Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-12-17
ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN.
LECTURE OF JOHN II. SURRATT.
His Connection with Booth.
The Abduction Plot Explained.

or statement OF he knowledge of The sam.
in the shape OF ,c,ure, delivered in thu
CoOn House ut Rockville. Maryland. &.
lev miles distant IRON Washington. De-
ssnber 7'h. IL is very long. but the fol-
lowing opening extract covers the features
eoataining his facu:
Ladies and gentlemen: Upon entering
that door few moments ego. the i'm
Prsssion on my mind was so strong as TO
'i'ldly recall scenes of three years ago.
lam noiuhscqusinied with Courtroom
ssdience.. Sensation. have siood
before them before; il Is true moi in the
character OF aIeclurer. but ass prisoner
Of The bar. !nalgned for the high crime Of
murder. 10 contracting the two posi-
uons, | must confess that | fell more 81
ease as 8 prisoner 81 the bar than do rs
lecturer. Then feli confident Of sue
cess. nov DO not. Then hsd gentle
sen OF known ability to do oil nv talk
ing for me now, unfortunately. | have
to DO ii for myself. feel lily capable of
performing the task. still hope you will
oil judge ne kindly. sn no, here 10
surprise you BY any orstoricsl effori; not
81 all; but only 10 tell simple tale. |
feel that some explanation, perhaps indeed
So apology. is due you for my appearance
here this evening. ] presenting this lee.
,urs before the public. do il in no spin.
OF 'elf jusIifcsuOn. In a uisl OF sixty
ope days | made my defense to the world
and have no need or desire TO rehearse
1T nor do ! appear for sells Qualification.
On the contrary, dislike notoreiy.
leave my solIcIiude and obscuri,y uuwiIl-
insly. Neither is il an itching for no,o-
iI.ty or fame. My ohjec, Is merely to
prssen, simple narrative Of evenIs as
they occurred. | stand here through the
tOrss Of ,hs, which has obliged MANY 9TH
81 men 10 do things quite as tssieful-pe-
ssnisry necessity for tie supply OF which
90 more svsll.ble channel presented II.
ssli. So you will take II kindly. uu,.,
end The ground ~e will have to 60 over
together will guarantee sufficient interest
TO repay your kind attention. Ia this.
my frat lecture, sill speak OF my i0lro-'
ducnon 10 J. Wilkes Booth, his plan. lis
failures. our hnsl separation. my unp from
RlehDcnj, and thence 10 Canada; then
my orders TO Elnirs. what was done
there and the hIsI iniinstion had OF Mr..
Llncolns death. | was saostly engaged
10 sending information regarding the
movements OF The United Sls,es army
sntionsd in s.hiniton snd elsewhere.
and carrying di.parches TO tie Conleje.
r,ls boats on the Po,omac. We had
regular esl.bii,hed line from Washington
10 the Potomac. and being the only un-
married unaa on the roue. had most
al zoe bard riding to DO. Laughter |
dtsIssd VARIOUS ways 10 carry the dis
patches, sometime. IN NE heel Of my
boots. tomeiInes between the plsnks OF
al. buggy. confess that ae',r IN my
I've did | come across more stupid ret
OF detective, than Ihose generally employ
stby lie Uuued States Government.
TLey seemed 10 have TO idea whatever
hou to search mn. In 1864 my family
I,h Maryland sn1- moved to Washington.
ehers'l had , still more active part in The
stormy event. Of that period. Ii Was .
(s,ciuo,ina life 10 me. Ilsssmed IS il !
seuld 90, DO too much or run 100 great a
,.s. Ia The fall oil 1864 wasinToduc-
ID 10 John Mikes Booth, who. was
given TO understand, wished TO know
.osslhGg about tie main avenues lead
inf rom Warrington 10 the Potomac.
We ne, several urpss. but h seemed 10
10 ,siy sllen, with regard 10 his purPos'
%. Finally he said: "Y"u know 4"
veil al Tie efforts Ma, have been made
70 bnnl about that much desired inter-
rs,nss Of prisoners; aside lIom The gene
raj ,sa.rtns they are compelled TO under.
20, We are sadly in wan, Of them a. SOL
el.rs. We can n~i spare one man. ~ter.-
s,ihe United States Government 10 sill
Ins 10 lie, their own soldiers remsin 40
eur pri.oners. because she has no need
Of The men. have . proposition 10 sub
niI TO YOU. which think, if We can car.
" il cut, will bring shout the desired eI-
sh.nge. There Vas = long aud onerous
silence. which ., last wss compelled 10
break By s.klng: well, sir. what is
your proposition 7" He Sat quiet for an
instant, and then, before answering. lie
arose and looked under the bed. in the
wardrobe. in The doorway and tho pas.
s,ss, and then ,sld: I'VE will have to DO
s,reiul; ~ u. have ears. lie then
drs- his char close 10 me. and IN
whisper said "lI 10 10 sidnsP President
Lincoln and carry him of 10 Richmond.
"Kldn,p Ptesdsn, Lincoln !" | said. !
sonlsss thai slood sshss! al the Propo.
anon. and looked upon II ass io"lhsrdy
undertaking. To think Of successfully
s.is,ns Mr.. Lincoln IN the Capital Of the
DATED States. surrounded by thousands
Of HE ,cld,srs. and carrying him Oh to
Rehmond, looked to me like foolish
IS., told him IS much. lie went on
70 tel With what facility he could be
,sis.d. 10 various places in and about
W,,hins ,oa, as. for example. on his vsn'
40, rides to and from the Sold'er's Home
he summer resldencs. He entered into
the minute details Of the propo'ed cap
,uis. and sren tho various paris 10 be
performed by the actors in the perform
snes.
Isn smssed ihundersnuck and. IN
h,,. might also say, frightened al the
pnsn.Il.led ,ud,ei'y oil ,hs scheme. Al
,.T,~o dsys' reflection. told him was