Kansas City journal. [volume], April 03, 1898, Page 17, Image 17

About Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928

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THE KANSAS CITY JOURNAL, SUNDAY, APRIL 3. 189a
17
J.H.SURRAn'S STORY
HE TELLS IT FOR THE FIRST TIME
TO JOURNAL READERS.
HE WAS A CONFEDERATE SPY.
FOR TEARS SERVED IX ITALY AS A
FATAL GUARD.
'John Harrison Snrratt, Son of the
Woman Executed u Accomplice of
Wilkes Booth, Tells of III Con
nection With the Assas
sination of Lincoln.
fSpcdil Conrrpoidtnce of The JonrsxL)
Baltimore. April 2. Thirty-three Easter
Sundays have come and gone since Abra
ham Lincoln was shot to death by John
Wilkes Booth In the old Ford's theater,
Washington, and of the eleven individuals
who were connected, directly or Indirectly,
with that tragic and unhappy event, but
two are yet living.
One of theso is Lewis J. Welchmann,
now a resident of Philadelphia, whose
testimony was the foundation, stone
on which the government rested its
hopes of convicting Mrs. Mary E. Eur
ratt. and her son John H. Surratt.
The other living; actor In that famous
reared behind a cloud of dust my comrades
assured me that I would certainly be ex
pelled,; and taklnr the bull by the horns, as
it were, I went direct to the principal and
told him what I had done. He was verv
angry at first, but, finally softening, said
it might prove a good' thing after all.
adding. 'We may have use for those young
men yet.' i
"It was at this college that I first met
Lewi J. Welchmann, my Nemesis, a man
who has done more than any one living
or dead to bring disgrace on me anl mv
family. He is a living proof that the
child is father to the man.
"After slaying at the college a few
months I became convinced that my place
was in tne ranics or me soutnern confed
eracy, and suiting the action to the thought
I went direct to Richmond and entered the
secret service bureau underGencralWIlder.
one of the finest Americans that ever lived.
It would take evey column of space In the
paper you represent to detail all my ex
periences while traveling the "underground
route" between Richmond. Washington,
Baltimore, ard Montreal. I had innumera
ble hairbreadth escapes. When I look back
on the risks I ran and the desperate
chances I took I fall to see how I could
have been so foolhardy. I walked In and
out of the lines of the two armies, entered
and left Washington, went from Rich
mond to New York, to London; returned to
Washington and elbowed the Union gen
eral", all the while gathering valuable In
formation for the sen-Ice. I knew every
crossroad, by-path and hiding place in
Northern Virginia and Southern Mary
land." First Meeting With Rooth.
"Captain Surratt, It has been stated In
one of the principal magazines that Booth
was anxious to get your co-operation on
that very account and that when you were
Introduced to him in Washington by Dr.
Mudd you thought at first that lie was a
Union spy. It Is stated that von were with
Welchmann.
"Ah! Wilkes Booth. I loath him. In the
first place Wilkes Booth was never in-
first one north bound that came along.
I-ate that night I crossed into Canada
and that was the last time I saw the
United Plates until brought back on a man-of-uar
two yeirs later. Went to Montreal
and then to Quebec. In the latter city
I was secreted in a monjstery and there
remained for five months. Thinking it
JOHN H. SURRATT,
Tn the Uniform of the Papal Zouaves.
dy is John Harrison Surratt, a rest
of this city, a trusted and honored
J In the Old Bar Line of Chesapeake
lers, whose life story from the time
n away from school as a mere lad of
?d joined tbo secret service bureau
f Confederacy, until the last day of
ngthy and highly sensational trial,
like a fairy tale and is but another
ice of the oft-proven adage that
h is stranger than fiction."
k third of a century prominent wrlt
V newspapers and magazines in every
i of the Union have realized that
'John H. Surratt be Induced to tell
jry. freely, unreservedly and fully, it
'rival In romantic interest and dra
detall anything hitherto published
nlng the landmarks of the war be
the states. Countless efforts over
isand, in fact have been made to
I to tell his story and make a tate
t his true relations with Wilkes
Welchmann, Dr. Mudd and the
ctors who figured In that long train
ng events which culminated In the
lation of Abraham Lincoln and the
n of his mother, but prior to the
jterviews granted me for The Sun
jrnal, in which he told me every
f his life, he has returned but one
to nil; the wound was too deep
ikllng to tear open at this late
! expose to the critical gaze of an
ithetic public
Snrrntt An Hr Id.
Is now. however, that after a lapse
rd of a century the bitterness of
'ancor ar.dhate engendered by four
Irs of Internecine strife hns passed
d given place to a more fair and
deling concerning his reputed con
tvlth an event which shocked the
id thrust a nation Into mourning,
hat I owe It to those who have
Ivay. as well as to myself, to make
cnt concerning what I know of
tit," he said. His statement places
h. very different light before the
T the country. Captain Surratt is
Vent from the Ignorant and blood-
toutherncr pictured by an angry
ling his trial. On the contrary,
fted. highly educated and polished.
crs are stately and dignified. He
Want talker and every word he
Jhveyn the exact meaning he In-
t'le Is ,nlHve the medium height,
.nd slender, end his iron-gray hair
"iche and two piercing gray eyes
fin his head beneath heavy eye-
Ve talks in a low tone of voice.
