The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-03-24

ed undetected. These facts, tOSetnel
with his fight, told strongly against
Surratt on his trial.
1T is very certain that the evidence
would have convicted him two years
before, while his flight, confirming his
guilt at the time, really saved him
for, though the war scars were still
unhealed and the storms OF years had
not settled into a calm, men were in
the position to be more Influenced by
evidence than prejudice.
"When | returned to Baltimore fol
the express purpose of again talking
with Surratt l found him a well-pre
served man in middle life with the
ease of manner and courtesy which
distine uished him as man OF "a OF
25. He did not remember me, neither
did expect him to.
Il introduced myself and explained
why l was curious to see him again
Instead of avoiding the topic which /
had doubt about broaching, with a
frank and open manner he paved the
way himself. But I felt sure that
this quiet, pale man had much in re-
serve, which, with sealed lips, be will
carry with him to the grave.
"Indeed l still wonder that the man
is alive and so active; one of weaker
stuff would have gone down long
since under the burden OF anxiety and
mental torture which he bore so long
with admirable nerve.
"'You want to know how l escap'
ed from Elmira?' said Mr.. Surratt in
response to my query. We'll, there
is not much to tell. All the facts
came out on the trial, and are, l think,
in the main, accurate
"'Did you have much difficulty in
getting away?'
"'Not 80 much difficulty, perhaps
as anxiety. 1t was not known at the
time, is not known now, what great
number of people there were in the
North who either secretly or openly
sympathized with the Confederacy
Long before the fight from Elmira ]
bad discovered this and knew pretty
we'll where to find friends.
"'While acting as an agent for the
Confederacy l had no trouble in trav
cling through the North wherever and
whenever | pleased. The greatest
dra back to my flight was the want
of means; this in itself should convince
anyon that was in no way prepared
for the tragedy enacted in Washing
ton on the very Gay that I was in Ell
mira
odd you not have companion in
your fight from Eimira to Canada?
"'Yes, for part OF the distance
The man has not been identified, and
all | know al ont him is that be was as
poor as myself. 1t matters not where
| | met him, but we reached Mount AL
bans, w., together and walked tc
Franklin, on the other side of the
line.
Once in Canada, succeeded in get.
ting funds; how, 1t is not necessary to
describe. hut you may remember that
the Confcderacy had its agents in that
country with plenty of money.
"'It has been charged against me
that l knew my mother was in ser.
ious danger and that by returning to
Washington I might have saved her.
This l n ost solernnly deny. Knowing
that she was entirely innocent of any
connection with the 90 called conspir-
acy, though her sympathy was unde-
niably with the Conf' deracy, l could
not imagine that she was in any dan
ger
"'I did not then dream of the in
tense bi,tern' 81 and prejudice that
were manifested at her trial. and I
felt sure that if size w,re tried she
would be acquitted. When did hear
of her sentence | became almost in.
sane, and would have gone to Wash
ington at once # my friends IN Mon
treal had not restrained me.
"'As | would have laid down my
life to save my mother, and do not
think am a coward, it is cruelty un-
lust to intimate that the tear of death
kept me- away.
"What induced you to fly to Eng
land?
81 felt that ! had to move.
knew that the American detectives
were swarming into Canada and
could not long remain secreted. 1t
would have baen sheer madness to re-
tain my name, so changed it, as you
know, and took passage for Eng