Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-12-16


,'etI s'ea;i 81 .ea'iar / saspssaq ~
z sar tsei gl.es'F q. .as,nif:ai
he tore up several pieces of paper in bis
trembling fingers. he evidently saw wha,
a pitiful case be had. and how be had been
made the dupe Of bis precious, worthy
friend, E. M. Stanton. At the time Of
my trial the proprietor Of the Webster
House, in Canandaigus. 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 Canandaigua, my
trial being then ended, he wrote Mr.
Bradley that he had found the cash book,
and sent it to him. It was then too late.
| My trial was over. IF we had had that
cash book at the time of my trial it would
have been proved beyond a doubt that
was in Canandaigus, and not in Washing
ton city. 1a q
On Monday when I was leaving Canaan
daigua bought some New York papers.
In looking over them my eye lit on the
following paragraph. which I have never
forgot. and don't think ! ever will. It
runs thus; The assassin Of Secretary
Seward is said to be John H. Surratt,, q
notorious secessionist Of Southern Mary
land. His name, with that Of j. Wilkes
Booth. will forever lead the infamous roll
of assassins." I could scarcely believe
my senses. gazed upon my name, the
letters of which seemed sometimesto to grew
as large as mountains and then to dwindle
away to nothing. So much for my form
er connection with him. / thought.
Changes HIS Course. ..e !.
After fully realizing the state of the
case, concluded to change my course and
60 direct to Canada. I left Canandaigua
on Monday at II NJ, going to Albany.
arriving there on Tuesday morning 10
time for breakfast. When l stepped on
the platform at the depot at st. Albans I
noticed that one Of the detectives scanned
every one, head and foot, myself as we'll
as the rest. Before leaving Montreal for
Elmira. 1 provided myself with an Oxford
cut jacket and a zround-top hat, peculiar
to Canada at that time. I knew my trip
to Elmira would be . dangerous one. and
| wished to pass myself off as. Canadian,
and I succeeded in so doing, as was prov
led by my witnesses in Elmira!a I Ibelieve
that costume guarded me safely through
St. Albans. I.went in With others, and
moved around. with the detectives stsnd-
ing there most Of theatime. loekiDg at us..
OF course I Was OBLIGED 70 talk.aa loud aa
having hearty meal lighted q cigar ahu
walked up and down the platform. One
of the detectives approached me. stared
me directly in the face, and looked him
quietly back. To few moments [ was
speeding on my way to Montreal, where
| arrived at two o'clock in the afteruoon,
going again to the St. Lawrence Hotel.
Soon after called on a friend, to whom
I explained my former connection with
Booth, and told him was afraid the u
nited States Government would suspect
me of completely in the plot Of assassina-
ton. He advised me to make myself
scarce. I Immediately went to the hotel.
got my things, and repaired to the room
Of friend. When my friends tea time
came would not 90 to the table with him.
but remained in the room. The ladies
wanted to know why he didn't bring bis
friend to tea with him. He replied that
l didn't want any. One Of the ladies re-
marked, Il expect you have got Booth in
there" Perhaps So" he answered
laughingly. That was rather close guess
ing. At nightfall l went to the house Of
one who afterwards proved to be most
devoted friend. There l. remained until
the evening of the next day, when | was
driven out in carriage with two gentle
men. strangers to me. One day | walk
ed out and I saw Weichman on the look
out for me. He had little idea [ was SO
near. One night about 1 L o'clock my
friend, in whose house was, came to me
and said, in smiling way: ..The detec.
tives have offered me $4,000 if | will
tell them where you are" Every we'll. y
said I, ''give me one half. and let them
of protecting me. and they had really
made him the offer. One day about 712
o'clock l was told that they we're going te
search the house and that I must leave
Immediately. which I did. They search
ed it before morning. This gentleman
was poor man. with q large family. ane
y,t money could not buy him. I remain.
ed with this gentleman until I left Mon
treal, within week or so afterwards.
In Hot Pursuit.
The detectives were now hunting mt
very closely, and, would have doubtless
succeeded in capturing me, had it not beer
for blunder oh the part Of my FRIEND
Weichman. He had, it appears, startee
the detectives On the wrong track, by tell
ing them that had left the house of Mr.
Porterfeld in company with some others
and was going north of Montreal. 1aSoor
that section was swarming with detectives
I was not with that party. but about ths
same time [, too. left Montreal in hack
going some eight or nine miles down th'
St. Lawrence river. crossing that streau
in a small canoe. I was attired as |
huntsman. At three O'clock Wednesda.
morning we arrived at our destination, I
small town lying south of Montreal. -
ga Tale OF Two Dogs"