The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-04
JOHN y. sURRArT.

Ceaneiaents for a Time in Eats Favor-
Ths Action OF the PapRl and British
Authorities, Etc.
ROME December 6.--The news OF Surratts
capture by our authorities in Alexandria VIII
have been flashed TO you long before the receipt !
of this, bnt the particulars OF his 1e since the
assassination, and OF his subsequent career, are
NOT eo likely TO have found their way iOAmerlcAi
and cannot fail 10 prove of interest to all. AS
obtain al the taC,s OF the Case nom the very
best authority, the correctness OF the account
may be relied OH,
Late in October the United states Minister at
Rome, General Rufus King received 1ntellt
gence through various channels that man
Papal Zouayee was no other than Surratt, one
! of the completes in MT. Lincoln's assasslpa-
tion. From subsequently OBJ aimed Information
At appears that tins fact was we'll known TO some
OF Surratts brotbersjn-arms. and that others
also in Rome were aware OF his participation ia
the plot, and that the name he was going under
was an assumed one. Notwthstanelng TINS ne
WIS always made comfortable wherever he
went, supplied with money by sympatalzers,
and admitted to the companionship OF we'll
known residents in Rome.
LeL eral King, knowing that no extradition
treaty existed between the United States and
Papal Governments, understood at once that
sopie oifficully would be met with in securing
the person OF the man. He went Immediately
to Cardinal Anionelli stated the case, and in
return received the Cardinals promise that
should sufficient proof OF Surratt's ldentihca-
ton be given, under the extraordinary cir
cumstances the legal right of the case would be
waved and the prisoner surrendered General
King wrote for Instructions from Washington,
and busted himself in obtaining the necessary
On the eth OF. November, late at night, he
received from Cardinal Antonelli q message con-
tain 'ng the information that Surratt whom tho
Papal authorities had secured OF their own lree
will awaiting Gen. Kings demand for his arrest,
had escaped from the Pope's domlnions. IL
appears that as soon as the Pope was informed
81 the case he directed that, 70 prevent all
doubts as 10 his desire to see justice done, Sur
rat should be imprisoned until General King
conlC be insa position to claim him on proof ot
identity. This was done without the United
States Minister'S knOWledge or request, and
evinees sincere desire on the part OF the Papal
authorities 10 wave technioallties where justice
and right demand satisfaction.
6urratt was thrown into prison IN a high
tower on the edge of a steep precipice, where
narrow ledge twenty eight ieet below the
windoWe the room In which he was confined,
was the only break to am almost perpendicular
drop Of couple OF hundred feet 1t seems he
must have gained an inkling OF the reason for
his sudden arrest and imprisonment, and deter
mined 10 make his escape. 70 do this he re-
Quested perm sson, alter good dinner and
smoke Qhe fellow WIS very comfortably kept,
to retire to the water-cloget.
In there he was out of sight of The two sem
tries In his room, az d had time TO spring out OF
the window upon the ledge overhanging the
precipce. It is now stated, with what truth
cannot say, that two men with an outstretched,
blanket broke the ial; at oil events, in jumping
out he severely bruised bis back and shoulders,
but g2tAewSy. Ine Inc Colonel OF the regiment na at
~ NV ~ Sas sent IN certificate that within
eaH'ic OF the discoveryof his escape, or
W. mtnSusss1s1tes from the time he first entered
81 AZ cen Rf-closet, fifty men and some officers
az dispatched in pursuit, but fruitlessy
Nt 3Eo6 escape was made on dark night and
"a Iatt knew. every inch of the ground. The
k8tiex was cloee at hand and It was out of the
.estion tor the Papa guards TO follow him
,AyORd At.
q n On receipt of this information from the Car
fdinal, General King telegIaphed TO Mr.. Marsh,
.sUnited States Minister al Rome the information
~ OF Surratt's escape described his drees Che was
v still In uniiorml, and requested that all United
States Consuls in italian ports might be informed
OF the matter and directed TO arrest the nam.
This was done. General King then received
information that person answering Surratts
description had been seen at SoTreli. Mr..
Hunter, Secretary Of Legation, Immediately
started for that place, but only in time 10 6nd
yfnat had passed through there, still in
y uniform, on his way to Naples. This he tele-
graphed, TO Florence, Rome, and Naples, and
returned. 49,
The next news obtained was trsm The Consul
at Naples, who teeeIaphed TO General King the
unfortunate in diligence that Surrau had sailed
for Alexandria He had been four days In
Naples, three OF which were passed IN prison
as the authorities suspected him, and placed
hfm confinement till ne claimed to be {
BriiiAh subjec', and was released at the reqHes
Of the English Coneul, who, together witt
sl5me residents OF Naples, got up a subscrip
ton enabling him TO pay his passage to Alex
andria, ignorant, of course, Of whom he was o
his antecedents. In Naples Surratt stated tha
he was Canadian, who had served Ia the Papa
Zouayes for ten months been imprisoned fol
characterization, and escaped from confinement
The bruises on hts back and Uniform condrmeC
his story, and he met with much sympathy
The Tripol, q Peninsula and Oriental Com
pany's eteRmer, on which Surratt Ind taken hl
passage, was 10 coal at Malta and remain ther,
twenty -four hours. General King aud thl
United States Consul both telegraphed to thl
Consul at Malta 70 arrest Surratt. On th
arrival of the Tripoli in the harbor at Malta thi
~ official applied to the British authorities TO
permisHon to do 50, and informed them of th'
circumstances; but not Wit thftanding the urgenc'
OF the matter, and the Impossbnity OF indlDj
necessary proof within the time required hi
applioatlon Tor surratt's surrender was refused
on the ground Of illegalty-a strange contras
to the conduct Of the Papal authorities.
Meanwhiie, General King was informed Of this
and he Immediately teleRraphed TO the Consul &
Alexandria instructions 20 secure the pris0He
immediately on arrival In that port To thi
message came back an answer from the TELEGRAPH
company that the cable was broken betwee
Alexandria and Malta, but that It would be for
Warded rom the leland by the first steamer
The Consul at Malta also forwarded In nfOrmatiO
~--so hts colleague at Alexandria Gnd took stop
which guaranteed the letter being delivered &
hinR before any persons were allowed to iend d
AlexAndrial II 4 somewhat extraOrdinsry ths
General Kings message requesting SuEratt'e az
tentiOn should have been forwarded on the sam
steamer as the man himself.
Before any passengers were landed Mr.. Hale
Consul at Alexandria, came on board with tn
necessary authority 1or Sufrattis arrest, 81
cured him, and put MN "a jail, where he no.
lies safely guarded, awaiting the arrival Of
United States RUnb0af, Oh which he win b
transported 70 Civita Vecchia. and thence I
Rome for fdenudcation. Thus, after an extri
0ntinnry coordination OF events, all tending I