How I see John Surratt.

[RJNorton]

(08-19-2018 11:19 PM)SSlater Wrote:  I have never read the official verbiage pertaining to the execution of the "captured escaped prisoners", so I don't know who said what.

John, here is the testimony from the John Surratt trial transcript. I do not know the trustworthiness of Dr. McMillan (who was testifying as to what John Surratt told him aboard the Peruvian):

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Witness proceeded — that he met the woman in New York; he came on to Washington with her; from Washington he started on the way to Richmond with her and four or five others; that after a great deal of trouble they managed to cross the Potomac; that after they got south of Fredericksburg they were driven on a platform-car drawn, or pushed, by negroes. As they were drawn along they saw some men coming towards them — five or six if I recollect right. They ascertained that these men were Union prisoners, or Union soldiers from southern prisons; they were, he said, nearly starved to death; that this woman who was with them said, "Let's shoot the damned Yankee soldiers." She had hardly said the word when they all drew their revolvers and shot them, and went right along, paying no more attention to them.

By the District Attorney:
Q. How many?
A. Five or six; I could not say certainly; it was not more than six.

By Mr. Pierrepont:

Q. Did he say what they did with the dead bodies?
A. No; he said they went along.
Q. Did be tell you the name of this woman?

A. He did, but I forget at this distance of time. I could not positively state who she was.

Q. Would you know the name if you were to hear it?
A. I would not like to say now what name it was.
Q. Do you know the letter of the alphabet it commenced with?
A. I could not say.
Q Was the name Mrs. Slater?

A. It sounds like it, but I would not be positive that it is. The woman's name was very conspicuous in Montreal during the trial of the St. Albans raiders.