The Assassin's Lair

[Laurie Verge]

The H Street house was sold at auction to John C. McKelden on June 26, 1866, to cover the Surratt family's debts. The sale realized $4700 on a property that Mr. Surratt had paid $4000 for in 1853. Those creditors who could prove their claims were paid off, and $2950.95 remained to be shared by the three heirs. HOWEVER, Anna and John got less money because they had to pay off a $1000 trust plus interest that Mrs. Surratt had procured against the H Street house in January of 1865. Isaac was in the Confederate army at the time of that trust, so he was not responsible.

None of the children got any money because the courts in Prince George's County then stepped in and decided that money was needed to pay off the Surratt debts in Maryland. From that point, we don't know what happened to the $1850.95 that remained.

As to the first occupant of the house, a 1933 article in American Motorist Magazine says that the family began seeing Mary Surratt's ghost almost immediately. They moved out and tried renting the house, which also became difficult. There are rampant stories about people seeing ghosts there over the years. I'm betting that the current sushi being served there will deter any further appearances from Mrs. Surratt and children. How do you explain to a Victorian lady that it is fine to eat raw fish?