"Mates for a word and only twice
o talks with him did he become
JTlthough dwelling for the first
tier thirty years on matters which
We stirred his feelings to their
e was whn he spoke of Wilkes
JH the other time was dulr.g his
tealgnmcnt of Welchmann. He Is
piirs old although he looks 70. He
to. jived fifty years from the time
JiQ the southern army until he
wted on bail nfter his two months'
jrtho substance of this Interview
lyerable historical Importance, In
tithe first purely voluntary state-
nvy one who had aught to do with
oth. I will gtx-e his statement
wword. as they left his mouth,
ttscrvlng historical sequence.
His Early Life.
"ie war broko out I was a small
bo; studying at St. Charles col-
I'troll county, Md.. and. like all
Sooys at that time, I was a red
hoid dearly loved my native state.
Atege It was strictly against the
rujeuss, even In the most casual
rniv of the political questions then
rhe country. I remember one
aftvo were all on the ctmpu.
wfctly faced Charles Carroll of
Ca. beautiful estate, Dourehegan
mn there Issued from the main
drbposlte. a troop of Confederatn
ca-thelr way to Join the army of
Nolrglnla. The troop had been
retid was led by young Charles
Caiey were a magnificent set of
yot full of fire, dash nnd vim.
anted a splendid appearance. I
wauh martial ardor at the sight.
ant my cap Into the air cheered
anc again. In fact I chcrrcd my-
eil When the troop bad dlsop-
troduced to me by Dr. Mudd on the street
or anywhere else. Booth came to me with
a letter of nltroduction from a valued and
trusted friend. In the second place, Welch
mann was no where near when ISooth pre
sented his letter. I looked upon Booth from
the start as a hot headed, visionary man
and the moment he broached his .wild
scheme to me of abducting Lincoln I
simply laughed at him.
"It Is utterly Impracticable, I said to him.
In the first place I know Nortnern Virginia
and Southern Maryland by heart.
" 'It Is on that very account that I have
come to you for your assistance, co-operation
and advice,' said Booth.
" 'And it Is on that very account that I
tell you that the idea is not feasible,' I
replied. 'In the second place you do not
realize the danger.'
" 'I don't consider that for a moment,'
said Booth.
" 'Nor I," I replied, "but It must be con
sidered. After leaving Washington, pro
vided we are able to leave with President
Lincoln which I doubt we will have to
drive over one hundred miles before wo
can cross the Potomac. After having
crossed that In safety we will have to
drive from one end of Midland Virginia
to the other. Don't yon know that that
section Is slmplv swarming with Yankees?
I do, because I have Just come through
there. Granted that we do get through all
right, we reach tho Rappahannock and
cross It, we will be reasonably talc. Hut
we stand one chance In five hundred of
surmounting all those obstacles. Inside of
an hour, or at most two hours, from tho
time we get possession of Mr. Lincoln's
person, the entire country will be In a
furore. The president of the United
States cannot be spirited away like an
ordinary citizen.' Booth said he was will
ing to take any chance.
"I believe he was a monomaniac on the
subject. He had brooded over the South's
wrongs so murh that his mind was unset
tled on the subject. He talked a good deal
of ridding the country of an arch tyrant, of
helping the South and of lvlncr for his
country. He was unquestionably Insane
when he shot Lincoln. No man In his right
mind would have done that. The South
lost Its best friend when It lost Lincoln.
He understood its conditions and the char
acter of Us people as no mm did before
or since. Booth was the South's worst
enemy although he was sincere In wanting
to aid her.
Flees to Cnnndn.
"After engaging In this conversation with
Booth I dismissed tho matter from my
mind and supposed Booth had done the
same. Going direct to Richmond I reported
to General Wilder and was directed by Mm
to, go at once to Elmlra, X. Y nnd learn
tho plans of the fortifications, prison, etc.,
at that point, with the number of prison
ers. I was In Elmlra for Ecvoral weeks
and as my pockets were full of Uncle
Sam's gold furnished me by the govern
ment I made host of friends, and I mnv
add that It was a blessed good thing for
me that I did. for It saved my life at my
trial. Among the people I met at that
point was a Union colonel who was con
nected with the fortifications. He seemed
to be suffering from a chronic state of
'dead broke,' and finding that I had
plenty of money and was not averse to ac
commodating a friend, he soon began to
lorrow. That was exactly what I wanted.
At first It was $10 and Co nt a time Then
It was JIM and J200. I finally had him
completely In my power. One day we were
walking along the street nnd he said to
me. "Look here. Let me ark you a ques
tion. What are ycu doing around h-e
and what do you want?' I told him that
I was In Elmlra because I liked the place
and I added that I was anxious to get
insldo the prison to see w hat It looked like.
He promise! to get me Inside, and on the
following day was as good as his word.
He took me all through the place and
finally left me on a tower where I made
careful plans of the place. I repeated my
Mutt tho following day and having1 gained
what I wanted I determined to go back
to Richmond. It was on my Journey from
Elmlra to Albany that I first learned of
Lincoln's assassination. I was shocked and
my conversation with Booth Immediately
reoccurred to my mind. The next dav en
route from Albany to New York I bought
a New York paper and read In It that it
was supposed that I was with Rooth in his
flight and that a reward of jr.000 had been
offered for my capture, dead or alive.
