Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-10-10
JOHN SURRATT'S ESCAPE
His Adventures When President
Lincoln Was Murdered.
He Was In Elmira Then and Fled to
Canada.

He Was In Elmira Then and Fled to
Canada.
One reason for my stopping off for
day in Baltimore was to see John H.
Surratt, whom, when we were both
much younger men, l had casually met
in Elmira, New York, says writer in
the Cleveland Plaindealer. This was
on the 18th of April, 1866, and but
for few hours before Lincoln was as
sassinated. Surratt was commercial
traveller, or passed for such. He GER
tainly had business with some Elmira
merchants, and it was in store that /
was introduced to to him. He was
slender, well dsessed young fellow,
with good manners, and il he had any
leanings to the South or felt any cha
grin over the recent collapse of the
Confederacy he kept it to himself.
The following day, Saturday, IS, 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. iil'
=
That the young man In Elmira had
no direct connection with the murder
of Mr.. Lincoln and the attempted mur-i
der OF his cabinet was very evident,
yet that he was associated with the
conspirators became a certainty when
he suddenly vanished without leaving
behind hinfsa trace, SO that for two
years, while glimpses we're had of him
here and there, he remained undis-
covered. Had he been captured at the
timehe would have hanged with his
mother, or neither would have hanged: {:
but SO incensed were the people at the
time that it does not seem possible that
he could have been cleared in 1866,
when he came so near to conviction in
1857 after time had apeased the wrath
of The people and an impartial trial
possible.
twill be remembered by those who
recall Surratt's trial before Judge Fish
er ing ashington that he confessed
as soob, as he1earned of what had been
done..by the conspirators he fled 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 a Cath
olic, he succeeded in reaching Rome,
where hc 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 that Surratt, If not fellow con
'spirator, at least associated-with Booth,
Paine and, the Others, and that during
the war he acted as a spy and secret
courier of the Confederacy, successfully
carrying messages between Richmond
and the southern commissioners in
Canada, and that his mercantile bust
ness was Assumed. merely as q blind TO
disguise his purpose. This offense,
like stealing among some Of the ancient
Greeks, was entirely legitimate as long
as IT remained undetected. Z
These facts, with. his flight, told
strongly against Surrat on the, trial,
and 1t 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 un-
healed and the storm of years.had not
settled into calm, men were in a posi-
ton to be influenced by evidence rather
than prejudice. ~
~ I.was not surprised to learn that
twenty nine. years had wroughtso great
o change in John H. Surratt that,
though his face was strongly photo
graphed in my memory when saw
him last in Eimira, ] should have
, q :.
known him. He is a well preserved
ImanIig middle life, with the ease and
manner and the courtesy that distin.
guished him ASA manof twenty foul
or twenty five. lie did not remember
me, nor did expect it; his mind wat
not In a state sat that time to retair
the recollection Of q casual acquain
tahce. ''"'s' ~, s ifs
1 introduced myself and explained
why Twas curious to see him again
but instead Of ayoiding.the topic, (which
/ had doubts about broachlng, with ,
q frank, ,.open manner, he paved th,
way himself. ButIfelt still that thi
pale, quiet man hadaimuch in reserve
which, With sealed lips, he viii carr.
with bin tosthe grave, Indeed, / still
wonder that the man is alive and 81
active One Of weaker stuff woult
have gone down long since under tn
burden .dfsanxiety and mental tortur
which he bore SO long and with sncl
admirable nerve. A9. IN
4"You want to know how. Iescape,
from;E ElmfFa, ''said Mr.. surratt, in re
sponse to my question. swell, ther
Is not much 70 tell. All The facts cam
out at the trial, and are, | think, in tn
main, accurate.n s,ss. sa,, ".
/ ibid you have much difficulty il
getting awayp"I asked, ass
Mr.. .Surratt responded 'sNot 8
much difficulty, perhaps, as anxiety
y Al - A = :. =