Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-22

IN Warrington on his way nom Canaoa 70
Richmond. Surratt went for Howell to
Richmond, and returned to Washington
on the ID Of April. He len on the succeed
ing day for Canada with dispatches. That
was the last time, until he was brought
back here a prisoner from Egypt; that Sur
raft saw Washington. He went TO Canada
and remained several days, keeping up a
correspondence with his mother in which
he described his visits to Catholic Churches,
etc. He was in communication with Con-
federate agents in Canada, and was sent by
the Confederate General Z. G.. Lee to look
after some Confederate prisoners at EImira,
New York. While in Elmira, or in Can
andaigua. on his way back to Canada from
this errand, be heard Of the assassination at
Washington. In Canada, assured of his own
innocence in the matter of murder, he was
not frightened save at St. Albans, where q
man called 'SurrattP in his presence-aman
with a. Canadian blouse. He started for
Montreal. There, on the 18th and l7thsOf
the month, he registered himself at one of
the hotels as John HARRISON In Mon
treal be was first made aware of the price
laid on his head. That startled him, and
be left for the country, where he was pro-
tected by the priest who testified on the
stand. In the meantime be heard of the
arrest Of his mother, and the terrible
charge against her. He was az thoroughly
certain Of her innocence as he was Of his
own, and had cot doubt that she would
be acquitted. Still, his first impulse was
to go tQsher. Bot she, who, as you will re-
member, was kept in Carroll Prison ten
days OF so before being removed to the
arsenal, succeeded in corresponding with
some of her friends. She wrote to her son
John mot to be alarmed about her, not to
have any apprehensions concerning her
own safety, and not to allow himself to be
captured She was 80 well aware of the
excitement in the country, and of the
prejudice against everybody associated
with Booth, that she desired 10 keep her
son out Of The way. She had 30 need Of
him which she did not hold subordinate to
his comfort and safety. She was sure that
she would get clear at last from an unjust
charge; therefore she did not anticipate
that she would lack the sad consolation of
bidding him a last farewell. Mother-like,
her only anxiety was for him; and he,
convinced that he could do her no good,
but that his own capture and the testimony
that might be adduced to show his connec-
ton with the abduction plot might be the
death of him and tend to injure his moth
er's chances, stayed away.
'SMy conviction of Mrs. Snrratt's inno-
nocence," Mr.. Ford vent on to cay, sis the
resalt, not 80 much of comparison of tesli-
mo1y of the Witnesses at the trial,
as 3of personal observation and con-
viction with some of those witnesses,
and of what have known and heard since
the trial of Mrs. Surratt herself II is the
result also of my belief that Booth had not
made up his mind to the assassination I'M
til after he saw Mrs. Surratt, and after he
had hearaEhe announcement that Lincoln
and Grant were to be at the theater at
night, from my brother Harry early that
afternoon. 1t is the result, in fine, on re-
Election upon all the circumstances have
related TO you, of others which l may note
as we proceed, and Of my study Of the
character of Mrs. Surratt and that Of the
witnesses against her"
Let me here interrupt the course Of Mr..
Ford's remarks to admit my inability to
recollect his thoughtful and well-chosen
language, and to convey to you the peculiar
impression wrought upon me both by his
words and his manner-an impression that
she had studied this subject with the inter-
est of a fine-hearted gentleman while he
was prisoner, and with good deal Of the
interest of philosopher since no was re-
leased. and since the excitement which at
tended the assassination died away.l
"Diyested of the false interpretation OF
il, which was trumped up at the trial, I"
said Mr.. Ford, "Mrs. Suratfs trip to Sur
rattsyilIe preceding the assassination, was
a perfectly legitimate, ordinary affair. As
l recall the gist of it now, it was in this
wise: A part Of the old Surratt property
had been purchased from the Calverts.
When Surratt (Mrs. Surratfs husband)
died, he left debt due on the property to
the Hon. Chas. 3. Calvert, of Maryland, a
well known member of Congress about ten
wears ago. After this Charles B. Calvert
died, his executors pressed Mrs. Surratt for
payment of the debt. The week Of the
assassination she received two letters from
them reminding her Of her husbands
obligation. A debt was due to her from a
man named Mott, in the neighborhood of
the estate. On Good Friday she spoke to
Weichman in regard to the claim that was
being pressed upon her, and said: we
must 90 down and collect the money TO
paw it, Weichman's journey with her to
Surrattsville, and her alleged conversation
with the tenant Lloyd, who kept the tavern
there, were fastened upon by the prosecu-
ton as proofs that Mrs. -Surratt went TO
arrange with Lloyd in order that he should
be prepared, with utensils, to receive
Booth, Payne and Herold, the night ofIhe
assassination, when they should pass
throug the village. Several expressions
were avowed to have been used by her on
that occasion indicative of her guilt.
THAT all this testimony was fabricated
deliberately or otherwise, do not for a
moment doubt. So far as Weichman' 5
testimony was concerned, it was not enti-
tied to credence. Weichman was a fright
ened witness at first, and bullied after
wards. He was afraid for his own life
while in prison-afraid of his shadow,
scared by a threat, startled by noise. His
weak brain was hemmed round by horrors.
1t was not consciousness of guilt, bat terror
lest he might be accused and hung for
nothing, that overwhelmed him. He was
| a target for the tests of the others in prison,
and dough to be kneaded in any willy and
too-eager lawyers hands. Ask him, coax
ingly, if so and so did not transpire, and
he would say-belieVing that by saying il
he assisted to save his neck-that it did
transpire. Ask him, sternly, if snch oil
such a thing did happen, and he would re-
spond, in the fancied interest of mis- neck
that it did nothing of the kind. He was
not cold. blooded perjurer; he was only a
| coward. Here are one or two incidents
which revealed to me what feeble-minded
unfortunate abettor Of judicial crime this
Weichman was
ale came to me in prison one day will
the white face he always had, and told mi
that when he was before Stanton a few
DAYS after the assassination, Stanton sai'
To him: The Presidents blood is just a
much on your hands as Booths AlthOug
this was a mere figure of speech by Stan
ION. Weichman had turned il over in hi
own head so often that it seemed TO hay
almost convinced him that the President
blood was on his hands, or, a. least, that
cord was prepared for him, willy nilly
Was such person likely to be Tehabl
witness? .-..,s
"On'ancihe- occasion, after the trial hA
begun, was taken from prison and put a
the same ambulance with Weicbman an
Lloyd. Weichman bent towards Lloy
and said to him:
az testified yesterday that you lOhisPere
to Mrs. SnrrstI that day, when We drov
down there
''Lloyd turned and Indignantly denie
this assertion, in words that proved to N
that there had been no collision, or seer
conversation at all between him and MIR
surrstt at Surrattsville. 1t was plain tbs
such precious piece Of testimony ha
been drawn from Weichman by mel
fright, and the necessity impressed uPo