Year: 1867

Booths letter to tlac National TntelIigen-


ccrs


WASHINGTON, July 5.


1t has been given out all along that
the counsel for Surratt have it in their
power to prove that their client was not
implicated in the assassination plot at all,
and that the proof would be forthcoming
at the proper time. 1t has been boldly
stated, too, that the Government would
not dare to convict the prisoner, though
why has never been explained, save by
mysterious hints and shrugs, which to
some people seem more comprehensive
than positive utterings or writings. Upon
what the defence place their reliance it
is not easy to discover, since nearly all
their theories have thus far been scatter
ed to the winds by the prosecution; but
to-day l am informed that one of the
chief points on which the defence intend
to base their theory of innocence will be
their ability to prove the contents of
Booths mysterious letter to the editor of
ihe National Intelligencer, Of this city.
That letter, it will be remembered, never
reached the hands for which it was des-
llllE(l, anu llS COHlSIlS hSIS hCNSl ldtli
before the public. 1t has been reserved
for an actor named Matthews to clear
away the mystery. If this is to be cred
tied it will be somewhat favorable to Sur
ratt but by no means sufficient to out
weigh of itself the mass of proof adduced
by the prosecution. On Monday last,
Matthews, who was an actor in. this city
on the night of the assassination, was
before the Judiciary Committee, and
there gave testimony which clears away
all the mystery attached to the letter
which John Wilkes Booth wrote to the
National Intelligencer that fatal morn
inc. Matthews testified that he met
Booth. who was on horseback; that Booth
called him and gave him letter, which
he requested Matthews to leave next
morning at the Intelligencer office, if he
(Matthews) learned of Booths having
left town or if any extraordinary event
occurred during the night. Matthews
took the letter which was given him hur-
riedly and with some secrecy of manner,
and had no time to think about the
strangeness of the request.


That night, when the excitement grew
to madness, Matthews bethought him OF
the letter, went 20 his own room, opened
it and read it. 1t contained statement
signed by Booth, Payne, Atzerodt and
Harold. The statement was that they
had tried all in their power to abduct
the President, but had failed, and they
had resolved that they would sacrifice
their four lives for the welfare of their
country, and remove by death the Presi-
dent whom they considered the cause of
all its woes. Having read the letter,
with the noise of the murder for accom-
paniment, Matthews, terrified lest It's
mere possession should be construed IN
to completely on his part or lead HIM IN
to trouble some how. burned 1t. This Is
the sum though not the exact wording
of Matthew's testimony, who was at that
time member of Ford's dramatic ccm-
panv, and who is now in this city. He
will soon be on the witness stand for the
defense. 1t will be noticed that Suratt's
name is not sighed to the letter, and this
omission the desense intend to use as
proof that he had no knowledge OF or
instrumentality in procuring the assas-
sination. How this theory will be recon
ciIed with the proof that Surratt was IN
Booths company on the night OF tne the
tragedy the defence best know On
the other hand, am informed that the
letter did not reach the editor OF the IN
telZiqe,,cer and that it had seven sigma
turcs instead of four. The inference
from this would be that the name of Sur
raft was among the seven, and has since
been suppressed for the purpose of the
defense.


In addition to all this / have learned
that letter-whether the same or not l
am unable to assert-written by Booth
and signed by himself only, did reach the
editor of that paper In that letter ne 9
gave his reason for the assassination ana ana
said it is alleged, that the intention IVA, was
to take the lives of Lincoln, JoAnSoi''