Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-04-18
AN INTERVIEW WITH SURRATT.

! And trust hlm Tor the rest
/ AN INTERVIEW WITH sURRATT.
! The interest attaching to the pris.
oner, John H. Surratt, now in con.
finement in the Washington Jail,
charged with completely in the as.
sassination of President Lincoln, in
duced your correspondent to seek
and obtain an interview and CONVEX
sation with him.
! Contrary to the current reports of
the close confinement aud careful OBJ.
security i'll which the important pris-
oner is held, | found him occupying
temporarily the watchman's lodge in
the Jail yard. The yard in which
this rather loose prison is situated is
enclosed by a brick wall eighteen or
twenty feet in height, having two
gateways leading into other yards,
surrounded by walls about ten or
twelve feet high. did not examine
these gateways to see if they could
be easily opened but they ap.
peared to be fastened simply by a
bar on the inside. II this was their
only fastening, and they could be
opened as easily as appearances in
dicated, the security for prisoners
was not very great, as the outer
yards were filled with rubbish that
could quickly aid one desirous of seal
ing the walls.
The prisoner sat in chair by en-
open window, reading small vol
ume, the character of which | did
not inquire. On my entrance he
rose, and advancing toward me with
extended hand, acknowledged al in
PRODUCTION with very friendly smile
and a courteous shake of the hand.
Not expecting to meet SO notorious ii
character in such a place, | was
somewhat taken by surprise when
the name was pronounced, and, after
shaking hands, ventured to inquire
once again the name. "Surratt," re-
piled my new acquaintance, with
smile. 81 think | have heard of you
BEFORE" / remarked to which he
quietly responded, "Very likely"
In stature should judge him to be
five feet nine or ten inches high,
rather slender in form-almost deli
cate, perhaps-and apparently TWEEN
ty-eight years old His hair is a
very light auburn, nicely cut and
trimmed, parted behind and combed
forward. He wears moustache and
goatee rather more positive in their
color than the hair on his head. The
rest of his face was carefully shaven.
Altogether his appearance was that
of a well-dressed and very present
able young man, and certainly the
last one that would be selected from
a crowd as a desperate character or
villain. He has very pleasant
voice, in conversation uses good Ian
guage, understands himself perfectly,
usually wears a smile upon his face,
which, however, suggests unpleasant
thoughts when we consider his de-
sertion of the woman that gave him
birth at the time of her sorest need
Ny conversation with this man
was not so full and free as | could
have wished. He evidently was in
no mood to talk ON the topics that
were most prominent in my own
mind, and the witness to the inter
view precluded me from making any
efforts to get his confidence. After
few commonplace remarks, | ven
tured to ask him leading question
in regard to his escape to and con-
cealment in Canada. Putting on one
of his most off. nsive smiles, he re-
piled, al have nothing 10 say about
that" His manner of reply, more
than his words, conveyed to my mind
that he considered it "a good thing"
something to boast of, great secret,
that would tend to make him famous
hereafter-a mystery for the world
on and with which to associate his
name. But" he added, there was
no secrecy about my leaving Canada.
went ON board steamer at midday,
wholly without disguise, and with
hundreds of people on and about the
wharf. The steamer had fully two
hundred passengers, with whom as
sociated freely during the voyage.
Nobody recognized me, though there
were those among the passengers
that recognized" He would not say
what steamer this was, nor from
what port it sailed. more than that
it was one of a regular line leaving
large city.
| He spoke of meeting st. Marie in
France. He claims that he recog-
nized St. Marie first and that they
travelled to Italy together. He mani
tests no vindictiveness toward this
witness for having discovered him to
the authorities, but considers him a
"treacherous" fellow, and thinks he
was mistaken in his character. Sur.
raft says that he had information OF
st. Marie's "treachery" before it was
fully accomplished, and was kept ad.
vised from time to time of the steps
taken to secure his arrest. Had the
actual arrest been delayed one day
longer, as Surratt had reason to ex
pect it would be, he would have beer
beyond the reach of his pursuers, biz
arran0amepta for deaertion and f7ioht