Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1885-02-26

rather inclined to a defiant, bravado
style. He was comedy in appearance,
but there was q peculiar expression of
the eyes and mouth that gave him
sensual and dissipated appearance.
He proposed to take the oath of al
legiance to the Government, but was
DESTROYS of remaining in Washington,
where he professed to want employ
ment in some clerical capacity. His
terms were not acceded to, and he
was required, as was customary with
Rebel DISORDERS, to enlist in the Union
service or leave Washington and go
north of the Susquehanna river.
VIOLATING THE TERMS OF HIS RELEASE.
Payne was released upon taking
the oath of allegiance to the United
States, and promised to leave Wash.
ington in few days. He did not
comply with the terms of release and
| notified him that he must leave
Washington.
He was reported to me as having
association with characters who were
known as sympathizers with the Con-
federate cause. Among this number
was j. Wilkes Booth, whom ! regard
ed as half crazy play actor, possess
ed Of more buster than bravery, and
whom then did not believe capable
of the diabolical act he afterwards
perpetrated.
VISITORS AT THE suRRATT RESIDENCE.
Booth and Payne were both visi-
tors at the residence Of Mrs. Surratt,
and when asked Payne as to his pur-
pose in visiting at that house LAS Mrs.
s. was known to be ip actual sympa-
thy with the Confederacy, he assert
ed his purpose was to enlist the SER
vices of Louis Weichman to aid him
in securing employment as an associ-
ate clerk in Colonel Hoffman's office,
and if all went as smoothly as he ex-
pected, he would furnish me evidence
of Weichman's treachery to the Gov
| eminent.
notified Major L. g. Turner, Judge
advocate Of the War Department, that
Payne had returned to Washington
in violation of his conditions of re.
lease; that | had conversed with him
and that he proposed to trap WEIGH.
man, the treacherous clerk in Colonel
Hofman's Office Judge Turner adj.
vised that the matter should remain
under my control.
WHO SOUGHT HowELL's RELEASE.
A few days after the arrest and
commitment to the Old Capitol Pris.
on of the blockade runner, Howell
/ Mrs. Surratt called at the prison to
see him, and made earnest ehdeayors
to ascertain under what charges he
was arrested, but did not receive sat
isfactory information. She also tried
to effect Howell Is release. | prevent.
ed this, and he remained in prison
until some time after the execution of
the conspirators.
From my personal knowledge Of
these and other facts not yet given
to the public, | am positive that John
Surratt, was not in Washington at
the time Of the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln. am also positive that
no plan for the assassination was ever
countenanced by the Confederate au-
thorities.
The assassination was hurried
spasmodic effort inspired by J. Wilkes
Booth and his confederates, who were
merely tools in the hands of that des-
perate and half-crazed play actor.
| believe that the unfortunate Mrs.
Surratt was in no way connected or
acquainted with the plot or plans oil
the assassins. 1t is an undeniable
fact that she was an ardent sympathi.
ger with the cause Of the Confederacy
That she detested the means and
characters employed to terrorize and
rob the people of Maryland who were
residents of the counties bordering on
the lower Potomac, / thoroughly be
lieye. That the people of Maryland
who were 80 outraged and dispoiled
would encourage the kidnapping Of a
President who they believed was lille.
gally liberating their slaves without
compensation to the owners, and thai
Mrs. Surratt would have aided in
such abduction / have no doubt; but
that che aided others, or conspired
with anyone to assassinate President
Lincoln is UNANIMOUSLY false. Such q
charge is only resorted to as a parti.
san excuse for the execution Of lady
who was as innocent of connection
with the assassination as was the wri-
ter. WILLIAM ?. WooD,
400 Sixth ST., N. w.