Where was John Surratt on April 14, 1865 ?

[L Verge]

(03-13-2017 04:32 PM)brtmchl Wrote:  Copy and pasted from website referenced below with identical wording from Assassination of Lincoln: a history of the great conspiracy, trial of the conspirators by a military commission, and a review of the trial of John H. Surratt
by Thomas Mealey Harris

"Surratt himself told his old acquaintance, Henry Benjamin St. Marie, with whom he renewed his acquaintanceship in the ranks of the Papal Zouaves at Velletri, in Italy, that he left Washington early on the morning of the 15th of April, disguised as an English tourist; and that he had a very hard time to make his escape. As the trains leaving Washington for Baltimore on the morning of the 15th were thoroughly scrutinized by the police before being permitted to leave,it is uncertain whether Surratt's disguise sufficed to get him through, or whether he went a part or all of the way to Baltimore on horseback. There was some evidence on this trial tending to the conclusion that he had escaped from the city on horseback."

When they reached Quebec Father La Pierre requested Dr. McMillen to let Surratt stay in his room until after the vessel should have sailed. The vessel being now on her way, and in British waters, the fugitive ventured forth, and naturally sought the company of the surgeon of the vessel in whose care he had been placed, and whom he regarded as his friend. He scanned closely every passenger he met, that phantom of a detective being ever present to his imagination. He sees a gentleman whom he takes to be an American. He seeks his friend McMillen, and discloses to him his fears, saying: "I think that man is an American detective." Upon being asked by the doctor what he had done that he should be afraid of a detective, he replied: "If you knew all the things I have done, it would make you stare." The doctor reassured him, by reminding him that he was on board a British ship sailing on British waters, and that he had nothing to fear from an American detective. Surratt then drew a small four-barrelled revolver from his vest pocket, and remarked: "I don't care; this will settle him." The doctor now began to feel a great interest in his charge, arising from the suspicion that he was John H. Surratt. The voyage across the Atlantic occupied nine or ten days. The fugitive was so full of his terrible secret that he could not keep quiet.
Every day he sought opportunities to converse with the doctor privately, and at every interview the history of his crimes kept leaking out. Surratt told McMillen that he received a letter from Booth at Montreal, in the beginning of the week of the assassination, which was written in New York, calling him to Washington at once, as it had become necessary to change their plans and to act quickly. He started at once, and telegraphed Booth at New York City from Elmira, but found that he had already gone to Washington. In regard to his escape from Washington after the assassination, he related all of the incidents that have already been given in regard to his experience at St. Albans, the loss of his handkerchief, his hasty departure from that place, etc., etc.
Upon sighting the coast of Ireland he exclaimed, "Here is a foreign country at last! I only wish that I may live two years to go back to the United States and serve Andy Johnson as we served Lincoln."
When the "Peruvian" was about to land her passengers and mail at an Irish port, Surratt sent for McMillen, and upon the latter expressing surprise at finding him dressed, and prepared to land, saying that "he thought he had concluded to go on with them to Liverpool," Surratt replied, "that he had thought the matter over carefully, and had concluded that it would be safer for him to land there, as it was then nearly midnight." McMillen then said to him, "You have been telling me a great many things, and I have come to the conclusion that the name by which you were introduced to me is not your true name. Will you be kind enough to tell me who you are?" The fugitive then whispered in his ear, "I am Surratt."

https://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/gute...2855-h.htm 213-225

Assassination of Lincoln: a history of the great conspiracy, trial of the conspirators by a military commission, and a review of the trial of John H. Surratt by Thomas Mealey Harris pg 218-225

Does anyone have any additional information to compare these accounts too?

In John Surratt: Rebel, Lincoln Conspirator, Fugitive By Frederick Hatch, both of these men during testimony are describes as men of bad character. Going as far as implying that McMillan made up the story for the reward.

I would not trust the testimony of Henri de St. Marie any farther than I could throw a baby grand piano! He was clearly out to get any reward money for the capture and conviction of Surratt. I don't believe that researchers have ever put much stock in Harris's version of the events either.

My personal opinion is that anyone connected to the federal government, the military court, or seeking a share of any reward would say (and later write) anything to further their insistence that the conspirators were all totally evil - and that extended to the Confederate high command (and I'm one who wishes we could make that definite tie) as well as the Catholic Church.