Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-07

The STAR reporter to Rockville last nigkt-the
annOunc euent in the Rockville
paper;
Lecture by John H. Surraet.
On TUESDAY seniurc- December 9th, 1870. JOHN IL.
>UKEATT- viii deliver Lecture in the court. hous.
Bu,fi-Th- Plot fnT the AIsluction of President Lin
coln-Its Failure sIsi AbandonrIent-His trip 10
,iers to En,ra, anil ~ hat done there-His hear
iHS OF the Assassination of President LiIcoln-Ils
rars Of DETECTIVES to him. and means used 10
a. M th'nf-His final departure for EUROPE
a .. Admittance- - cents; Children, half price
John H. surratt-everybody knows who he is,
Snd of his alleged connection with the conspir-
acy of 1865, his escape, capture, and subsequent
trial and discharge in this city, over a year
since. Since then he has spent portion of his
time in Lower Maryland, been in the commits
sion business in Baltimore, and now has turned
up school teacher in Rockville, where he has
ayailed himself OF leisure hours to prepare IN
the shape of a lecture, a history of the events
public. The lecture took place in the court
house, quaint old building, but roomy and
comfortable. The village looked deserted of
everything save horses and empty vehicles OF
all kinds, from
sULKY TO CORD WOOD WAGON,
the occupants of which had passed into the
court room, the scene Of the lecture. A curiou.
spectacle was presented within. The bar was
occupied blythe ladies in large numbers, while
without and high up around the walls, on
crters bench, &c., men and boys held every
available spot. At : O'Clock Surratt entered
and passed up the side platform in unceremo-
NOUS style to the judges desk. He was unat-
tended, wore mixed grey suit, And with the
exception OF having grown much stouter. looks
the same as during his trial here. He has
rather a mild and pleasant face, and decided
ly intellectual head; and does not look like the
sort OF stun Tor performer OF desperate deeds.
ON HIS ENTRANCE
the Rockville COrnet Band in attendance struck
up a lively air. Surratt then threw on his
oyercoat, revealing manuscript book, which
he drew from under his arm and laid open on
the desk before him. He referred 10 i. but lit
tie, however, having his lecture well in his
memory. Without any introduction he was off,
speaking very rapidly but distinctly for an hour
and a quarter. He has a good voice and easy
to which he occasionally added great
warmth of feeling, particularly when he refer
red 10 his mother, and his alleged desertiOn OF
her IN her darkest hour.
THE LECTURE.
lie spoke as follows:
Ladies and gentlemen:-Cpon entering that
door few moments ago the impression ON my
mind was 80 strong TO wildly recall scenes of
three years ago. | am not unacquaiuted with
courtroom audiences. Sensation I have
stood before them before; true. not in the char
acter OF a lecturer, but prisoner AZ the bar
CRIME OF MURDER.
In contrasting the two positions 1 must confess
felt more ease as the prisoner al the bar than
/ do as lecturer. Then 4 felt confident OF sue
cess: now do not. Then | had gentlemen OF
known ability to do all my talking for me: now
unfortunately, have to do il Tor myself and
feel lily capable of performing the task; still
hope you will all judge me kindly. am not
here 10 surprise you by any oratorieal effort
not al all-but only TO tell simple tale. feel
that some explanation, perhaps, indeed, an
In
this evening. In presenting this lecture before
the public do II in no spirit of self
In a trial OF sixty-one days made my defense
TO the world. and have no need or desire 20 rs-
On the contrary, dislike notoriety, and leave nv
solitude and ObscurIty unwillinglv. Neither is
1T an itching for notoriety or fame. Ny object IS
merely TO present a simple narrative of events
as they occurred. / stand here through the
force OF that which has obliged many other men
TO do things quite a distasteful-pecuniary ne
cessity, for the supply of which LO more avail
able channel presented itself. This is a reason
easily appreciated. So you will take II kindly,
! trust. and the ground we will have to 20 over
together will guarantee sufi cient interest to re
pay your kind attention. In this my hrst leo
ture will speak OF my introduction TO J.wilkes
Booth, his plants failure-our final separa-
tommy trip from Richmond, and thence TO
my orders to Elmira-what Gas
done theTe-the first intimation had OF
MR.. LISCOLs's DEATH,
my return to Canada and cOncealment there,
ing out OF the war was q student at ST. Charles
College, IN Maryland, but did not remain long
there after that important event. left in July.
1s6l, and returning home commenced to take
an active part in the stirring events of that Pc
Rod. i WAS not more than eighteen wears OF
age. and was mostly engaged in sending infor-
nation regarding the movements OF the United
States army stationed in Washington and else
where, and carrying dispatches to the Confed-
rate boats on the Potomac. We had regular
line from Washington to the Po-
ban Nhna
the route, had most of the hard riding to do.
Laughter. L devised various ways to carry
the dispAtches-sometimes in the heel OF INV
boots, sometimes between the planks of the
buggy. L confess that never in my life did
come across q more
STUPID SIT OF DETECTIVES
than those generally employed by the L. s. gov.
They seemed to have no idea what
ever how to search men. In 1854 my family left
Maryland and moved to Washington, where I
took still more active part in the stirring
events OF that period. Ii was
FASCINATING LIFE TO NE.
IL seemed as il could not do too much or run
too great risk.
In the fall OF 1854 I was introduced to John
wished 10 know something about the main ave-
rues leading from Washington to the Potomac.
wes met several times, but Is he seemed to be
very reticent with regard TO his purposes, and
very anxious TO get all the information ont Of
me he could. refused 10 tell him anything AZ
all AT last said TO him, =" IL is useless for you,
MI DoOlu, 10 seek any lnl0f marion from me
al all; know who you are and what are your
Intentions" He hesitated some time, but
nnally said he would make known his views to
me provided would prvmise secrecy. lrenlisu
:, Will do nothing Of the kind, You know we'll
am southern man. II you cannot trust me
We VIII separate" He then said: 81 will conide
my plans TO you; but before doing 50 [ will
MAKE known to you the motives that actuate
me. In the Northern prisons are many thou
SANDS OF our men whom the United States gov
eminent refuse to exchange. You know a. well
AZ the EFFORTS that have been made to bring
ABOUT that much desired exchange. Aside from
the great suffering they are com PEELED TO un-
Gergo, we are sadly in want of them ~ soldiers.
we cannot spare one man, whereas the United
otA,es government Is willing TO let their own
soldiers remain in our prisons because she has
no need OF the men. 1 have proposition to
submit 10 you, which think IL we can carry
9ut VIII bring about the desired exchange"
There was long and
OMNIBUS SILENCE
wnich az last was compelled 70 break by ask
vel; sr, what Is your propositiob?'' He
SAT quiet for An instant, and then, before an
swering me, arose and looked under the bed,
into the wardrobe, in the doorway and the pas
sage, and then said. "We will have to be care
ful; walls have ears" He then drew his chair
close TO me and in q whisper said
"rf re TO KrDEAr f1HsmMT LMcoLN,