When I read -that startling Intelligence
I Immediately left the tralu and took the
I J
1
PS 1 11
J. WILKES BOOTH.
From a photograph taken one month be
fore the assassination of President Lincoln.
wiser to be out of the country, on account
of the angry feeling of the people, I board
ed a steamer and went to London. I was
In London some time and also visited
Liverpool, and Birmingham. I went to
Paris and from Paris went to Rome and
enlisted in the Papal Zouaves under the
name or Watson. My life while in the
Papal Guards was very pleasant. but I
continually longed for my native land. I
eventually becamo a sergeant and In the
war between the Papal states and the
Garibaldians I was In my element. It was
while In the service of Pius IX, that I
wrote to one of the most prominent Union
statesmen In this country, telling him who
and where I was and asking him If It
would be safe for me to return to the
Vnlt,e1 states and If I could get a jury
trial and not undergo a drumhead court
martial. He wrote back saying that in
his opinion I could not get a jury trial and
advising me to remain away from America
at least three years. The Judge at my
trial refused to admit those letters as
evidence of my Intention to return to this
country voluntarily. I determined. How
ever, to return and to take my chances
of a court-martial, and was on the point
of doing so when I was arrested at the
irstance of Pope Plus IX. and cast Into
prison.
"How did he learn who you were?"
Betrayed by a Friend.
"Through the contemptible treachery of a
friend, so called a Canadian I had shared
my bread and butter, my blanket and even
my shirts with that man, and had anyone
told me he was going to prove as false as
he did I would have scouted the bare sug
gestion. I have long since learned that no
man in this world can be trusted. This
man went to Cardinal Antonelll and told
him my story. Antonelll went with the in
formation to the pope, who Immediately or
dered my arrest and strict confinement.
I was stationed at one of the outposts be
tween Rome and Naples. In the Italian
mountains. It was a beautiful spot and we
were quartered In an old monastery- The
papal secretary of state at once communi
cated with the United States secretary of
fctate that they had me and our govern
ment ordered a man-of-war, then cruising
In the Indian ocean, to report to Porto
Vecchlo and take me aboard.
"Xow. as a matter of fact, our govern
ment did not want me In the United States.
They were willing and anxious for me tn
remain abroad and hoped I would continue
to do so. While I was In London, Liver
pool ard Birmingham our consuls at those
ports knew who I was and advised our
state department of my whereabouts, but
nothing was done. Of course, when the
matter was brought to the attention of the
government In such an official manner, and
from such a source, there was nothing to
do but express thanks and take measures
for having me returned to this country for
trial.
"In the meantime I was confined In a
cell In the old monastery. The second day
after my arrest, or rather the second night,
a messenger arrived from Antonelll direct
ing the ofilcer In command of the post, the
Biron dc Serappe. who you will remember,
married Miss Polk, of North Carolina, to
hate me sent to Rome under a heavy guard
the moment the summons was received. I
was awakened at 4 a. m. bv the rusty key
grating In the lock of my cell, and by the
light of a flickering lantern I saw that my
untimely visitors were an officer and six
soldiers, all heavily armed. At once I knew
what It meant, and when the lieutenant In
command ordered me to dress at once In
order to go to Rom I at once m.-irle im
my mind that, let the consequences be what
they may I would not go to the Eternal
City. While dressing I mentally arranged
a plan of ecape. This old monastery was
built on the side of tho mountain, nestling
on one side, and the west side was directly
over a precipice over a hundred feet high.
A wall four feet high guarded the court
yard. I determined to break away from
my captors and go over that precipice.
When I had finished dressing I was placed
In the center of this guard and we slowly
ascended the stone steps of the old build
ing, worn smooth by countless feet of
many generations of monks. We reached
the courtyard and turned towards the left.
Just as we reached the point I had selected
for my attempt I made a break for liberty,
and running quickly across the courtyard
jumped on the wall. Gathering myself for
the attempt. I took a long breath and
Jumped into space, doubling my legs slight
ly under me as I did so. About thirty-five
feet from tho top of the precipice there was
a bare ledge of rock jutting out from tho
face of the mountain, and about four feet
broad. By great good fortune I landed
safely on that ledge."
"Captain, It has been stated that when
you broke away from your captors you
of the precipice they looked over the wall.
They must have seen me lvlng there un
conscious for they Immediately began fir
ing down at me. They may have done so
on a venture, however. I was brought
back to my senses by the reports of their
rilles from above and the bullets flattening
themselves on the bare rock unpleasantly
near my head. Dizzy and sick and shaken.
I managed to gather myself together and
crawl out of danger, and gradually made
my way down the .-Ide of the mountain to
the little town which nettled at Its base.
Running along the main tr.t r.r tho
town. Pran directly into the arms of a de
tail of zoua'es. They were as much sur
surp.rlsed as I, but I had the advantage of
""'" ". "'- arcri. nun me it was almost
a matter of life and death. Doubling quick
ly on my tracks and expecting every mo
ment to be hit by some of the bullets
which were flying around my head. I ran
like a frightened deer; through allevs.
down dark streets and across lots I sp"ed
and managed to elude my pursuers. In
the meantime the entire town was In an
uproar. Everyone hid the alarm, and all
the gates were guarded. Selecting a good
point I managed to get over th wall and
neaueu aown tne white Italian road
towards the coast. I should have said at
the beginning that all this took place dur
ing the early hours of the morning. It
was 4 a. m. when I was aroused and told
to dress. By the time 1 had left the town
a few miles In the rear the sun was high
In the heavens and I was congratulating
myself on my three escape, when I was
suddenly startled by the sharp command:
" 'Halt! Who goes there?'
Arrested by OnrllinMlans.
