on entering INC
service 10 prevent facilities for dcserng regulation
which in the end contributed to his Identification ana
arrest Gen Kauser also caused seareh 10 Do inhle
for the original passport by which sunatt entered
The Roman States and upon It's production, and upon my
request take copy, he offered ~ deliver the Oglns
NE 1sssport snbseqneiy forwarded to the btate De
paftnCnt ~ may not be improper Tor me 10 auu nat
ofice and that his instructions TO his Italian
subordnates and the reports from the9 on Were
evidences Of the good will and good faith Of himself ana
Of lis Government surrats PassPCt showed ,net o u
eminent Of Canada and had received the use OF thc
United States ConsulGc there IL had peeh APP
proved T entry into the State Of the Church at the 0ce
OF the Nunco in Paris but bore no evidence that sufrat
Europe 1 Inc SSneio rise had been given gratis which
unusual aud inquiries were made at MS 9nce TO as
|
cured These steps although taken with great care and
permission had been asked were met Win udeness
and discouTtesy the part OF the Nunco himself and his
Secretary but l subsequently Informed through
our Legation in Paris that the Nuncios rise had
been obtained, not through any letter or special
recommendation but upon the personal presentation of
the passport by surratt whom the official youches TO
have aud upon the farmers statement that he was
going TO Rome for the purpose Of enstng There being
nothing TO throw doubt on this statement other than the
discreditable conduct Of the official by whom better
treatment must have been accorded TO snrratt
than 20 myself further inquiry was made In re-
gard TO the passport. l subsequently, saw MI
Sanford our Minister Brussels Consul at Paris.
and other Americans OF distinguished loyalty long resi-
dent there and had full conversations with them con-
corning all matters which had come 20 their knowledge
and winch were within my Instructions These inter
views did not lead TO any extension OF my stay but be
ieying every inquiry which had been directed TO
make was completed. so far as there were means TO
do It, returned home In July. Conscious
that earnestness was brought 10 the attempt at
identifying the oathsome Investigations OF the great
crime and that every possible assistance was received,
have TO report that my opinion, such legal OF rea
sonabe proof exists IN Europe Of the participation OF any
persons there formerly citizens OF the United states as
Ia action OF the Government. Very respect