Year: 1870




on. Booth perceiving probably, that
he had gone too far, asked pardon,
saying that he had drank too
much champagne. After some diff
fic11lty everything was amicably ar
ranged, and we separated at 5 o'clock
In the morning. Days, weeks, and
months passed by without an opportu-
nifty presenting itself for us to attempt
the capture. We seldom saw one an
other, owing to the many rumors afoat
that conspiracy of some kind was be-
ing concocted in Washington. We
had all arrangements perfected in
Washington for the purpose. Boats
were In readiness to carry us across the
river. One day we received informa-
tion that the President would visit the
Seventh Street Hospital for the pur-
pose of being present at an entertain
ment to be given for the benefit of
wounded soldiers. The report reach
ed us about three-quarters of an hour
before the time appointed, but SO per-
fect was our communication that we
were instantly in our saddles on the
way to the hospital. This was between
one and two o'clock in the afternoon.
1t was our intention to seize the car
riage, which was drawn by splendid
pair of horses, and to have one of our
men mount the box and drive direct for
Southern Maryland, via Benning's
bridge. We felt confident that all the
cavalry in that city could never over
haul rs. We were all mounted on
swift horses, besides having thorough
knowledge of the country, it being de-
termined to abandon the carriage after
passing the city limits. Upon the
suddenness of the blow and the celeritv
OF our movements we depended for sue
cess. By the time the alarm could have
been given and horses saddled we
would have been on our way through
Southern Maryland towards the Poto-
mac River. To our great disappoint-
ment, however, the President was not
there, but one of the government Off
cials, Mr.. Chase. It was our last at
tempt. We soon after this became con-
vinced that we could not remain much
longer undiscovered, and that we must
abandon our enterprise. Accordingly,
a separation finally took place, and I
never after saw any of the party, except
one, and that was when [ was on my
way from Richmond to Canada on
business of quite a different nature.


Surratt then detailed trip to Rich
mond to carry dispatches and return
with some to Canada, and declares that
the Confederate Government knew moth
ing of theirplot of abduction. He then
says: I left Richmond on Saturday
morning before the evacuation of that
place, and reached Washington the fol-
lowing Monday at o'clock, D. m,
April Sd, 1865. In passing up Seventh
street l met one of our party, who in
qulred what had become of Booth. [
told him where I had been that [ was
then on my way to Canada, and that
mad not seen or heard of Booth since
our separation. In view of the fact
that Richmond had fallen, and that all
hopes of the abduction of the Presi-
dent had been given up, advised him
to go home and go to work. That was
the last time l saw any of the party. [
went to a hotel and stopped over that
night, as detective had been to my
house inquiring of the servant my
whereabouts. In the early train next
morning CTuesday. April 4, 1855, } I left
for New York, and that was the last
time I ever was in Washington until
brought there by the United States
Government captive in irons, all re-
ports to the contrary notwithstanding
The United States as you remember
tried to prove my presence in Washing
ton on the 18th of April, the day
on which Mr.. Lincoln met his death
Upon arriving in New York, I called
at Booths house and was told by the
servant that he had left that morn
ing suddenly on the ground of going to
Boston to fulfil an engagement at the
theatre. In the evening of the same
day took the cars for Montreal, arriv-
ing there the next day. [ put up at
the ST. Lawrence Hotel, registering
myself as John Harrison, such being
my first two names. Shortly after
wards I saw General Edward G. Lee,
to whom the dispatches were directed,
and delivered them to him. Those dis
patches we tried to introduce as evi-
dence on my trial, but his honor, Judge
Fisher, ruled them out, despite of the
fact that the government had tried to
prove that they had relation to the con-
spiracy to kill Mr. Lincoln. They were
only accounts of some money transac-
tlOnS, nothing more or less.


A week or SO after my arrival there
General Lee came to my room and told
me he had plan on foot to release the
Confederate prisoners then in Elmira,
n. Y. He said he had sent many par
ties there, but they always got fright
ened, and only half executed their or
ders. He asked me if Iwould go there,
take sketch of the prison, and find
out the number of prisoners; also mi
nor details in regard to the number of
soldiers on guard, cannon, small arms,
&c. l. readily accepted these new la
bors, owing to the fact that [ could not
return to Washington for fear of detec
tlyes. The news of the evacuation OF
| Richmond did not seem to disturb the
General much in his plan, as he doubt
| less thought then that the Confederacy
wanted men more than ever, no one
dreaming that it was virtually at an end.


Surratt then details his trip to Ell
mira, where, at hotel, he first heard
OF the assassination of Lincoln and
Seward, and was SO astounded that he
thought it joke for some time. He
adds that the telegram of the news
then mentiond no names, and SAYS:


. I approached the telegraph office
In the main hall of the hotel for the
purpose of ascertaining if J. Wilkes
Booth was in New York: picked up
blank and wrote, j. Wilkes Booth,
giving the number of the house. L hes
itated a moment and then tore the pa
per up, and then wrote one, j. W. B, >
with directions, which I was led to do
from the fact that during our whole con
nection we rarely wrote and telegraphed
under our proper names, but always in
such manner that no one could under
stand but ourselves. One way of Booth s
was to send letters to me under cover OF
my quondam friend, Louis J. WEIGH
man. Doubtless you all know who
Louis J. Weichman is. They were sent
to him because he knew of the plot to
abduct President Lincoln. Iproclaim
If here and before tho world tbot r o,,;c