The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-18
THE HANGING oFMRs. SURRATT.

EJer Innocence Of Completely In tne AS
sasstnarton OF Pr ,sident Lincoln Clear
observation-disclosures for PardOn1ng
the Dry Tortugas Prisoners.
The New York World publishes lengthy
letter from Baltimore, giving some curious ana
interesting details, going to sh'w, not only
Mrs. Surratt's guiltlessness Of any partlclpa-
tion in the plot for the murder OF the late
President Lincoln, but the impossibihty OF her
having had any knowledge it. The writer also
adduces strong argument to show that Dr..
Mudd. Arnold O'Laughlin, Spangler and John
a. Surratt had no foreknowledge OF the
assassination, and that of course neither
of these parties had anything whatever to
do with it. he argues, and If the statements
made prove true it would seem enec-
tually, that John Wilkes Booth, the acknow-
ledced head and front OF the conspiracy,
only made up his mind to tle rash deed
a few hours before it was perpetrated. On the
Good Friday during the evening OF which the
President was killed, Booth rose at an unusual
" late hour, and breadasted with young
lady guest at the National Hotel. He then
walked leisurely to the house Of Mrs. Surratt,
the writer surmises for the purpose Of making
INQUIRY in reference to John d. Surratt, who
was then in Elmira, New York, and who was
warm, particular friend. Here he met and
conyersed short time with Mrs. Surratt, who,
as Booth left, took her unfortunate ride with
Weichman to Su,rattsville, for the purpose Of
collecting certain monies due her, whereby
she could cancel claims on her estate held by
the executors Of the estate Of the late Charles
B. Calvert. Booth, up to this time, it is as
sumed, had not determined on the assassina-
ton, and this was the last he saw Of Mrs. Sur
ratt on earth. After leaving the house OF Mrs.
Surratt the writer in the World thus describes
the movements Of Booth:
Thence he took the easy, careless, graceful
stride which vas one Of the characteristics OF
his street appearance, up Pennsyivanla avenue,
and thence to Ford's Theatre, to get his let
tiers. At the theatre, Harry Ford, brother OF
the proprietor, thought to have joke with
Booth, being on the best OF terms With MIN,
and said:
.John, the President is going to be here to.
night with General Grant. They've got Gene
rat Lee here as prisoner, and he's coming
too. We're going to put him IN the opposite
box"
at the same moment Harry Ford handed
Booth letter enclosed in q long envelope, ad-
dressed to him. Booth broke the seal, remark
ing, in careless sort Of tone, 20, no; they
haven't got Lee prisoner; they certainly
wouldn't bring him to washington.
1t was only an hour or two before messen-
ger had come from the White House to the
theatre to say that the President and General
Grant, with Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Grant,
would visit the theatre that evening. At that
hour, when the messenger came with this an
nouncement, Booth must have been about get
ting out Of bed or at breakfast; and as Booth
had already seen Mrs. Surratt, ana as sne was
then bowling along in buggy towards Sur,
rattsyille, and as she was not to, and did not
return to Washington till nearly or after dusk,
the case endeavored to be made out, against
her on the trisl-that she went tc Surratts-
vile on Booths errand, with foreknowledge OF
his purpose to undertake the ASSASSINATION OF
the theatre that evenlng-colapses IN the hrst
place. Booth had no possible means OF know
ing, nor is it supposed that he knew, anything
about the purpose Of MIR. Lincoln to attend tue
evening performance, until he visited the the
atre at this time and heard the news from
Harry Fords tongue.
The writer then goes on to give the move
ments Of Booth after leaving the theatre. He
first went to the Krkwood House, walking
much faster than was his usual custom. Here,
it is supposed, he met Aztsrott, who, with Payne
and Rerold, are known to have been IN the
previous plot to abduct the President and carry
him to Richmond. After this visit to the Kirk
wook House Booth was not seen on foot during
the afternoon. 1t twas there the plan was prob
ably arranged: Atzerott was to take the life OF
Vice President johnson, Payne was to slaugh-
ter Secretary Seward, and Booth undertook to
attend to both the President and General Grant.
Booths whereabouts, between his leaving
ance at Ford's Theatre ut night, were never
copjectured. One clue alone has been afforded
to them. Payne stated in prison before his
execution that they met again that some
doubt arose, and that it was not until eight
o'clock that night the final resolve was made.
the route beyond Washington. The visit to
DR.. Mudd was made solely at the suggestion
OF Herold, to have Booths broken ankle set
and tied with splints. The Doctors house was
q considerable distance from the direct line OF
escape. Booth and Hereld arrived late at
night, when Booth explained to the Doctor that
he was hurt by being thrown from his horse.
his ankle, to have q crutch made, and then
left. When he had finished with hls patient,
Tr. Mudd Quilted the room and did not see
Booth near enough to speak with him again,
but observed him at a distance leaving the
place with Herold.
dTuOlO3 uOW uuQoI ocntouC0 y2oi A1O, ""S, 1o
the time Of the assassination, and had been for
weeks, ,mployedfn suffers store at Fortress
Monroe. There is no trace of any correspon-
dence andno evidence ofan interview between
Arnold and Booth during the month Of April.
O'Laughlin (now dead), whom barber, at the
trial OF ]. q. Surratt, swore Booth had called
"Mac," was employed in Baltimore, but was in
Washington on business the day Of the assas-
sination. His movements were perfectly ac-
counted for by some officers Of the navy.
Spangler was at and about the theatre. His
admiration for Mr.. Lincoln, and his innocence
Of completely or knowledge in Booths plan,
are firmly believed in by every body who knew
him. He was not even arrested for several
days.
The World, in referring to the letter of its
correspondent, says:
President Johnson, not less certainly than
every other fair-minded citizen, must be deeply
interested in seeing that the one reparation
which can be afforded to persons so infinitely
wronged is promptly made. He cannot have
forgotten that, on the morning Of the fatal
9TH Of July, 1866, a young girl, Anna Surratt
by name, came suppliant to the White House
and threw herself prone upon the steps be-
meath its portico and vainly besought per-
mission to enter and plead TO him for her
mothers Life. He cannot forget how his
enemies, who did not hesitate in the pas
sion OF that time to bruit the foolhardy
but. terrible insinuation that he. the Vice-Pre-
sldent, had abetted the assassin who made
the Presidents chair his seat, also openly
charged that his refusal OF mercy to Mrs. Sur