Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-02
The Everlasting Infamy Of the surratt
Case.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer, Sept. BI
For two years and more all the exer
tions of this powerful Government were
employed for the arrest of the young m an
known as John H. Surratt. 1t was made
the subject of grave communications
from our Secretary of State to our diplo.
matte agents abroad. Secret detectives
in abundance were placed upon his track.
Large rewards were offered for his appre-
hension. So great were the efforts made
to capture him, that in NO part of the
civilized world, not even in its most mac.
cessble corners, was he in position OF
the slightest safety. Knowing that the
blood-hounds were on his scent, and re
membering the fate Of his innocent and
unfortunate mother, he fed from one
quarter of the globe to the other-from
America to Europe, from Europe to Asia,
from Asia to Africa, and from Africa
back to Europe. There, while in dis
guse in the Papal service in Italy, he
was betrayed to the detectives by pre-
tended friend in whom he had reposed
confidence, but who was willing to sacri-
fee him, to sell his hearts blood for the
Government reward. By the basest act
of treachery, and the encouragement OF
this vilest of informers, the Administra-
ton effected his arrest, and brought him
in triumph on Government vessel to
the United States. His capture was con-
sidered q great national event--one upon
which we should greatly felicitste our.
selves. The charge against him was
being one of the murderers of President
Lincoln, and the whole country, almost
as one man, took it for granted that the
accusation was true. Had he been
brought before the tyrannical mockery
known as military commission, he
would have had short shrift to the gal
lows.
But the nation had recovered, in some
degree, from the deadly stupor which at
flicted il in 1865, and the reign of law was
partially re. established. He was at first
treated with extreme severity, thrown
into dungeon, and heavily ironed. But
his trial, after long delay, at last came.
His innocence was made perfectly mani
fest, despite the bold and sudacious ef-
forts Of witnesses eff the Conover stamp
to swear his life away. But he proved,
by irreproachable testimony, that he was
hundreds of miles from Washington
when the pistol of Booth put an end 10
the career Of Mr.. Lincoln. Booth con-
ceived the idea Of assassinating Lincoln
that very day, after he had heard that be
was going to the tbeater, and it was GER
taiuly improbable that he could have been
aided, either before or after the crime, by
a man who was then at great distance
away, and with whom be could have had
no communication whatever relative to
the murder. But he was not acquitted,
although be made plain case Of inno-
cence. There were men on the jury with
whom II was q part Of their politics to
take the life Of Surratt A disagreement
was the result The Government how
ever, ashamed of the frauds and perju-
ries that had characterized the murder
trial, dropped il, and commenced another
action, based on a criminal conspiracy,
which il was easier to establish, BY loose
and reckless testimony. But fortunately
for the ends Of justice, they delayed the
case 20 long as to bring Il within the
statute Of limitation, and under u the
prisoner, for whom We had traversed the
earth, and whom we had brought home IN
q special national vessel, was discharged.
The result Of this case against the son
ouly exhibits in blacker colors the ini-
ouiry Of the proceedings which led to the
murder Of the mother under pretended
judicial forms and solennities. The evi-