Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-24
Innocence of Mrs. surratt and Her Death
tN by Judicial Murder.

Cor. NewIY0 X World.
BALTIMORE, October l2.-It has just
fallen in my way to converse with GER
tain gentlemen in Baltimore upon the
gu, ject Of the murder of Mrs. Surratt,
and upon matters appertaining thereto.
The gentlemen to whom | sllude are Mr..
John T. Ford, formerly proprietor Of
Ford's Theater, in Washington, where
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated; Mr.
James Clifford, stage carpeuter, formerly
at Ford's and now at Mr. Ford's Holli
day Street Theater, in Baltimore, and a
Mr.. Wiel. These conversations have in
terested me 80 much that l cannot for
bear, with the permission of the gentle
men, to attempt to sketch them for the
World. You will please to observe that
neither Mr.. Ford nor the others pretend
to recite the whole history of the assas-
siuation conspiracy (of which they have
gained their information, like the rest OF
the public, from the reports of the trial
and the statements of other witnesses),
but such facts as came under their own
observation, and the opinions they have
formed Of this business, have consider
able value, and are connected together
in colloquial way which has net the
precision Of narrative.
Mr.. Ford required to the morning Of
the day of the assination:
Booth was, as you know, one OF the
handsomest of men. He had Apollo's
own grace about him. When be was in
Washington, boarding at the Kirkwood
House, the young ladies who were stop
ping there used to collect at the foot OF
the stairway on the dining room floor,
just to see him come down stairs. He al
ways looked as bright and pleasant as he
was handsome, asd had CHEEKY word
and fascinating smile for every one. He
was great favorite with all the young
ladies at the hotel. think be had been
rather depressed since the fall of Rich
mond, but, early on that afternoon-the
afternoon of April l4h-he was noticed
by the boys at the theater sauntering up
the sidewalk from Pennsylvania avenue,
looking his very best, and marvellously
at his ease. He was elegantly dressed,
as usual, and walked with that half con-
.cious, confident, attractive grace
which became so irreproachable pres
ence. He was ratherflate that day; he
had probably breakfasted late. He used
to walk to the thestsr every morning be-
tween ten and eleven o'clock TO see
about his letters. As he came up, my
brother Harry turned to one of the others
who stood by, and said:
"rhere comes the handsomest man in
Washington
Booth liked my brother, and they
were very familiar in their talk with one
another So Harry thought he would
plague Booth bit. 1t happened that,
an hour or two before, n messenger had
come from the White House to say that
the President and General Grant, with
Mrs Lincoln and Mrs. Grant, would be
at the theatsr in the evening. Harry,
fherefore, announced to Booth:
:" Jshn, the President is going to be
here tonight, with General Grant They
have got General Lee here as a pris
ouer. and he's coming too. We're goisg
TO put him 10 the opposite box.
Al the same time Harry handed
Booth q long letter. Booth broke the
seal, remarking:
al D. no, they haven't got Lee pris-
oner; they certainly wouldn't bring him
10 Washington.
Then be sat down and read his letter;
il was = long one, as ! said, and he
seemed abseni-minded while reading u
Al length be folded il up. put i IN his
pocket, and suddenly began 10 inquire
With interest vheihet the President and
General Grant we're really coming. etc.
Yes. Harry assured him. Mr..
Lincoln. General Grant and both faDi-
hes are surely coming. (Harry couldn't
deceive Booth about General Lse.)
Booth. then" coutinued Mr. Ford,
"a left the tbesisr in . hnd Of harry, ss II
Be hsd made ID his mind about some
thipr 10 Be- dcne hs started down the