" 'Friend.' I answered in mj best Italian,
recognizing that I had run Into a Garibal
dian camp. Glancing at my papal uniform,
the outpost was by no means reassured. In
the meantime I had raised mj hands above
my head. Bringing his rille to his shoulder,
he was pressing the trigger' unpleasantly
hard. Raising my hands even higher In the
air I sang out to him: 'Lower your rifle,
man; can't you see my hands are" up!' Still
covering me with his rifle he ordered me
to advance within a few -aces of him and
called out lustily for the corporal of the
guard. That officer came on the run. and
seeing my rig called for the sergeant of the
guard. He no sooner caught a glimpse of
my dress than he called for the officer of
the guard. To make a long story short I
was soon surrounded by a mob of Gari
baldians of all ranks and sizes. When I
admiral's flagship and when he saw me
he sold:
On Board a Man-of-War.
" 'So you are the desperate fellow we
have been chasing around the world. Why,
you are only a beardless boy.' Turning to
Commodore Jeffrey, he said: 'Surely, com
modore, there Is no ocasion to Iron Surratt.
It is certainly unnecessary.' The commo
dore stated that they were his orders and
there was nothing left but to obey. I was
placed In a stateroom and a. marine with.
drawn cutlass and loaded revolver placed
on guard. The marine was given orders
that If I attempted to escape to cut me
down or shoot me down If necessary. The
whole thing struck me as being a perfect
farce and I laughed In the face of the
ofilcer who gave the command. He scowl
ed at me. As I had a whole stateroom to
myiclf and as the marine had to march
three paces forward and three paces back.
I think I had the best of the bargain. The
voyage was uneventful and we landed in
Xew York in the bpring or 1S67 and ITwas
taken direct to Washington. During my
trial, which lasted sixty-two days. oer
200 witnesses were examined. As you may
know, the jury disagreed, standing eight
for acquittal and four for conviction and
after being kept In the old capitol prison
for some months I was liberated on $23.
(00 ball. The case was never called again
and I presume the bail has expired by lim
itation. My counsel were General Merrick
and John G. Carlisle. After that trial my
nervous system was a wreck. I have never
gotten over It."
"How about the testimony of Lewis J.
Welchmann, captain?"
Ilia Opinion of Welchmann.
"That man's testimony from beginning
to end was outrageously false. During the
three days he was on the stand he did
not dare to look me In the face. I never
took my eyes off him for a moment. Gen
eral Merrick told me that tho newspa
pers were commenting on the fact. As I
said to you at the beginning of our talk,
that man has done more to bring disgrace
and ruin on me and my family than any
one and every one else, living or-dead.
"Do I think that his testimony was ac
uated by malice? Xo. I do not. Moral cow
ardice was at the bottom of It. The morn
ing after Lincoln's assassination a great
many people were arrested. Welchmann
MRS. MART B. SURRATT.
Executed July 7, 1S63, as An Ac complice of J. Wilkes Booth.
P
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J. WILKES BOOTH'S GRAVE AND
MONUMENT, BALTIMORE.
made a wild Jump over this precipice and
landed, purely by accident, on that ledge.
As a matter of fact, didn't you know of the
existence of that ledge of rock?"
Attempt nt Escape.
"Know of It! Why of courso I knew of
It! Do you think I would have been such
an Idiot as to jump over a hundred-foot
precipice to certain death In that manner?
Many and many a time my comrades and
myjelf. in hours of Idleness, would lean
over that precipice and wonder how many
feet It was from the wall of the courtyard
to tho ledge, and It was an open question
as to whether a man could Jump from the
wall and land safely on the ledge. While
dressing I determined to make the attempt.
It makes my blood run cold to think of It
now. though. However. I managed to land
on It safely and my legs doubling up under
me. my head struck the bare rock with
fearful force. I was knocked completely
senseless.
"In the meantime what a scene of con
fusion, what a babel of voices there was
above. The lieutenant In command wrung
his hands In anguish and swore In choice,
musical Italian. My break had been so
sudden that every man was taken com
pletely by surprise. They had plenty of
time to shoot me down If they had had
the presence of mind. Running to th Eld
told them that I was an Americano, a de
serter from the Papjlo Guardo and wanted
to get to the coafct,-,they treated me- with
the greatest kindness, Brptaers could not
have been kinder. I shall remember these
honest redcoated men with deepest grati
tude as long as I live. They entertained
me for a week and when Is decided to go
to Naples they made it possible for me to
do so with safety.
"As I was traveling under English pass
ports. I went direct to the English consul
and told him who I was. Glancing with
unmlngled surprise at my red fez. baggy
trotters and leggings of the Papal Zouaves,
he said to me: "Do you realize for a mo
ment, man, the risk you run? Don't you
know that Naples Is In the hands of the
Garibaldi and that you might havo a knife
run in your back at any moment?'
"I told him that the Garibaldi were the
very best friends I had. the only friends.
In fact, and that the money I had In my
pocket was given me by them. I remained
In Naples several days and the entire time
I was there I was shadowed by two de
tectives. They never lost sight of me."
"That must have been cheerful. Who did
they represent?"
"I don't know, and as a matter of fact I
did not care. Coming face 'to face with
them on one ocasion, I said to them:
" "You stick to me nobly, brothers. I feel
deeply moved at your kind attention.' They
made no reply, but they did not dare to
arrest me in Naples In the presence of my
Garlbaldlan friends. It became known that
I was going to Alexandria, and by a sin
gular coincidence the very, ship which took
me there also carried dispatcher to Consul
Hale at that point to arrest me and keep
me In close confinement until the arrival of
Commodore Jeffrey, wnen we were a few
days out from Naples It became known on
the vessel who I was. or was supposed to
be. It was reported that I had killed the
president of the United States. When this
tecame noised around tho ship there was
the greatest excitement at once. The cap
tain of the vessel came to me and said:
. " "Your presence Is kicking up a great
fuss on this ship. Who are yon, anyway?'
