New-York tribune., 1867-05-20

with them. These carpet-bags Mrs. Surratt came in
and removed. Their owners left before daylight
next morning, and one of them named Jacobs was
arrested crossing the POTOMAC with $4,000 upon him.
Mrs. SuTratt was proud, and counted her beads q
great deal. She was convert, and not an original
Catholic, and her husband was a Protestant till his
death, which happened of apOpleXy in August 1862.
There were three or four negroes about the place 1t
was dull crossroads existence, but pleasant for
day two to stranger. Next morning, at daylight,
we were awakened by very beautiful music. IL was
a brass band, come out from the Washington Navy
Yard 10 serenade the Democratic county officers just
elected. Among the hangeTS-On was a Seedy, fTOwsy
mOnkey-faced boy whom Surratt introduced to me
as Mir Herold He came III with the rest, took
drink. and went further up the road with them
left the house on Monday, pleased with my VISIT, ana
we stopped at drugstore by the Navy-laTd, sur
ratt and L. to get cigar The boy, Herold, was
clerk there Surratt told me, on the way, that MS
brother, Isaac Suuatt engineer had left his home
on the 1th of March, 1861, at the news OF LlncOlls
inauguration and gone to Texas, where he had been
ever since in the Confederate service
got to consider Surratt an intimate friend aIter
this visit, and he had good points of character; Dut
his isolated life in the country kept me fTOm know
ing OF more than the director concerns OF our TREND
ship while meantime the war went on more bitterly,
and his home was probably a convenient ana con-
slant resort of secret spies and traders. But IN
Easter, 1863 we agreed to visit an old school friend
at Ellicotts Mills, and from there took Surratt TO
EllangOwan to see my friend the school teacher.
Before we started priest asked Inc to deliver
newspaper to Mr.. ST. Maure. whom found to De my
friends assistant, and to whom introduced John
SuTTatt. He French Canadian, back-eyed ana
black haired, aged about So very fascinating IN ms
manners and accomplishments, lIngulSt amt ad-
venturer. lie was teaching for his board and spend,
ing money only. being entirely needy and he amused
himself by giving concerts IN the village Wheio ne
was in love with a NlTtuOuS and DcauilIul
Young lady. When | left ElangOwan st. Maurio
asked me to get him teachers place IN Washington,
and after he came TO my room there saying that
be had left his place. disguised with IT'S ttlenesS,
and was with out meal, bed, or penny; got HIM
a position in GOnzaga College and when he came to
me once or twice J found him so unpllncipled
Al,.l ,lr h.
bidding her beware He would tell me III breath
that he had fled from Canada TO avoid the conSe-
Quences of most heartless seduction, and at the
same time put his sweethearts bouquet under
his pillow His stories of himself were that he had
been member of the Canadian Parliament. req
era prisoner of State, etc, but at any rate he de-
camped from the College after a month. leaving me
10 pay his board and enlisted for the bounty IN a
Delaware regiment deserted fell into Castle Thunder
reason of playing informer upon ms comrades
escaped by blOckade-runner to England, returned
60 Canada and hearing of the $1,000 reward Tor sur
ratt pursued him TO Rome. enlisted with him. ana
gave him up Just too late for the reward which hat
been already withdrawn
! was now weary of teaching for insufficient pay
and sought Government cerkship which obtained
in the Office of the COmmissaTy of Prisoners IN jan
1861. In September of the same year the SurIatts
moved to Washington to keep boaTding-house and
get John something to do, and TO help them along
moved in almost Immediately. John was engaged
by Adams Express Company, and with the exception
OF the arrival Of bOckade-TunneT two. little hap
~
when by another of those Proyidences or colncid-
ences to which have referred was walking III the
street with Surratt wheE John Wilkes Booth was was
intrOdu ed TO him by their common friend Dr. Mudd.
