Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-02
THE SURRATT FAMILY.
Memories Of the Great National
Tragedy.
GEN. Hamcocz.'s Connection With 1T.

Memories of the Great National
Tragedy.
Gen. HHMcOck's Connection With 1T.
The nomination of Gen. Hancock by the demo-
Gratis for the presidency again brings into
prominence the Surratt family. For several
years the remaining members of 1T have secluded
themselves as much as possible from the public
eye, and sought to make living with as little
d1sI lay as possible. There are three of the Sur
ratt family living, two boys and one girl. Isaac
is the eldest, bachelor, 3s years Of age. He
was never charged with completely in, or knOwl-
edge of, the terrible events which have placed
Il tther members OF this family so prominently
pefoi the country.
the youngest son and is 35 years of age. He
Was, as every one knows, charged with being 10
Lincoln. but he escaped and with price upon
his head was for years hunted over a greater
part OF the civilized globe. and finally captured
ard brought back to Washington. A flaw in the
Indictment charging him with the crime, set
him free and he finally brought up In Baltimore,
Wlere ne now resides, earning good living as
Chief cierk In the Office OF line of Norfolk
steamers. His brother Isaac is clerk under
him. John is quiet, Industrious man, so his
employers 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 .pnched," but not unpleasantly so. A
w.
denot1ng personal courage, are the striking
points OF his features, which are ornamented
Dy red mustache and gOatee. He has piercing
grey eyes, set well under heavy eyebrows, and
his years OF combat with the world has made
them unusually restless, and his manner and
movements quick and emphatic. He never
talks OF his troubles to his most intimate
friends, and the death OF his mother and the
terrible scenes incident thereto are never re-
1erred to except when necessity requires 1t, even
between the brothers and sister. When ap-
lily toward Gen. Hancock, he said, 81 have no
statement to make. | do not wish to refer to
tne SUBJECT Ia any way, shape or form, neither
TO affirm or deny what has been printed" Nd
amount OF argument or logic could induce him
10 say more upon the subject, for he seemed to
dread not so much a statement of the present
position of the family as the controversy it
would undoubtedly provoke. and the revival of
terrible scenes which they were ever trying to
keep out OF sight.
MISS ANNA SURRATT
Johns sister. now the wife of Prof. W. p Ton
ry. chemist Of repute. also resides In Balti-
more. She has recently been quoted as blaming
tion of her mother. or rather in refusing to
supplement her effort to secure executive
clemency. OF all the Surratt 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 nome, lis Eager street. Baltimore. In ap-
pearaGce she is not unlike her brother John
and would easily be recognized as a relative
She is rather tail, and her thin, small pleasant
face Is plainly marked with lines OF severe suf-
terng She is easy ia her manners and has a
clear, yet Subdued voice. Her hair which was
once an auburn color, Is slightly Streaked with
grey, although she is but little over 80 years
Old. When she responded to the summons OF
the interviewer two bright little children, be-
tween 5 andS years OF age, followed her and hung
nervously about her side. Since Hancock's
nomination flood of lntervIeWers have besieeed
me mousse and any quantity OF letters and tele-
grams nave been received, asking the position
OF tae family In relation to the democratic
which resulted In the death of her mother has
made her extremely nervous and she cannot
talk upon the subject even to her intimate
friends. SO all inquiries are referred to her
husband. She. however repudlates the inter
view Claimed to have been recently had with
her and extensively printed.
WHAT HER HUSBAND SAYS.
Prof. Tonry not being at home he was sought
chemical expert in the famous Wharton and
Lloy poisoning cases. Touching the recent
alleged interview, In which he and his wife
were quoted as severely assailing Gen. Hancock
for his connection with the execution OF Mrs.
Surratt, the Professor said: 1--WE have made no
sucn statement, nor is 1t our present purpose :,
upon either side Of this unpleasant subject
we don't intend to be drawn into a cOntro-
versy" sy, 49, III" he continued, ..a statement
ever my own Signature
"lou do not care to say whether the Surratt
family are friendly or unfriendly to Gen. Han
No, do not that is not political matter.
iL IT. Is purely personal one with which the pub
NC mas no concern. Gen. Hancock has been
nominated for the presidency. and his public
acts are, of course, legitimate points of attack
by his opponents, but for them to rake up this
matter and undertake to make political capital
out Of 1t. is to say the least cruel for it revfyes
memories that ought to be buried. No party
OughI 10 tnlnk OF making capital out OF them
~, FROM thls point the conversation drtfted over
the events or that time, and the various acts
and actors In those tragic scenes. ana there was
general talk upon the subject relieved OF re-
sur s.Iain: Much OF It could not be printed with
OUT Dreach or confidence, but the following
extract from the professor s remarks epitOmizeS
the
POSITION OF THE sURRATTs TOWARD GENERAL
HANCOCK.
I'VE hold" said the Professor, sthat the re-
publican party is responsible for the murder Of
Mrs. Surratt and we do not propose to furnish
Il with material If we can by assalling General
Hancock for executing its orders, when it is
primarily responsible for the crime. And it is
unfair to us and unbecoming in republicans to
drag this bject into politics with the view OF
oe expected to put ourselves in any such posi-
tlon. I'VE do not propose to say anything at the
present time. II at all, in relation to Gen. Han
cocks connection in 1865 with the sad event OF
which we are speaking. Whether he did his
duty; or more than his duty, as we view it. is
SIN SIMPLY our own concern. But the republicans
are certainly the last people who should assatl
an executive officer for the part he took in
Whatwe consider a judicial murder. No party
ougnt 10 think OF making capital OF the matter
.'Ihen understand that both you and your
wife repudiate the recently published inter
views and statements both for and against Gen
eral Hancock"
yes sir; both Mrs Toury and myself have
refused to say anything upon either side of the
question for publication, holding that it is
purely a personal matter, entirely outside OF
politics."
From the tenor Of the talk from beginning to
end, 1t was very evident that the family have
more or less feeling against every person hav-
Ing direct or indirect agency 10 the execution
OF their mother, whatever part such person
played In the tragedy. Gen. Hancocks offend
Ing appears to have been his supposed neglect
or alleged refusal to plead for Executive
clemency.
THE CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
will set actively at work distributing docu-
ments as soon as Gen. Duncan S. Walker, the
secretary, returns from New York. The credit
mobi!ier and DeGolyer record of Gen. Garfield