ArreatPfl by Consul Hale.
"I told him frankly the truth, and while
he was most kind he refused to land me
anywhere else than Alexandria. I was by
this time completely tired or bIng a man
without a country, and determined that on
reaching Alexandria I would place no more
obstacles In the way of my capture and re
turn to the United States. Accordingly,
when I reached that city I went to a hotel,
signed my correct name and sat quietly on
tho porch smoking a clgar.walting for some
one to come and arrest me. On the after
noon of the day after my arrival, glancing
down the street, I saw coming up towards
the hotel, an open carriage, containing one
man and followed by a squad of cavalry.
I knew at once who they were. The cav
alcade stopped In front of the hotel, and
the gentleman got out he was Consul Hale
and coming up to me asked me If I were
John H. Surratt. I told him that such was
the case. He said he had orders for my
arrest. When the carriage drove off there
were two In it and I was the second occu
pant. I was placed In the city prison,
awaiting the arrival of the man-of-war, and
was visited dally by Mr. Hale. Ho treated
me as a son. While he gave me plenty of
reading matter, hewould never tell me when
and how I was to be taken back to the
United States. One day I heard a great
fuss In the yard of the prison where the
common prisoners were kept. Some one
was swearing like a trooper In English. I
went into the yard and found a United
States man-of-warsman. On my asking
him what the trouble was. between his
oaths be stated that he belonged to a
United States war vessel, which had ar
rived the night before, and, getting drunk,
he had been"Jugged.' Said he:
" "Here we have been chasing all over
Europe for a fellow named Surratt, and
blankety-blanked If he hasn't given us a
slip three times. We have come here to get
him now, and blankety-blank if I believe
we will ever see him.' I smiled grimly. He
said the vessel was In command of Commo
dore Jeffrey. When Consul Hale called that
day I asked him when I was to be deliv
ered to Commodore Jeffrey. To say that
ho was surprised was putting It mildly.
He never learned now i round out. I was
was one of these. It became known that he
was a friend of Booth. In order to get a
confession from him a rope was placed
around his neck, the other end of It thrown
over a beam, and he was ordered to tell
what he knew. He was lifted oft his feet.
Under such circumstances a man will tell
or say anything to get a rope from around
his neck. Welchmann made up his story
out of whole cloth and when he was In
Eafcty he did not have the moral courage
to contradict It as any honest man would.
He was a moral coward. He was that way
as a school boy. At school It was forbidden
to have novels. I had one in my desk and
Welchmann opened the desk and took It
out. Through some chance It fell Into a
teacher's hands. When I accused Welch
mann of having taken It out, he swore by
all that was holy that he did not do so, al
though I confronted him with three boys
who saw him. As I said, the child Is father
to the man. The boys at school would not
have anything to do with him. He was
continually hanging around the- teachers
and running to them with tales.
A Forced Confession.
"It would have been an easy matter for
Welchmann to have confessed that he was
frightened Into a false confession In the
capitol prison. Many men have done the
same thing. I remember on one occasion
I was traveling tho 'Underground Route'
In Southern Maryland, In company with a
number of Confederates. One of the party,
a nephew of Judge Roger A. Prior, was ar
rested by a squad of Union troops. They
cut a rope around his neck, threw It over
a limb of a tree and jerked him off his feet.
He confessed everything to them. Told the
officer in charge exactly who we were, and
as a consequence we were all arrested. The
evidence against us was without a flaw.
After being liberated, this young man, re
alizing what he had done, went to the
judge and told him that he had lied In his
so-called confession, tnat ne was so rngnt
cned that he would have said anything.
He said that he did not even remember
what he had confessed. The next day we
were all liberated. Lookat the difference be
tween Welchmann and this young man. The
cost of my trial about Impoverished me, and
I could not have paid for It had not two
friends In Baltimore sent me money. I re
ceived from them checks for from J1.CC0 to
$3,000 at a time. My detectives had to fol
low the government detectives all through
the North. The latter tore a leaf out of
an Albany hotel register, where I had
signed the day before Lincoln was mur
dered. But I was able to secure other reg
isters where I had signed on dates which
made my presence In Washington during
those exciting times Impossible. I also
summoned many prominent citizens of EI-
mira.aii strong union men.wnom i nau met
there, and they testified to my being In
that city on the dates claimed. My counsel
demanded that I give them the name of
tho Union colonel who let me into the pris
on, but I refused. It would nave ruined
him. although It would have caused my
acquittal. My lawyers threatened to throw
tip the case unless I revealed his name, but
I declined. During the trial General Mer
rick nolnted out to me a croup of Jews In
one corner of the room and asked me If I
ever saw them before. I said I had not.
He told me that they were going to swear
that they drove me into Jiaryiand the
morning after Lincoln's death. General
Merrick went to the National Intelligencer
of Washington and cxDOsed the enlre nlot.
The next morning that paper came out and
stated all the facta and the Jews mysteri
ously disappeared. Welchmann has held a
public office In Philadelphia from the day
or tho first trial until now."
Booth lies buried In beautiful Greenmount
cemetery. In this city, and Is In the same
grave with his father, mother, two sisters
and a brother. His famous brother never
entered Washington after Lincoln's death.
It Is generally believed tnere that John H.
Surratt had nothing to do with the crime,
but It Is believed that he was In the con
spiracy to abduct. Of the eleven who were
tried, four were hanged, five died natural
deaths and two are yet alive.
HAr.sUiN uiaa.
