Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-07-08
THE r FAMILY.
Memories Of the Great National
Tragedy.

The Washington Star of Friday
evening contains the following mat
tiers of interest in relation to the Sur
raft family and its painful reminis-
cences which have been forced into
public notice recently by the persis-
tency of political exploiters
The nomination of General Han.
cock by the democrats for the presi-
dency again brings into prOminece the
Surratt family. For several years the
remaining members oft have seclu-
ded themselves as much as possible
from the public eye, and sought to
make a living with as little display as
possible. There are three Of the Sur
rat family living, two boys and one
girl. Isaac, a bachelor, was never
charged with completely in or knowl-
edge of the terrible events which have
placed the other members of this
family so prominently before the pub
lie. John II. Surratt is thirty-ive
years of age. He was, as every one
knows, charged with being in the con.
spiracy that resulted in the death oil
Lincoln, but he escaped, and with
a price upon his head was toI
years hunted wei a greater part o.
the civilized globe, and finally cap.
tured and brought back to Washing
ton. A flaw in the Indictment charg.
ing him with crime set him free, aud
he finally brought up in Baltimore
where he now resides, earning a goot
living as chief clerk in the Office of Z
line of Norfolk steamers. His brother
Isaac is a clerk under him. John il
a quiet, industrious man, his employ.
ers say, but one that attracts attention
only by his quick, decisive manner
and speech. He is slightly above the
medium height, but Of rather slender
build. His face is long and some.
what "pinched," but not unpleasantIy
so. A large Roman nose and a pom,
derous under jaw, denoting persona.
courage, are the striking points of his
features, which are Ornamented with
a red moustache and goatee. He has
piercing gray eyes, sets well under
heavy eyebrows, and his years of com.
bat with the world has made then
unusually restless, and his manner
and movements quick and emphatic
He never talks of his troubles to hi'
most intimate friends, and the death
Of his mother and the terrible scenes
incident thereto are never referred tC
except when necessity requires it
even between the brothers and sister
Miss Annie Surratt, Johns sister
now the wife of Professor w. P. Ton
ny, a chemist Of repute, alse resides il
Baltimore. She has recently beer
quoted as blaming General Hancock
for the part he took in the execution
Of her mother, or rather in refusing
to supplement her effort to secure ex.
ecutive clemency. 0fall the SurratI
family she has evidently suffered most
and most deeply feels the effects of the
terrible. tragedy which ended in the
death Of her mother. She lives quietly
at her home, ll6 Eager street, Balti.
more. In appearance she is not un.
like her brother John, and would
easily be recognized as a relative. She
is rather tall, and her thin, small
pleasant face is plainly marked with
lines of severe suffering.
The interviewer asked Professor
Tonry:
You do not care to say whether
the Surratt family are friendly or I'm.
friendly to General Hancock"
mo, | do not; that is no political
matter, i is purely a personal one
with which the public has no concern.
General Hancock has been nominated
for the presidency, and his public
acts are, of course, legitimate points
OF attack by his opponents, but fol
them to rake up this matter and un.
dertake 10 make political capital out
OF it, is, to say the least, cruel, for il
revlves memories that ought to be
buried. No party ought to think Of
making political capital out Of them.