Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to report that, in consequence of a telegram received via Constantinople from Mr. King, United States minister at Rome, and of several letters received from Mr. Winthrop, United States consul at Malta, (the Mediterranean wire being, unfortunately, broken between Malta and this place,) I have this day arrested a man calling himself Walters, dressed in the uniform of a zouave, who arrived at Alexandria on the 23d instant in the steamship Tripoli from Naples, and who is believed to be John Harrison Surratt, one of the conspirators for the assassination of President Lincoln.
The telegram and some of the letters having been delayed in transmission, I was fortunate in finding the man still in quarantine among the third-class passengers, of whom there is no list whatever. It was easy to distinguish him among seventy-eight of these by his zouave uniform, and scarcely less easy by his almost unmistakable American type of countenance. I said at once to him, “You are the man I want; you are an American.” He said, “Yes, sir; I am.” I said, “You doubtless know why I want you. What is your name?” He replied promptly, “Walters.” I said, “I believe your true name is Surratt,” and in arresting him mentioned my official position as United States consul general. The director of quarantine speedily arranged a sufficient escort of soldiers, by whom the prisoner was conducted to a safe place within the quarantine walls. Although the walk occupied several minutes, the prisoner, close at my side, made no remark whatever, displaying neither surprise nor irritation. Arrived at the place prepared, I gave him the usual magisterial caution that he was not obliged to say anything, and that anything he said would be at once taken down in writing. He said, “I have nothing to say. I want nothing but what is right.” He declared he had neither passport, nor baggage, nor money except six francs.
His companions confirm his statements in this respect. They say he came to Naples a deserter from the Papal army at Rome. I find that he has no papers, and no clothes but those he is wearing,
The appearance of the prisoner answers very well the description given of Surratt by the witness Weichmann, at page 116 of Pittman’s Report, officially sent to me by the government, and is accurately portrayed in the likeness of Surratt in the frontispiece of the same volume. Mr. King and Mr. Winthrop speak in confident terms of the identity of the zouave Walters with Surratt, and, after seeing the man, I have not a shadow of doubt of it.
According to the well established public law of this place, as the prisoner avowed himself an American, and submitted, without objection, to arrest by me on my statement that I acted for the United States, and especially as he has no paper to suggest even a prima facie claim for belonging to any other jurisdiction, there is no other authority which can rightfully interfere here with his present custody; and I have good reason for saying that no attempt at interference will be set on foot by any authority, whatever pretensions he may make. The prisoner’s quarantine will expire on the 29th; he will then be received into the prison of the local government, which cordially gives me every assistance.
It will readily occur to you that the only convenient way of transferring the prisoner to the United States will be by an American man-of-war, and I earnestly hope that one may soon come here to receive him.
Although the arrest was finally made with ease, I ought to say that the necessary precautions to avoid possible failure caused some anxiety to the consulate [Page 276] general, and that I received valuable and faithful assistance from my clerks, Messrs. Edwards, Elias, and Charles Chevrier.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.