Respect Won by Spectacles.
In Spain during the seventeenth centurr
the wearing of spectacles by both sexes
wsa a mark: of social eminence. Although
they were not necessary, many wore them
wnne eating or attending- pudiic lunction
Riieh an theaters, concerts anil bull flirhte
placed on board the vessel, heavily chained so that the owners might demand respect
and handcuffed, and taken to Marseilles. If mm those with whom thev mliht!tu r-nm.
where a United States fleet was lying. In 'pelled to come In contact. The slae of the
command of Admiral Goldsborough. When J spectacles was a matter of Important con
we entered the harbor and I saw that fleet I slderatlon, Just as carriages and raen serv
of splendid vessels, with the stars and! ants are nowadays. As people'sfortunes
stripes flying from every ship I could havo Increased so did the dimensions; of their
cheered. I was proud of my country. The ! spectacles. The Countcs3 d'Aulnojr assures
bands were playing 'Star Snanirled Ban- in that snmc of the xneetnrtes, ahnlii, iun
ner.' 'Hall Columbia.' 'Maryland, My Mary-! worn by the grandee were as large as her I
land,' and 'Dixie.' I was taken aboard the , bead. ' I
A SPECTACLEJJF DA VINCI'S.
Am Incident In 1480 Which Evinced
IIU Mechanical Science and
Poetical Imagination.
An incident occurred In 14S3 which
evinced the poetical imagination and the
mechanical science of Leonardo da Vinci In
a striking manner, says the Architect. It
was upon the marriage of the young Duke
Giovanni Galeazzo to Donna Isabella, of
Aragon. Among the various pageantries
with which the ceremony was enlivened
one outshono all the rest In magnificence
and singularity, and it was conceived by
the fertile fancy of the renowned Floren
tine painter. Happily, the details of this
inimitably graceful fete have been recorded
by the contemporary pen of Mgr. Sabba
da Castiglione: Late on the evening of
the day upon which the august nuptials
hail been celebrated the nobles and dames
were summoned by the sound of bugles
to an optn theater, constructed after the
fashion of the ancient amphitheaters at
tached to the ducal palace of Milan. Sil
ver tripods, bearing vessels of porphyry,
are disposed at Intervals between the
benches; under the tripods are torches of
cedar wood; in the vessels of porphyry are
burning aromatic gums and incense. By
this arrangement of the decorations, as well
as by the gradual closing In of twilight, a
subdued and fluctuating light is produced
which not only renders the Jewelry and
costumes of the spectators unusually pic
turesquo. but materially assists the illu
sion. A buzz from the assemblage a patter
ing of rose blossoms upon the arras car
peting It Is the bridegroom leading the
bride to the seat of dignity, both of them
robed In white velvet, slabbed with violet
silk and cinctured with cloth of gold,
both crowned with flowers. Another mur
mur arises from the assembly: It is Leon
ardo, seated under ono of the tripods, hold
ing in his hand a golden lyre of his own
construction, shaped like a horse's skull,
upon which, say tne Italian chroniclers, he
played with such ravishing melody as to be
accounted the finest extemporaneous per
former of his age. His nmjers are uponltho
strings there is a death-like silence, his
hand strays over the instrument deftly,
playfully, wlsnlngly, as though he would
decoy the wandering spirits of the air;
there is a modulation In the melody: it is
sorrowful. It is weeping, and now It rolls
upwards nigner it gains entnusiasm it
oars. Brightly twinkle the stars over
head. A cry of wonder bursts from the
assembly: one of those stars seems to for-
saKe its place in the heavens it rushes
aownwarci it approacnes teem it is a
moon.
The orb floats over the theater to the
rippling of the strings upon the golden
skull. The globe opens and the god Mer
cury Is revealed In its center, his feet
winged, his caduceus in his hand; he
chants a bridal song the epithalamium ot
Giovanni Galeazzo. The planet closes and
Is replaced by another; from It emerges
Venus, girdled with the zone of love her
tones are more impassioned and sapphic.
After Venus. Mars, with the god in his
battle harness his bridal verse Is chival
rous and lusty. Then the Father of
Olympus grasping his baleful thunder
bolt, his voice being solemn and majestic,
and lastly, after Jupiter, Saturn, the sad
and venerable. Then, while the planets
are revolving In concentric circles above
the theater like'five gigantic moons, while
the golden lyre is breathing like an an
them under the Angers of its master, a
bright light Illumines the whole city, a
thousand bonfires are Ignited, the bells
In the turrets are ringing, their clamor Is
drowned In the acclamations of the multi
tude, and the optical delusion of Leonardo's
is completed.
SOME D0GS0F WAR. -
One Animal That Waa Decorated by
Marshal Lnnnea for Bla
'Bra-very.
A French paper has published a roll of
honor of dogs which have distinguished
themselves in war. This Is not Inappro
priate, considering that the dog; has been
pressed Into military service. For instance,
there was Bob, the mastiff of the Grenadier
Guards, which made the Crimean campaign
with that corps: and also Whltepaw, a
bravo French ally of Bob. that made the
same campaign with the One Hundred and
Sixteenth of the line and was wounded In
defending the flag. '
Another, Moustache, was entered on the
strength of his regiment as entitled to a
grenadier's rations. The barbers had or
ders to clip and comb him once a week.
This gallant animal received a bayonet
thrust at Marengo and recovered a flag at
Austerlitz. Marshal Lannes had Moustache
decorated with a medal attached to his
neck by a red ribbon. Corp3 de Garde fol
lowed a soldier to Marengo, waa wounded
at Austerlitz. and perished in the retreat
from Moscow.