From this the manner and nature OF SuIIatt
changed. He became, grade by grade. loltefer ana
spcudthrft subject at times to fits of dependence;
and have no doubt that Booth was his absolute
master, debauChing him with his horses and loans OF
money and by his stronger WOrldlluCSs ana magnet
ism controlling him altogether. ! used to wonder
what affinity such unlike men could nave; Dut PIT
ter az the SeceSSlOnstS of Washington were, no idea
Of conspiracy particularly against personageS ohgh,
ever occurred TO me. And II was OEy III the head 0i
q mOnOmaniaC actor used TO Tchcarse Bruus, that so
desperate crime could have been conceived: ms
means were Just considerable enough 10 purchase
such poor instruments as John Surratt; and his own
character was so impracticabe that nobody ever
fathOmed his plot. In MIS-. SurTatts house he was
altogether the most talented visitor The mistress
of it called Linn Her Pet" in his absence
During al these days the plot was rpenlng dirty
fellows like AtzeTOtt boys like llerold, and searching
eyed, mysterious persons like Payne began to visit
the house felt that in my friendship with John,
gGrT YfIH fc4n Me ~ tbafGn b fGnq f Ms Ms TO and
fro from Montreal to Richmond. was only puzzled
by these things but never alarmed ana set nm
down as a mere "spOnger OF parasite upon Bo0tI;
who was never free with me. and on whom looked
as of accomplishments and genius that iked
the company of his interiors In all tins there were
nteTludes of drunkenness as when three OF 1Our oil
the subsequent assassius burst INTO my ROOM Saying
that they were ruined men and that all was lost.
This was afterward demonstrated 10 he Booths 1all-
ure TO capture the President at the Soldiers Home
the interest of the house gone ITS pcacelulness
and charm. Twas thinking 20 myself on GOOD FRIDAY;
returned from my office TO Mrs SuTIat $; released
for holiday on account OF my religious DeLei tiat
perhaps had better seek board Otherwheres. AT that
moment as if some Providence had satisfied me win
these aimless eOmpanOnships so long that might
observe their completely and convict them, II not
defeat them, Mrs. Suuatt asked me to spend the
afternoon in taking her TO drive. As we started out
/ saw Booth in the parlOr leaning on the mantel'
pacr than usual have since seemed TO recoect, ms
d mIlStICne
talked pleasantly on the way. and once Mrs SuTiatt
stopped to ask about the pickets III the heldS ana
when they were to be removed at nlghtfall. she
died for that ride l. who had made her sons ac-
QuantaDCe so unWltungly, and slept under her roOl
80 long without unklndncss gwen received GO noI
shrink to say that have never been sorry that l
accompanied her. And when she died ielt saQdCneu
but not selfaccusng; for If there is doubt tha she
was principal in the murder there Is no doubt, to
my mind, that she knew enough to prevent 1t, 10
save the President the Secretary Of State, Booth,
and the tools of Booth, and perhaps, her own son.
That night was weary and read myself to sleep
AZ O'Clock in the morning, called from my bed by
loud hands upon the door heard the challenge OF
Officers Of the Government. Open at once
"What is it all for gentlemenV / said.
"The President and the Secretary Of state are
dead! We want Booth and Surratt to surrender, If
/ do not remember what exclaimed; the officers
say ii was: My God ! see il ALL
Ihcnet daylight FASTENED 10 read tho particulars
"A tan man in a white coat stabbed Mr., Seward
that must be Payne,
HuIIltu 10 lht ponce btdllOn AT once. DlItClly 1
was OIL with the Detectives the road TO Sunatt-
vile again. We caught horse. "TOwhom did YOU
hlre IT I, we say to the livery man. ITO monkey
faced chap, named Erall, 1 Think That must be
Herold! Away we 90 to the widow Herolds. David
has been away quite two days. Let us see your al
bum His picture is secured. knew where Surratt
had photographs taken; we obtain dozen copies
Then am carried before Mr.. Stanton. lie looks at
me savagely for having been one Of his clerks and
keeping such company. ! am ordered to Old Capitol
Hill From the Jail yard see Mrs. Surratt at the
window. She kisses her hand. A man comes to me
with message on her behalf: You are to say
nothing of anybody Of the female gender. when
asked7 1t is too late il | could have had such q
wish The past is too vyidly ilumined by this fresh
friendship and boarding house acqnaintanceshlp. =,
md chn my