The San Francisco call., 1913-08-03
N RS. sURRA I I
HANGED 48 YEARS
AGO FOR MURDER
Story of Assassination of
Lincoln Recalled by Ami
versary of Death of 4
Conspirators


In far on corner in Mount olivet
cemetery there is a grave near the
roadway that Is q plain mound of green
like the numberless others around 1t.
And yet one glance at the name on the
simple headstone Is sufncient to cause
the passer-by to stop moment in silent
contemplation. Mrs. Surratt" is the
single inscription on this granite slab.
and II marks the final resting place of
the woman whose tragic death has for
4s years been the subject of public and
private debate.
The life Of Mrs surratt before her
connection with the Lincoln conspira-
tors contained no element Of romance
or sensation. There was nothing un-
usual In her youth or middle age. She
was Just an ordinary woman absorbed
In her various homeIy duties and de-
voted to the interests that husband and
children require. She was born in
Washington In 1920. and as a child was
quiet In taste and manners. Her
parents thought she might possibly fol-
low religious life. and at an early age
they sent her to Alexandria, where her
education was obtained in a seminary.
MARRIED WHEN YOUNG
When rather young girl she mar
ried John Surratt, a prosperous farmer,
and the two began their welded life
on farm at Surrattsville, about 10
miles below washington.
After the death of her husband she
took charge of, his work, In which she
aesfcfad Nv hor al
1t was through this boy that Booth
came to the Surratt home and began
the friendship which proved fatal to
all the members of the household.
About that time Mrs. Surratt had rent
ed her farm and taken a large room
Ing house In Washington. While out
one evening with two of his mothers
boarders John was introduced to Booth.
Tho youth seemed fascinated by the
superior will and intellect of the actor
and their acquaintance ripened into
friendly intimacy as the days went by.
To Payne. Herold and Atzerodt also
Booth extended his influence and these
simple youths, like young Surratt.
easily attracted by the talented lead
er, were soon drawn into the con-
spiracy. That John and his associates
were directly concerned with the plot
to kill the president there is little or
no doubt, but the implication of his
mother is a question which has and
always will be a matter of conjecture.
JOHN sURRATT ESCAPES
In the excitement that directly fol-
lowed the assassination the prisons
rapidly were filled with suspects from
every quarter and then the house OF
Mrs Surratt was seized and the woman
and her daughter taken into custody
All the others who were followers OF
Booth were soon apprehended, except
John, the son OF Mrs. Surratt.
His whereabouts completely banned
the detective force. They traced him
| to Canada, but there all hopesof finding
him ended. Those in charge probably
thought that by holding and trying the
mother for murder the son might give
himself up to shield her But the trial
went on, and even after the sentence
was passed and carried out no trace OF
John was found, says the Washington
Star.
At the decision of President johnson,
those held as accomplices of Booth were
to be tried by military commission.
which consisted Of nine members of the
army These oficers, of whom General
Lew Wallace was one, met Just rs days
after Nncoln's death in little room
on the third floor Of the old penften-
tiary building. When the prisoners were
led into the courtroom they were bound
-
Surratt, the only woman prisoner, was
assigned to a place slightly removed
from the others. But her sad position
or the fact that she was a woman SUI
perior in many ways to the others tried
with her did not obtain for her any
extra attention or consideration. In her
case the testimony was largely toward
her simple life and loyal spirit. But the
words Of welchman, a fellow student
of JdAn Surratt and boarder in their
home, and those of Lloyd. tavern
keeper near Surrattsville, were sum
cient to overshadow all others, and 1T
was due mostly to their testimony that
Mrs. Surratt was convicted.
DEATH PENALTY VOTED
The commission voted death as
Punishment for Mrs. Surratt, Payne,
Herold and Atzerodt. and banishment
for the remaining four.
The unfortunate woman received the
news bravely, although she clung to a
last hope that mercy might be shown
her Az the day of her doom ap-
preached efforts were made to obtain
some clemency for her, but, after read
ling the death warrant handed to him
by Judge Holt. the president shattered
all hopes by signing the fatal decree.
That was wednesday, July s, and the
execution took place Friday, two days
later.
In the short time that remained Mrs.
Surratt made every preparation to meet
her end She had always been devout
Catholic, and Fathers Wiget and Wal
ter were with her constantly. sustain
i ing and encouraging her. scafold
had been erected in the arsenal grounds
and the four condemned were to die a t
the same time Mrs. Surratt came
frst, walking between two guards and
followed by her religious CONSIDERS. She
was dressed In a simple gown OF black
and seemed oblivious OF the terrible
instrument or the sea of soldiers sta
toned near by.
-FOUR HANGED TOGETHER
Crowds OF curious had gathered from
all points within 100 miles of the city
to witness the execution. But admis-
sion was denied to all, and although
some remained outside the walls, no
view could be obtained of what went
on within. 1t was a hot afternoon
and the suns rays beat hercely A SOL
iier standing close to- Mrs. Suratt held
an uinbrella over her to Keep of the
intense heat. The prisoners were seat
ed while the death warrant was read.
Then the signal was given, they took
their places on the drops and in few
moments four bodies were lowered into
newly made graves beneath the prison
sod
the branches Of giant oak In one OF
Olivet. It was removed there about a
year after her death and placed beside
her own relations The little piece of
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