The Sixth of the Guard had a military
mastiff named Mlsere. which wore three
white stripes sewn on his black hair, 'iuere
was also Pompon, of the Forty-eighth Be
douins, the best sentry of the baggage
train; Loutpute. a Crimean heroine: MI
trallle. killed at Inkerman by a shell: Mof
flno. that saved his master in Russia and
was lost or lost himself, but found his way
alone from Moscow to Milan, his first
dwelling place.
The most remarkable, however, was an
English terrier named Mustapha, which
went Into action with his English comrades
at Fontenoy. and. according to the story,
"remained alone by a field-piece after the
death of the gunner, his master, clapped
the match to the touch-hole of the cannon,
and thus killed seventy soldiers;" and It Is
further added that Mustapha was present
ed to King George II. and rewarded with
a pension.
IS HE PRINCE OF WALES' SON?
Brldesrom Aatonlshea Boston' Folk
Saya Ilia Mother Waa Conatance
Comvtrallla.
Boston society people, says the New
York Press, are amazed at what Is whis
pered to be a possible sequel to the famous
scandal regarding the Prince of Wales and
a certain lady. An alleged society man of
New York and Newport has disclosed for
the first time publicly his alleged Identity
by giving what Is believed to be those no
ble names as those of his father and moth
er. This declaration was made on his wed
ding day. No sooner had the remarkable
words been written than the couple disap
peared on their honeymoon.
The author of this sensation Is John Rex
Guelph-Norman.of Now York and Newport.
On Friday afternoon he was married by
Judge Tilllnghast. in the Rhode Island su
preme court building In Providence. The
bride was Harrletta Hall Bedlow-Morrls. of
Boston, a widow, and a daughter of ex
Mayor Bedlow, of Newport.
as tne Knode island law requires tnat
applicants for marriage license shall give
the full names of their parents, the bride
groom was compelled to do so. and filled In
the blank with the statement that his oc
cupation was that of "a gentleman," and
that his father was Albert E. Guelph, of
England. He further declared that his
father also had no other occupation than
that of a gentleman.
In the space left for the maiden name of
his mother the bridegroom Tvrote "Con
stance Comwallls." The Providence regis
try officials positively refuse to say a word
about the matter or give any Information
whatever beyond an exhibition of the rec
ords. The bride gave her father's name as1
Henry Bedlow. and her mother's maiden
name as Josephine D. Holmes. The bride
was attended by her daughter. Miss Morris.
The couple left town Immediately after the
ceremony. It Is not known where they
went. They are not In Boston.
Color of Sin.
At a recent meeting of the Methodist Min
isterial Association, held In the parlors of
the Meridian Street Methodist church. Rev.
Mr. J. W. Milan said that he had recently
come across a very Interesting discovery,
made by someone working In the Smithso
nian Institution. The discovery related to
the color of sin. Several of the ministers
present said the color of sin was scarlet,
because the Blblo said so. Mr. Milan re
plied that the scientist who had made this
Investigation had discovered that sin
has a distinct color of Its own. He has.
by means of chemical process, examined
the nersDiratlon of persons aroused to sin
ful passions. When this was subjected to
a certain test, the perspiration became
pinkish In color. He had made more than
forty experiments, and in every Instance
the result was the same. The perspiration
coming irom persons not uncier tne innu
ences of evil passions does not have this
color. Thus he Is led to believe that sin
is in color a peculiar, sickly pink a pink
that rather has a wicked look of its own.
Dr. Milan regarded this as another in
stance where science agreed with religion,
for the Bible frequently refers to the color
of sin. Its reference to scarlet being used
for the reason that that color was found
the most difficult of all dyes to remove. By
a close study of the Bible many sections
can be found to strengthen the claim that
sin has a color of Its own, and that that
color Is something on the order of pink.
"Ain't I little bow-legged V asked the
dubious young man. "Bow-legged?" said
the tailor. "The Idea! Your lower limbs,
sir. are absolutely without a parallel!" In
dianapolis Journal.
"How did Fakem. th hypnotist, ret
along on his last trip?" "First rate, until
he tried the impossible. He hypnotized a
tramp one day and tried to make bint saw
wood." Brooklyn Life.
LUIGTPAYS THE BILLS
ITALIAN FRIXCE RESPONSIBLE FOB
AIT ALASKA EXPEDITION.
WILL GO TO K0TZEBUE SOUND.
WILL TAKE "WITH THEM EXPENSIVE!
AXD COMPLETE OUTFIT.
Major Ina-mhsras, the Mountala
Climber, Sollalta With Success
the Xobleauus'a Financial As
sistance la a Gigantic
Cndertaklntr.
Prince Lulgl, of Savoy, who last summed
expended $26,000 In a pleasure expedition
to Mount St. Ellas, the'summlt ot which
he attained. Is the backer of another ex
pedition, which is to leave Seattle In Maj
PRINCE LUIGL
for Alaska. The object of this expedition,
however, will not be for pleasure, but fo
the acquirement of gold.
The leader1 of the new expedition will b
Major E. S. Ingraham, says the Post-In-telllgencer.
who has a wide reputation as
one of the most experienced mountala
climbers in the United States and who ac
companied Prince Lulgi on the Mount St,
Ellas expedition. The prince has untold
wealth, and when he learned by letter that
ths Seattle mountain climber was desirous
of leading an expedition to Alaska and
would not object to being: backed for tho
undertaking; he at once forwarded to Se
attle at a cost of 154 a cabIeTam, whlca
Instructed 'Major Ingraham to immediately
make all necessary preparations for the
trip. Major Ingraham has 6lnce called as
one of the banking Institutions of Seattle
at- the request ot the cashier and was in
formed that an. amount of money had beets
forwarded from Italy by Prince Lulgl! and
awaited his pleasure.
