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

Upon arriving at Canandaiguson Saturday eve
ming learned TO my utter Disappointment that
no train left until the Monday following. so |
took q room at the Webster House, registering
myself as
"JoHN HARRISON"
The next day L went to church. | remember It
being Easter Sunday. L can here safely say
that the United States government had not the
remctest idea that stopped anywhere after
lett Elmlra; They thought, when left there,
went straight through to Canada. IL was very
fortunate thing for me that could not leave
Canandaigua. Now mark ladies and gentle
men, II you please, my name was signed mid
way OF the hotel register, with six other parties
before and after. There was no doubt a. 10 the
ger IL neneSs of my signature, because the very
experts 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 il he admitted il my
case was at an end. i could not be in two places
at once, though they tried to make me so. Lis
ttn TO his reason for so ruling: The prisoner
might have stepped down from Canada TO Ca
nandalgua during his concealment and signed
his name there for the purpose OF protecting
himself IN the flture." 1t was a likely idea
that the proprietor Of hotel would leave a
blank line in the register for my especial benefit.
Need say that the ruling was a most Infamous
one, and ought to damn the Judge who so ruled
as Villain in the minds OF every honest AID
upright man. Loud and prolonged applause.
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
IL
principled and vindictive character was too
apparent to every one in the courtroom. I
could not help smiling at the time 10 think OF
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 really
the same John IL. Surratt?" When that regis
Ter was produced in court, the Hon. Judge
Pierrepont, the leading counsel for the United
states, became exceedingly nervous, especially
RTQnlaV N hnx 20 and
he tore up several pieces of paper in his
TREMBLING FINGERS.
tic evidently saw what pititul case he had,
and how he had been made the dupe Of his
precious, worthy friend, Edwin NJ. Stanton.
Al the time OF my trial the proprietor of the
Webster 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 re-
turned TO CanandaIgua, my trial being then
ended, he wrote Mr.. Bradley that he had found
the cash book, and sent il to him. II was then
too late. My trial was over. II we had had
that cash book AT the time OF nv trial IL would
have beer proved beyond a doubt that was in
Csnandaigua, and not in Washington CITY.
On Monday when | was leaving Cauadaigua,
! bought some New York papers. In looking
over them, my eye ton the following paragraph
ever will. IL runs thus "The assassin of Sec
Rotary Seward IL said TO be John II. Surratt a
notorious secessionist of Southern Maryland.
His name, with that of j. Wilkes Booth, will
forever lead the infamous roll of assassins ;" |
could scarcely believe my senses. gazed upon
my name, the letters Of which seemed sometimes
70 grow as large MOUNTAINS and then to dwindle
away TO nothing. So much for my former con-
nection with him thought. After fully real
ling the state OF the case, l concluded to
change my course and
GO DIRECT TO CANADA.
l lett Canadaigua on Monday II M, going TO
Albany arriving there on Tuesday morning in
time for breakfast. When stepped on the plat
from al the depot at st. Adams 4 noticed that
one OF the detectives scanned every one, head
and foot myself as well as the rest. Before lesv-
ing Montreal for Elmira, provided myself with
AN OXFORD CUT JACKET
ana round-tep hat, peculiar to Canada at that
time i knew my trip to Elmirs would be a
dangerous one, and wished TO pass myself of
as Canadian, and 1 succeeded in so doing, "a
was proved by nv witnesses in Elmira. L be-
lleve that costume guarded me safely through
ST. Adams | went in with Others and moved
around, with the detectives standing there most
OF the time looking at us. OF course / was
obliged to talk as loud as anybody about the
late tragedy. After having q hearty meal !
lighted cigar and walked up town. One OF the
detectives approached me, stared nae directly
in the face, and looked him quietly back. In
lew moments l was speeding on my wav TO
Montreal, where | arrived al two O'Clock In the
afternoon, going again TO the st. Lawrence Ho-
tel. Soon after called on a friend, to whom
explained my former connection with Booth
and told him was afraid tie United States
government would suspect me of COMPLETELY in
the plot of assassination. He advised me to
MAKE MYSELF SCARCE.
Immediately went to the hotel, got nv things
and repaired to the room of friend. When
my friends tea-time came would not go to the
,a3ie with nm, but remained in the room. The
ladies wanted to know why he didn't bring his
friend TO tea with him. He replied that didn't
want any. One of the ladies remarked "I ex-
peet you have got Booth in there daughter
perhaps So" he answered, laughingly. That
was rather close guessing. (Laughter.l At
nghttall went to the house OF one who after
wards proved to be most devoted friend
There remained until the evening of the next
day, when L was driven out in a carriage with
TWO gentlemen, strangers 10 me. One day
walked out and saw
WEICHNAN on THE LOOKOUT FOR ME-
He had little idea / was so near. One night
about IL O'Clock, nv friend, in whose house /
was, came to me and said, in a smiling way
1.-The detectives have offered me $40 900 if will
tell them where you are" "Very WE'LL" said |,
"give me one half, and let them know" They
suspected this gentleman of protecting me, and
about II O'Clock, was told that they were GO
ing TO search the house, and that 1 must leave
immediately, which / did. They searched it
before morning. This gentleman was a poor
man, with large family, and vet money could
not buy him. Applause l remained with
this gentleman until left Montreal, within q
week or so afterwards. The detectives were
new hunting me very closely, and would have
doubtless succeeded IN capturing me, had it not
BEEN for blunder on the part of
MY FRIEND wIECHMAN.
He had, it appears, started the detectives on the
wrong track, by telling them that had left the
house of MIR. Port eTfield in company with some
otnefs; anu Was gong nOftn OF montreal. Soon
that section was swarming with detectives. 1
was not with that party, but about the same
time, too, left Montreal in hack going some
s or miles down the st. Lawrence river, cross
ing that stream in q small canoe. was attired
as huntsman. At O'Clock Wednesday morn
ing we arrived at our destination, a small
town lying south OF Montreal. We entered the
village very quietly, hoping no one would see US
1t has been asserted over and over again, and
for the purpose of damning me in the estimation
OF every honest man that I
DESERTED HER WHO GAVE NE BIRTH
In the drest hour OF her need. Truly would
have merited the execration OF every man had
such been the case. But such was not the case
When left Montreal there was no cause for
uneasiness on my part, and upon my arrival in
the country wrote to my friendsi In Montreal to
keep me posted in regard to the approaching
trial, and to send me the newspapers regularly.
received letters from them frequently, in all
Of which they assured me there was no case
of anxiety; that it was only q matter of time
and il would all be we'll. After a while papers
did not come so regularly, and those that did,
spoke very encOuragiDg1y. A little while af-
forwards, when they came,
SENTENCES WERE AUTILATID WITH INK AND
PEN.
protested against such action, and for some
time received no papers at all. became very
uneasy, and wrote for publication an article