The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-09
ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN.
Lecture of John Il. surratt.
HIS CONNECTION WITH BOOTH,


| UlGIMirh to The Cincinnati Enquirer.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Z, 1870.
John II. Surratt, one ol the alleged con-
spiratOrs in the plot to NSsNsSinAtc Prcsi-
dent Lincoln, made full confession or
statement Of the knowledge OF the same
III the shape of q lecture, delivered in the
Court House at Rockville, Maryland, u
few miles distant from Washington, last
night. 1t Is very long, but the following
opening extract covers the features con-
taining his facts: ( lS g5 Ia q
Ladies' and gentlemen: Upon entering
that door u few moments ago, the impress
sion on my mind was go strong Us TO Wv
idly recall scenes Of three years ago. l
am not unacquainted with Courtroom au.
diences. Sensation. Ihaye stool before
them before; il Is truenot in the charac-
ter OF lecturer, but rs u prisoner ut the
bar, arraigned for the high crime Of mur
der. In contrasting the two positions, l
must confess that felt more at ease as
prisoner at the bar than l do US q lecturer.
Then felt confident Of success, now do
not. Then | had gentlemen Of known
ability to do aIl my talking Tor me; now,
unfortunately, | have to do it for myself.
feel lily capable of performing the task,
still hope you will all judge me kindly. l
am not here to surprise you by any ora
torical effort; not at all; but only to tell a
simple tale. l feel that some explanation,
perhaps indeed an apology, is due you for
my appearance here this evening. npre-
senting this lecture before the public, do
II in no spirit Of selfjustitiCatiOn. In IL
trial of sixty one days l made my defense
to the world, and lave no need or desire
TO rehearse It; nor do ! appear for self.
slorifcation. On the contrary, / dislike
1otoriety Ileave my sollcitude and OBJ
scurity unwillingly. Neither is it an
itching for notOriCty or fame My object
/ Is merely to present q simple narrative Of
events US they occurred. / stand here
through the force of that which has
obliged many other men to do things quite
as tasteful-pecuniary necessity, for the
supply OF which no more available chm.
mel presented itself. So you will take It
kindly, l trust, and the ground we will
have 10 90 over together will guarantee
sufficient interest to repay your kind at.
tention. In this, my first lecture | will
speak Of my introduction TO ]. Wilkes
Booth, his plan, its failure, our final sep.
aration, my trip from Richmond, and
thence to Canada; then my orders TO Ell
mira, what was done there, and the first
naturalization l had Of Mr.. LincOlns
death. was mostly engaged in sending
information regarding the movements OF
tho United States army stationed in Wash
inptOn and elsewhere, and carving dis.
patches to the Confederate boats OH the
Potomac. We had regular established
line from Washington to the Potomac,
and being the only unmarried man on
the route, haQ most of the hard
riding to do Laughter l devised various
ways TO carry the dispatches, sometimes
in the heel Of my boots, sometimes be.
tween the planks Of the buggy. confess
that never in my live did ! como across u
more stupid set Of detectives than those
generally employed by the United Suites
Government They seemed to havO no
idea whatever how 10 search men. In
1904 my family left Maryland and moved
to Washington, where had still more
active part in the stormy events Of that
period. 1t was fascinating life to me.
1t seemed rs il / could not do too much
or run too great q risk. In the fall Of 1854
was introduced to john Wilkes Booth,
who, l was given to understand, wished
to know something about the main ave-
nues leading from Washington to the PO-
tomac. We met several times, but lie
seemed to be very silent with regard 10
his purposes. Finally hG said: "You
know as well as the efforts that have
been made to bring about that much de-
sired interchange Of prisoners; aside from
the general suffering they are compelled
TO undergo, we are sadly in want ot.them
aS soldiers. WelCan not spare onelmani
whereas the United States Government
Is willing to let their own soldiers remain
as our prisoners, because she has no need
of tho men. khave a proposition 10 sub
nit to you, which / think, If we can carry
1t out, will bring about the desired cx-
chupge," There was o long and Onerous
silence, which Mt last was compelled to
Ito break by asking: "Well, sir, what is
your propositiong" He sat quiet for an
Instant, and then, before answering, he
arose and looked under the bed, In the
wardrObe,in the doorway and the passage,
anu tneu Shlu; W. VIII n0to W. " va
ful: walls have car" He then drew his
chair close TO me, and in o whisper said:
at is 10 kidnap President Lincoln and
carry him off to Richmond" !" u "kidnRp
President Lincoln?" said. / confess
that stood agast at the proposition, and
Hooked upon Il as a fOolhRrdy undertaking.
To think Of successfully seizing Mr.. LIN.
coin in the Capital Of the United States,
surrounded by thousands Of his soldiers,
and CARRYING him off to Richmond, looked
TO me like q foolish idea. / told him aSS
much. lie went on to tell with what
facility he could be seized, In various pla'
ces in and about Washington, as, for ex
ample, on his various rides TO and from
the soldiers Home, his summer residence.
He entered into the minute details Of the
proposed capture, and even the various
paris TO be performed by the actors In
the performance. 4.r.a -a., j
| was amazed, thunderStruCk and, in
fact, might also say, frightened at the
unparalleled audacity Of the scheme. AZ
ter two days reflection, | told him was
willing to Try It. / believed itpracttcable
at that time, though ! now regret It as q
foOlhardy undertaking. 1hope you Will
not blame me for going thus far. ! hon
estly thought an exchange Of prisoners
could be6rought about, could we have
once obtained possession Of NJ. LinCOlns
person. And now reverse the case.
Where Is there young man In the North,
with spark Of patriotism In his heart,
who would not have with enthusiastic
ardor Joined in any undertaking for the
capture Of Jefferson Davis and brought
him to Washington? There Is not one
who would not have done so, and so
was led on by q sincere desire TO assist the
South in gaining her Independence. | had
no hesitation in taking part in any thing