The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-08

oIlBlnal was gone, tnoughsne han copy OF IL. |
In telegraph offices they are compelled to keep |
all dispatches filed. OF course we could not |
oter this copy in evidence, because the original
alone would be accepted aud that had been
made away with SO sure was the Government
that they had destroyed all evidence of my So
1ourn in Elmira, that in getting me in Washing
ton in time for Mr.. Lincons death they brought
me by way of New York city, but so completely
were they foiled in this that in their rebutting
testimony they saw the absolute necessity of
having go by way of Elmira, and they
changed their tactics accordingly. That was
enough to damn my case in any mans mind
This is strange fact, but nevertheless true that
the Government having in its possession this
hotel register as well as my despatch to Booth,
and knowing moreover by one of its witnesses
that was in Blmira, yet tried to prove that
was in Washington on the night of Mr.. Lin
colns death, giving orders and commanding in
general as they were pleased to say. The gen
tlemen in Elmira, by whom proved my abb,
were men of the highest standing and integrity,
whose testimony the United States Government
could not and dare not attempt to impeach.
left Elmira with the intention of going to Balti-
more. really did not comprehend at that time
the danger ] was in. As there was no train
going south that evening / concluded to go to
Canandaigua, and from there to Baltimore, by
way of Elmira and New York. Upon arriving
at Canadaigua on Saturday evening, l learned
to my utter disappointment that no train lett
there until the Monday following, so l took
room at the Webster House, registering myself
as
"JoHN HARRISON"
The next day went to church, l remember
1t being Easter Sunday. | can here safely say
that the United States Government had not the
remotest idea that stopped anywhere after
left Elmira. They thought, when left there, L
went straight through to Canada. 1t was a very
fortunate thing for me that l could not leave
Canandaigua. Now mark, ladies and gentle
men, If you please, my name signed mid
way of the hotel register, with six other parties
before and after. There was no doubt as to the
Df es,r thn
perts brought by the United States TO swear
to my signatures in other instances, swore also
that that was my handwriting. After all this
the register was ruled out by Judge Fisher, be-
cause he was well aware If he admitted it my
case was at an end. could not be in two places
at once, though they tried to make me SO. Listen
to his reason for so ruling:-"The prisoner
might have stepped down from Canada to Can
andaigua during his cCncealment and signed
his name there for the purpose of protecting
| himself in the future 1t a likely idea
| that the proprietor of hotel would leave
blank line in the register for my especial bene-
| fit. Need say that the ruling was most in
famous one, and ought to damn the judge who
so ruled as villain in the minds of every honest
and upright man. cloud and prolonged ap-
| plause.) Had Judge Fisher been one of the
| lawyers for the prosecution, he could not have
worked harder against me than he did. But,
thanks to him, he did me more good than harm.
His unprincipled and vindictive character was
| tootapparent to every one in the courtroom.
|
the great shrewdness and foresight he accorded
me by that decision. At times, really, during
my trial, could scarce recognize any vestige
| of my former self. Sometimes / would ask my
| self, "Am the same individual? Am L really
| the same John H. Surratt?" When that regis
ter was produced in Court the Hon. Judge
Pierrepont the leading counsel for the United
States, became exceedingly nervous, especially
| when Mr.. Bradley refused to show it to him,
and he tore up several pieces of paper in his
| TREMBLING FINGERS.
He evidently saw what pitiful case he had,
and how he had been made the dupe of his pre-
| cious, worthy friend, Edwin M. Stanton. At
the time of my trial the proprietor of the Web
| ster House, in Canandaigua, could not find the
cash book of the hotel in which there should
| have been an entry in favor of "John Harrison"
| for so much cash. When he returned to Canaan
daigua, my trial being then ended, he wrote
Mr.. Bradley that he had found the cash book,
and sent it to him. 1t was then too late; my
trial was over. If we had had that cash book
st the time of my trial it would have been
proved beyond doubt that was in Canaan
daigua and not in Washington city.
On Monday, when was leaving Canandaigua,
! bought some New York papers. In looking
over them, my eye lit on the following para
graph, which l have never forgot and don't
think / ever will. 1t runs thus:-"The assassin
of Secretary Seward is said to be John H. Sur
ratt, notorious secessionist of Southern Mary
| land. His pame with that of j. Wilkes Booth
will forever lead the infamous roll of a5sassins.
upon my name, the letters of which seemed
sometimes to grow as large as mountains ant
then to dwindle away to nothing. SO much fol
my former connection with him, | thought
After fully realizing the state of the case, con
cluded to change my course and
GO DIRECT TO CANADA.
left Canandaigua on Monday IL NJ, going Il
Albany, arriving there on Tuesday morning il
time for breakfast. When l stepped on th'
platform at the depot at St. Adams l noticed
that one of the detectives scanned
every one, head and foot mysel
as well as the rest. Before leavin.
Montreal for Elmira 1 provided myself witt
AN OXFORD CUT JACKET
and round-top hat, peculiar to Canada at tina
time. / knew my trip to Elmira would be
dangerous one, and l wished to pass myself OF
as a Canadian, and succeeded in so doing, a
was proved by my witness in Elmlra. be
leye that costume guarded me safely through
st. Adams. l went in with Others, and moved
around with the detectives standing there mos
of the time looking at us. OF course, wa
obliged to talk as loud as anybody about thu
late tragedy. After having hearty meal
lighted a cigar and walked uptown. One of the
detectives approached me, stared me directly
in the face, and / looked him quietly back. Ii
few moments / was speeding on my way Il
Montreal, where arrived at o'clock in tn,
afternoon, going again TO the st. Lawrence
Hotel Soon after l called on a friend, to whom
/ explained my former connection with Booth
and told him l was afraid the United States
Government would suspect me of completely II
the plot of assassination. He advised me TO
MAKE MYSELF SCARCE.
Immediately went to the hotel, got M
things, and repaired to the room of friend
When my friends tea-time came would not g
| to the table with him, but remained in the room
The ladies wanted to know why he didn't brin,