Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-01-16
Surratt.-ParticuIars of Has
Arrest


The following Is Consul General Hale's
letter in full, relative to the arrest of Sur
raft. 1t is dated Alexandria, Egypt, and
addressed TO Secretary Seward.
AGENCY AND CONSULATE GESERAL)
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ALEXANDRIA, EYGPT, Nov. 26, 1866.
SIR:-I have the honor to report that
in consequence of telegram received via
Constantinople from Mr.. King. United
States Minister at Rome, and of several
letters received from Mr.. WiDthOp, Uni
sed States Consul at Malta, the Mediter-
ranean wire being unfortunately broken
between Malta and this place, 1 have this
day arrested man calling himself Wal.
ters, dressed in the uniform of a Zonave
who arrived at Alexandra on the 23d
inst, in the steamship Tripoli, from Ma
Piles, and who s believed TO be John Har
rison Surratt, one of the conspiratOrs
for the assassination of President Lincoln
The telegram and some of the letters hay
ing been delayed in Transmission, 1 was
fortunate in finding the man still in quar-
antine among the third class passengers,
of whom there is no list whatever. 1t was
easy 10 distinguish him among seventy
eight of these by his Zouave uniform, and
scarcely less b. his almost unmistaka5le
American type of eOuntenance-
said at once to him: ssYou are the
man want You are an American -
He said, Yes, sir, am" 1 said, ''you
doubtless know why want you? What is
your name He replied promPtly-s-Wal-
ters. I said, Il believe your true name
is Surratt," aud in arreSting him men
toned my official position as Unitad
States Consul General. The director Of
quarantine speedily arranged a sufficient
escort of soldiers, by whom the prisoner
was conducted to q safe place within the
quarantine walls. Although the walk Oe
cupiod several minutes, the prisoner. close
at my side made no remark whatever, dis
playing neither surprise or irritation
Arrived at the place prepared, gave
him the usual magisterial caution, that
he was not obliged to say anything, and
that anything he sail would at once be
taken down in writing. He said: Il have
nothing to say. l want nothing but what
is right. He declaed he had neither pass
port, nor baggage, nor money, except six
francs. His companions confirm his state
ments is this respect. They say he came to
Naples a deserter from the papal army at
Rome. find that he had no papers, and
no clothes but those he Is wearing. The
appearance of the prisoner answers very
well the descriptson given Of Surratt by
the witness Weiehman, at page II of Pit
mans report officially sent to me by the
Government, and is accurately portrayed
in the l;kenes of Surratt in the fronts
piece of the same volume. Mr. King and
Mr. Winthrop speak in confident terms Of
the identity Of the ZInan Walters with
Surratt, and after seeing the man 1 have
not shadow of doubt Of it.
According to the well established pub
tic law Of this place. as the prisoner avow-
ed himself an American and submitted
without objection to arrest BY me on my
statement that I acted for the United
States, and especially as he had no paper
to suggest even u Pri11z facia claim for
belonging to any other jurisdiction, there
is no other authority which can rightfully
interfere here with his present custody,
and have good reason for saying that
no attempt At interference will be set on
foot by any authority whatever pretensiOn
he may make. The prisoners quarantine
will expire on the 29th. He will then be
received into the prison Of the local gov
ernment, which gives me every assistance