Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12

Cont1nued from Fourth Pagel
was to tear it Up. but I pitched it back
and walked off The town was in the
greatest uproar-fags at half-mast. bells
tollinG. ETC., etc Still I did not think
that was in danger. ard determined to
go Immediately to Baltimore to find out
the particulars OF the tragedy.
But here I wish to say few words con-
corning the register of the Bradnard
House. When my counsel. by my own
direction. went to seek that register it
could not be found. Our inability to pro-
duce It on the trial naturally cast a sus-
picion over our alibi. For weeks. months
did we seek to find its whereabouts, but
nected with the hotel was hunted up and
questioned. Every register of the hotel
before and after the one which ought to
contain my, name was to be found, but the
the question Is, What became of that
register?
The United States government. by one
OF It's witnesses, DR.. Mcmillan, knew in
November. 1865. that l was in Elmira at
the time OF the assassination. They knew
1t, and they naturally traced me there to
ind out what was doing. That some of
the government emissaries distracted
that register firmly believe or perhaps
It Is stored away in some OF the other
government vaults, under charge OF some
judge high in position But this is only
a surnise of mine. But the circumstance
involves a mystery or Vlild1ny WnlCn tne
all-seeing God will yet bring to light The
dispatch sent to Booth also from Ell
mira 1t was impossible to find.
We had the operator at Washington
during my trial, but he said the original
Yves gone. though he had a copy OF it.
In telegraph offices they are compelled
to keep all dispatches filed. OF course.
we could not offer this copy in evidence
because the original alone would be ac-
copied. and that had been made away
with. So sure was the government that
1t had destroyed all evidence of my So
journ In Elndra that IN getting me In
Washington In time for Mr. Lincoln's
death 1t brought me by way OF
New York city. But so completely was it
foiled In this that in its rebutting testi-
rnony it saw the absolute necessity Of hav-
ing me go by way OF Elmira. and 1t
changed is tactics accordingly. That was
enough to damn my case in any mans
mind.
Government Persistent.
This is a strange fact. but nevertheless
true that the government. having In its
possession this hotel register as we'll as
my dispatch to Booth, and knowing
moreover. by one of its witnesses that
was in Etmira. yet tried to prove that I
was in Washington the night of Mr.. Lin
coins death. giving orders and command
ing In general. as it was pleased to say.
proved my albi were men OF the highest
standing and integrity. whose testimony
the United States government could not
and dare not impeach.
Attempt to Impeach.
left Eirnira with the intention of go
Ing to Baltimore. I really did not COM
prehend at that time the danger I was
in. As there was no train going south
that evening I concluded to go to Canaan
daigua, and from there to Baltimore by
way Of Eln1ira and New York. Upon ar.
irving at Canandaigua Saturday evening
/ learned to my utter disappointment that
no train left until the Monday following.
90 I took a room at the Webster House.
registering myself as John Harrison"
THE next day I went to church, I re-
member it being Easter Sunday. i can
here safely say that the United States
government had not the remotest idea
that I stopped anywhere after left rA-
mira. They thought when l left there
i went straight through to Canada 1t
was a very fortunate thing for me that I
could not leave Canandaigua. Now mark.
ladies and gentlemen, II you please; my
name was signed midway of the hotel
register. with six other parties before
and after. There was no doubt as TO the
genuineness of signature because the
very experts Drought Dy tHiteu otdteS
to swear to my signature in other in
stances swore also that that was my
handwriting. After all this the register
was ruled out by Judge Fisher. because
he was well aware If he admitted il my
case was at an end l could not be in
two places at once. though they tried to
make me SO. Listen to his reason for SO
ruling:
The prisoner might have stepped down
from Canada to Canandaigua during his
concealment and signed his name there !
for the purpose of protecting himself In
the future
OF hotel would leave q blank line in a |
register for my especial benefit. Need / |
say that the ruling was most Infamous |
one. and ought to damn the judge who so |
ruled as a villain in the minds of every |
honest and upright man. loud and pro- |
longed applause)
Judge Against Him.
Had Judge Fisher been one of the law
yers for the prosecution he could not
have worked harder against me than ne
did. But. thanks to him. he did me more
good than harm. His unprinciplcd and
vindictive character was too apparent to
every one in the courtroom. / could not
help smiling at the time to think Of the
great shrewdness and foresight he ac-
corded me by that decision. At times
really, during my trial, ] could scarcely
recognize any vestige of my former self
Sometimes 1 would ask myself, Am |
the same individual? Am | really the
same John II. Surratt?
When that register was produced in
court the Hon. Judge Pterrepont. the
leading counsel for the United States, be-
came exceedingly nervous especially
when Mr.. Bradley refused to show il to |
him. and he tore up several pieces OF
paper In his trembling fingers He evil
IDENTIFY saw what ptiful case he had
and how he had been made the dupe of
his precious. worthy friend Edwin NJ.