Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-16
The Murder of Mrs. surratt-surrender of
the Body Appearance Of the Remains
and Reinterment.


A Washington correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun of the 9th writes:
The order for the disinterment of Mrs.
Surratt was obtained from the President
by Rev. ]. A. Walter, pastor of St. Pat
rick's Church, at ten o'clock this morn
ing, and was Immediately placed in the
hands of General George d. Ramsay,
commandant of the Washington arsenal.
Positive orders were given that all show
and parade on the occasion was to be
avoided. General Ramsay detailed Ma
jor Hill, of the army, to superintend the
disinterment.
Mrs. Surratt's body, together with those
of the other assassination conspirators,
having been some time ago removed from
the graves under the scafolding, where
they were originally inferred, were rein
tered beneath the tagging of one of the
store rooms of the old penitentiary build
ing, and the collins we're arranged in the
following order, beginning at the north
wall, viz: Mrs. Surratt, Payne, Harold,
Atzerodt, Wirz-the Andersonvillej jailer,
and Booth. The locality of this place of
burial was not known to more than
twenty persons until to day. 10 accord
ance with orders, Major Hill superin-
tended the work of exhuming, which was
done by gang Of several workmen, under
the direction Of Mr.. Tatspaugh, one of
the foremen. The grave or pit in which
all the bodies were placed side by side is
apparently about eighteen feet long and
eight feet wide, and about six feet Deep
The earth was soon thrown out and the
coffin was taken up. In digging down,
the coffin of Payne, which adjoined that
of Mrs. Surratt, was disclosed. At three
o'clock the coffin was taken out and
handed over to Mr.. Richard Hervey, un-
dertaker.
The only persons present at the disin-
terment beside the workme en-, were Rev.
Father Walter, of St. Patricks Church
Mr.. Tounery, friend of the family;
Majer Hill and Mr.. Harvey. The box
containing the remains was of rough
pine boards. Upon the top was strip
of wood, painted white, with the name
Mrs. Surratt" painted upon it in black
letters
The box was opened, and although the
body was somewhat deeomposed, it was
not offensive. The dress, CATERS. and
black silk bew e. the .ieck we're ell in
perfect state of preservation. The hair
was also perfectly preserved, and did not
seem to have been disarrsnged in the
least. A steel arrow pin with which
Annie Surratt fasten ed the bow about her
mothers neck, just before she was led to
execution, was also in place. A lock of
the hair was clippetl off for Annie Sur
rat., at her own rec. .uest Upon examin-
ing Mrs. Surratt's feet, it was discovered
that the rope with which her feet were
tied just before the drop fell, had disap-
pearsd, and this ct first occasioned some
remark, but those who witnessed the ex-
ecution will remember that when Mrs.
Surratt was cut down, the rope became
loosened and it was thrown aside.
The remains we're Immediately placed
in another box and taken to Mount Olivet
Catholic Cemetery, where the remains
were placed in q vault The remains
will be tomorrow morning transferred to
a new burial case. The transfer will be
made in the presence of Annie Surratt
and her brother Isaac, and one or two in
timato friends of the family. The re-
mains will be inferred in their final rest
ing place at two o'clock. The ceremonies
will consist only of reading the burial
service of the Catholic Church. Rev.
Father Walter will efficiste, and the cere-
mony will be conducted in strict privacy.