The expedition would have been accom
panied by Prince Lulgl himself had be not
been commanded by King Humboldt to
lead an exploration party which Is to start
soon for the North pole. It Is the Inten
tion of Major Ingraham and his compan
ions, however, to make an exhaustive ex
ploration of the Arctic region in their
search for gold. Under the plans whlca
have been formulated, and which at pres
ent they Intend to follow, they will first
land at Kotzebue sound, and from there
commence their explorations.
Major Ingraham said that he would pre
fer that the amount furnished by Prince
Lulgl remain unknown to the public,
but said It was sufficient for him to ac
complish the tremendous undertaking, and
that, if necessary, he could secure still more
funds from the same source simply by the
asking.
Under the Arctic Circle.
"Our party to Alaska, will number about
fifteen." Major Ingraham said. "We shall
leave Seattle in May. our destination belngr
Kotzebue sound, which Is under the Arctic
circle, at a point 200 miles north of St.
Michael on a direct line. To reach Kotze
bue sound It will be necessary to pass
through the Bering- strait. Our method of
travel will be on a schooner, which we
shall either charter or purchase. I shall
know definitely In a few days which prop
osition will be adopted. The party will
probably be composed of four Italians from
Blclla. Italy, relatives of Senor Sella, who
was the photographer of the Mount St.
Ellas expedition, and most of the others
will likely be from Seattle, although there
Is a party coming to Seattle from Turin,
Italy, who are anxious to join us.
An Extensive Oatnt.
"I am going- on a line of Information
which gives me every reason to Believe
that our party will be successful in striking"
rich diggings. We will leave Seattle with)
an outfit Just as complete as the most ex
tensive and thorough experience can sug
gest, and we will be prepared to remata
away ftom the United States for a period
of at least two years, and possibly longer.
We will have a ton and a half of provisions
to each man. and the other portions of our
outfit will be complete in every detail.
"We will be provided with the required
number of boats and also with a steam
or vapor launch of the very best manu
facture, as I have been Instructed by
Prince Lulgl not to proceed to the Arctla
regions equipped with an outfit which
would not bear the closest Inspection. It
is very evident that the prince has Im
plicit taith in Alaska, and I have not much
doubt that he would have Joined the ex
pedition and made the trip more for pleas
ure and curiosity than a desire to acquire
additional wealth, had he not recently re
ceived a commission from King- Humbert,
or Italy, to lead an expedition to the North
pole."
Hograrth'a Presentiment.
A few months before this ingenious artist
was seized with the malady with which
he died he conceived the Idea, of his ex
traordinary work entitled "Tall-Piece.
The Idea is said to have been Inspired at
his own table. "My next undertaking-,
said he. "shall be the end of all things.'7
"If that Is so." said one of his friends.
"your business will be finished, for this
will be the end of the painter."
"And therefore," answered the artist,
sighing heavily, 'the sooner my work la
done, the better."
Accordingly he begun the next day and
continued his design with a diligence that
seemed to Indicate an apprehension that ha
would not live to complete it. His Idea,
was original, even grotesque. He grouped
together everything he could denoting- the
end of all things; a broken bottle, a broom
worn to the stump, a bow unstrung, towers
in ruins, the waning moon. Phoebus and
his horses dead in the clouds, a wrecked
vessel. Time with his hour-glass and
scythe broken, a pipe in his mouth with ths
last whiff of smoke going out. on empty
purse, and many other signs of destruc
tion. "So far. so good," cried Hogarthj
"nothing- remains but this," and taking his
pencil tn a sort of prophetic fury, he dashed1
off a painter's broken palette. About a
year after finishing his weird, remarkable
"Tall-Piece" he died.
Lying;.
It was said of Dr. Johnson that he al
ways talked as though he were taking an
oath. He detested the habit of lying or
prevaricating In the slightest degree and
would not allow his servants to say he waa
not at home If he was. "A servant's strict
regard for the truth." said he. "must be
weakened by such a practice. If I ac
custom my servant to tell a lie for me,
have I not reason to apprehend that ha
will tell them for himself?" A strict ad
herence to truth the doctor considered as
a sacred obligation; and In relating the
smallest anecdote he would not allow him
self the minutest addition to embellish his
story.
A Resoareefal Schoolma'am.
from tlie Crookxton Times.
An editor down In Nebraska, visited ths
schoolma'am and found her "hot stuff."
Here's what he swears to: "She Is the
pride of the town, the star of Invention
and a Jewel of brilliancy. She drew a pic
ture of an Iceberg on the blackboard. It was
eo natural that the thermometer froze up
solid. With rare presence of mind she
seized a crayon and drew a fireplace on the
opposite wall. The prompt action saved
the school, but nearly all the pupils caught
a severe cold from the sudden change."
Was Twice War'a Victim.
It Is a fact not generally known that the
first and the last stand of the Confederates
were made oo land owned by the same
Ttiaty A part of Bull Run battlefield was
owned by Mr. McLean. After this famous
battle ne aeciaea to move to a. iocauiy
where there would be less fear from the
ravages of war. By a strange coincidence
he took up his abode at Appomattox, which
subsequently proved to be the final baiUe-
neia or ueiciYU '
n
t
LS9