The Washington herald., 1915-04-11

les BOOTH.
nen Plotting to kidnap Lincoln. before he formed
'Olscion of the Loyal Legion. Boston.
was an accidental one in Washington a
month later. Booth then requested DIR.
Mudd to introduce him to John II. Sur
raft, young man represented to Booth
as an active messenger for the Confed-
eracy. DIR. Mudd did so. but apologized
to Surratt privately for introducing him
to a stranger of whom he knew little
and whom he suspected of being a gov
eminent detective.
Surratt n Valued Recruit.
Booth secured in Surratt his most
valued recruit. Surratt knew every road
to the Potomac. every creek and cross
ing place on the river and every house
along the way to Virginia. He entered
enthusiastically into Booths kidnapping
plan and by SO doing enmeshed his
mother in Booths fatal net Eight months
after meeting Booth she died on the
scaffold.
Mrs. Surratt was a strong, serious
minded. reliGiously inclined woman and
a member in good standing of the Ro-
man Catholic Church.
Mrs. Surratt, as Mary Jenkins, in her
girlhood had been a local belle in Prince
George County. Md. On marrying John
II. Surratt she had lived first on a farm
and next at a roadside settlement about
twelve miles from Washington. where
he bought a farm and tavern and became
postmaster. giving the place the name
of Surrattsville. Ut is now Clinton)
The elder Surratt died in 1862. In the
fall of 1854 Mrs. Surratt rented the tavern
to one John NJ. Lloyd and removed with
her daughter, Annie. and son, John, to
Washington, opening boarding house at
5ll II street northwest. CThe house is now
numbered 6ei)
From the day John Surratt Joined his
fortunes to Booths the actor became a
caller at the Surratt home; and he often
sent others of his agents there to con-
suit with Surratt
Thorough his acquaintance with John
Surratt Booth met another young man
suited to his purpose. This was David
f. Herold. a drug clerk. 20 years old.
of Washington. Herold lived with his
widowed mother and seven sisters. They
were a respectable family. He was a
careless youth whose greatest fault was
idleness
Gets a Boat and Arms.
Making his headquarters at the Ma
tional Hotel in Washington. Booth en-
ployed Surratt as his field agent. Surratt
went to Port Tobacco. Nd. and there
bought a fiat-bottomed boat or scow that
would hold about fifteen persons. This
was to be used in ferrying President
Lincoln and his abductors across the Po-
tomac from Nanjemoy Creek. about
twenty-five miles south of Washington.
An acceptable ferryman was secured
in the person of a German named George
4. Atzerodt a carriage painter by
trade, who was acquainted with run
ming the blockade" He was a good
humored. clownish. low-browed man of
small mental capacity, weak and avari-
cious, and willing to do anything for
the wealth Surratt declared success would
bring him.
The boat secured. Booth supplied his
men with equipment for their enter
prise. In a bedroom in a Baltimore hotel
he met Surratt. O'Laughiin, and Atzerodt.
and gave them two carbincs, ammuni-
ton, pistols and knives
The guns were taken by the three men
in a buggy to the tavern at Surrattsville,
and John Surratt showed the proprietor
where to hide them. in a secret room
under the caves, until they were wanted.
Booths Last Recruit.
Booths last recruit. and one Of the
most important to him In the end, was
brought into the circle by the merest
chance. Booth, on a brief visit to Balti-
more, was standing on the steps OF Bar
NUNS Hotel. one day early in March.
when a hulking young man. of athletic
build, badly clothed and evidently de-
jected. slouched past him.
Booth recognized him. Four years be-
fore Booth had played in a Richmond
theater to a large audience. including
many Confederate soldiers. One face in
A. ho1 a. Il
was that of a raw young soldier. Booth,
on leaving the theater, found this young
man near the stage door, and addressed
him.
The young soldier had never seen q
play eefore. He was from Florida, the
son of a Baptist clergyman. His name
was Lewis Thornton Powell, but he
called himself Lewis Payne. Flattered
by the young soldiers frank admiration,
Booth condescended to accept him as an
They met every day for
a week. and when the soldier marched
away his soul was Booths. He would
have faced death in any form at the
word Of the brilliant. handsome. fascin.
ating young actor.
At Gettysburg Payne was wounded
and captured. He was sent to . Balti-
more hospital. from which he escaped.
going to Virginia. where he Joined
cavalry regiment. Desert.
ing this in January. 1856, he sold hie
horse. returned to Baltimofe. saw his
money dwindle day by day, and finally.
homeless, penniless and desperate.
walked the streets. Booth saw him
thus. followed him. and the two met
again.
Booth gave young Payne money and,
Bsnt MIN to Washington to see Sur
ratt. HIS hand was now complete, and
H. only awaited opportunity to set,
Ihe0 uron tno Rresident
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