The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-28
THE ESCAPE OF SURRATT.
How He Avoided the Fate Which
Overlook His Mother.
A TASTY Flight to Europe From Ell
mira by Way of Canada-He Replies
to Some Charges Now.


to Some Charges Now.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
Baltimore, June 16-One reason for nv
stopping off for a, day in this city was to
see John H. Surratt whom, when we
were both much younger men, had cas-
ually met in Elmira, n Y This was on
the 18th of April, 1865, and but few
hours before Lincoln was assassinated.
Surratt was a commercial traveller, or
passed for such; he certainly had bust
ness with some Elmira merchants, and it
was in store that l was introd uced to
him. He was a slender, well-dressed
young fellow, with good manners, and if
he had any leanings to the SOUTH or felt
any chagrin over the recent collapse of
the confederacy, he kept it to himself.
The following day, Saturday, the 18th IL,
the whole country was Mortified at the
cruel murder of the President, and it
was known throughout the length and
breadth of the land that Mrs. Surratt
was arrested as one of the conspirators,
and that warrant was out for her son,
John H.
That the young man in Elmira had no
direct connection with the murder of Mr..
Lincoln and the attempted murder of his
cabinet was very evident, yet that he was
associated with the consplrators became
a certainty when he suddenly vanished,
without leaving behind him a trace, so
that for two years, while glimpses were
had of him here and there, he remained
undiscovered.
A VERY NARROW ESCAPE.
Had he been captured at that time he
would have hanged with his mother, or
neither would have hanged but so in
censed were the people at that time
that it does not seem possible that
he could have been cleared in 1868 when
he came so near TO conviction in 1867, after
time had appeaSed the wrath of the peo-
pie and an impartial trial was possible
1t will be remembered by those who re-
call Surratt's trial before Judge Fisher in
Washington, that he confessed that as
soon as he learned of what had been done
by the conspirators he fed to Canada,
without cent in his pocket, so that much
of the journey had to be made on foot.
From Canada he made his way to Europe,
and, being Catholic, he succeeded in
reaching Rome, where he enlisted in the
corps known as the "Papal Zouaves, ;" and
while in this service he was discovered by
the United States detectives extradited
and brought home for trial.
On the trial it was pretty clearly shown
.
at least associated with Booth, Paine and
the others, and that during the war he
acted as spy and secret courier of the
confederacy, successfully carrying mes
sages between Richmond and the south
ern commissioners in Canada, and that
his mercantile business was assumed
merelyas blind to disguise his real pur-
pose.
SAVED BY HIS FLIGHT.
of the ancient Greeks, was entirely legiti-
mate. so long as it remained undetected.
These facts, with his fight, told strongly
against Surratt on the trial. and it is very
certain that the evidence would have
convicted him two years before; but his
fight, while confirming his guilt at the
time, really saved him. for, though the
war scars were still unhealed, and the
storm of years had not settled into calm,
men were in position to be influenced by
evidence rather than prejudice.
l was not surprised to find that twenty
nine years had wrought so great a change
in John II. Surratt that though his face
was strongly photographed in my mem
DRY when / last saw him in Elmira, that
/ should not have known him. He is still
a well preserved man in middle life, with
the ease of manner and courtesy that dis
tinguished him as young man of "A or
25 t, He did not remember me, nor cid /
expect it his mind was not in a state at
that time to retain the recollection of a
casual acquaintance
introduced myself and explained why
/ was curious TO see him again; but in
stead of avoiding the topic which had
doubts about broaching, with frank and
open manner he paved the way himself
But felt still that this pale, quiet man
had much in reserve which with sealed
lips he win carry with him 20 the grave.
Indeed. / still wonder that the man is
alive and so active one Of weaker stun,
would have gone down long since under