The New York herald., 1869-03-31
D r. m u D D.


His Return Home-A Drive TO His Residence-
Sketches ON the Way-Booth's Ride How
the Doctor Looks and What Ho Says-His
Account Of Boofh's and Harold's Visit After
the Assassination-What He Thinks of His
Own Trial and Condemnation-His Reported
Confession 10 Captain Dufton shum, which
He says wns Concocted by Secretary stanton.
WASHINGTON. March 2s, 1859.
II VIII be many, many years ere the tragic story
OF President Lincoln's assassination to exer-
else its fearful fascination over mems minds. The
thrilling horrors Of the deed assumed by circum-
character that made 1t the most surprising
tragedy In the history OF the world. The head or the
nation shot dead in public playhouse in the centre
OF the cantal, on Good Friday evening" and the as
sassln boldly escaping from the scene OF his awful
crime, make subject of more terrible interest and
weird influence than any tale fiction has ever fur
nished. The profound thrill OF surprise, grief and
Indignation that shot through the hearts OF thirty
millions OF people and went circlng round the earth
wherever humanity and civilization dwelt attested
the magnitude Of the offence and the desperate pur
pose Of the assassin. IL was WONDER in the
angry time that followed with the nations pulse at
fever heat and the cry for vengeance ringing through
the land, that all who were In ever SO remote
manner Identified with the chief consprator snonld
be rashy judged and sammarily dealt with. In that
period OF lightning passion, when q storm cloud Of
wrath hung above the country like q PAIL one was
hurried to her account for whom no human restitu-
tion ever be made; and yet perhaps is marvel
that other victims inundated to the blind and
reckless vengeance OF the hour. Among those caught
up In the prevailing maelstrom Of suspicion at the
time was Dr. Samuel Mudd, OF whom the public
have very fully heard as the surgeon that set the
broken leg OF Booth, and who WIS sentenced for
lie 10 the Dry Tortugas Time, which removes
&~t..k
ing events Of past period, has brought to him hls
freedom from a living tomb, and has given him the
fortune TO outive the clamor OF false accusation
and to rise above the p0nderous weight OF odium
heaped upon his name. Men did not stop to inquire,
10 ponder, to investigate the possibility OF perjury
on one side or innocence on the other when judg-
mcnt was silenced by the fierce demand for speedy
reributon. To crafty this Mrs. Surrat was sacrl-
feed and DR.. Mudd consigned to an outcast
felons doom. In other and calmer times 1t Is safe
TO presume neither result would have occurred; the
one would not have passed into history the reproach
OF great nation as being the victim OF judicial MUIR
der, and the other would have escaped the torture
worse than death Of blighted name and hopes for
ever ruined. Your correspondent anxious as well
10 The returned prisoner OF the Dry Tortugas as
TO ride the thirty miles Of ground that witnessed
the mad ana fearful flight OF Booth, took wagon
and gallant team OF bays and rattlel away from
Washington In the breezy air OF yesterday morning.
East OF the Capitol half a mile is q bridge that
crosses branch of the Potomac-an old bridge
very uneveny hoored and altogether rudely con-
structed The night Of the l4th OF April, 1906 SEN
tnes stood at either end Of this causeway and saw
Tooth fash past them, followed by Harold, the first
announcing himself as q doctor rushing to a sick
call, the latter as the messenger sent in haste
for the doctor. The conspirators IN no mind to
.Ag rul nat MI 9TH bov
follow OF walking their horses across the bridge.
1hey few with the wind, wheeled TO the left through
1le village Of uniontown and cattered over broad
ilacadamiZed road into Maryland. We followed the
a OF the assassns ride up lrll and down hill for
sveral miles until We reached point on the road
aled Good Hope. Standing here you take your last
t,iinpse OF Washington the svery Potomac and the
laooI-like dome OF the Capitol, and having made Z
up your mlnc 10 the enterprise you plunge into the
llost heaven-forsaken country within a hundred
iailes OF Washington Yet this is a portion Of .My
Maryand,'' where The very landscape Is supposed to
ali forth poetic and patriotic enthusiasm ana
every ROOD OF soil supports Q freeman
bold and brave. We roll down great oillowy in
cine OF red earn, cross remulous hrldge OF rotten
hoaTSls and mount steep ascent OF furrowed mud
~ the otoer side. No fences anywhere, no green
tang in sight, trim farm houses, no people with
white faces, save ever and anon q bankrupt and
aopcless looking farmer stretched on load or ma
nare andcornstaks aud gazing dejectedly at team
u palsied ponies. BY the wayside every few miles
i blacksmith blows his bellows for the edincation
md delight OF few forlorn loafers, who seem to
lstain themselves between watching the sickly
liaze Of the furnace and poklng fun at
he impecunious son OF Vulcan. Such
erfect terra incognttd so near Washing
IN aud civilization could hardly be dreamed Of;
elected II for his line Of night. But Booth, be 1t
snown mad long previous TO the night OF the assassi
iatton mapped out this part OIL maryland as the |
course by which he intended 10 abduct President |
lincoln into the confederacy. Afier a thnty-nve |
aies journey he intended 10 strike the Potomac, |
ana, crossing over mold on his journey through the
east known and Widest portion of Virginia |
Giving up his abduction scheme and resolving on |
assassination, he stil found;the route serviceabe
a means OF escaping capture. No better could he |
selected Tor no man unacquainted with the country
could follow fugitive through II without being |
lost, and yet there dense forests impassa-
ble streams IN the way but there IL constant dip
ping OF the SOL united with low broken ridges OF |
nils, oyerspTead by Saiara-like loneliness |
and an utter absence OF wayfarer5 on the |
highway, that MAKE 1t admirably adapted |
1or the purposes of q fleeing criminal. Eight or |
ten miles from Washington passed Surrattsville
once the happy country residence OF the unfortunate
family OF Surratt. Inis was fav0rtte resort OF |
Booth. Here the girl supposed 10 live TO |
whom he was accustomed 10 say ne was anianced. |
and Whenever the business Of the conspiracy took
him from Washington he generally accounted for his |
absence by saying that MS marriage was near at |
manu-, dul ne uAu Deen HaklHk preparations 1Of us
consummation. Surratts house. painted white and |
Standing by the roadside with It's fresh. shut
ters aud wide, shady verandas looked the only |
tedecming feature OF the road. II once tavern
On the good 0id times before the war, when the
chivalry OF Maryland lived In clover and niggers
abounded on every tobOcco plantation In the state.
But tnere II stands untenaned, and all Its former
inmates have left It's neghpofhood forever.
We pull up 10 learn the bearings OF the road at an
old fashioned grocery, mile beyond ourratts-
vile, and whole party who have been engaged
playing cards and drinking whiskey come forth TO
give the desired Information. such ours
IL seldom seen in that vicinity, we immediately
become the centre OF much curious observation.
Where we are going IL theme OF varied speculation
and there are many meditative mouths wondering II
cur vsit means treat Tor ail hands round. here
we learned that Booth stopped to replenish hts
brandy flask riding up 10 the door on his horse and
waking up the inmates by loud Knocking with the
handle OF his whip or the stock or his revolver.
CANT say which. We leave very soon.
Tue roads are m terrible condition, mud
holes on every SIDE, ami our objective poini