Abraham Lincoln - American Memory

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the two about which Weichmann testifies, as having been carried
there that day by Mrs. Surratt, does not appear. Neither does this
witness pretend to say that Mrs. Surratt, after she had delivered it
to her, and the witness had laid it down in the room, did not again
take it up, if it were the same, and put it in the hands of Lloyd.
She only knows that she did not see that done; but she did see Lloyd
with a package like the one she received in the room before Mrs.
Surratt left. How it came into his possession she is not able to state;
nor what the package was that jVIrs. Surratt first handed her; nor
which of the packages it was she afterwards saw in the hands of
Lloyd.
But there is one other fact in this case that puts forever at rest the
question of the guilty participation of the prisoner Mrs. Surratt in
this conspiracy and murder; and that is that Payne, who had lodged
four days in her house—who during all that time had sat at her table,
and who had often conversed with her—when the guilt of his great
crime was upon him, and he knew not where else he could so safely
go to find a co-conspirator, and he could trust none that was not like
himself, guilty, with even the knowledge of his presence—under
cover of darkness, after wandering for three days and nights, skulk-
ing before the pursuing officers of justice, at the hour of midnight,
found his way to the door of Mrs. Surratt, rang the bell, was admit-
ted, and upon being asked, "Whom do you want to see," replied,
" Mrs. Surratt." He was then asked by the officer Morgan, what lie
came at that time of night for? to which he replied, ' : to dig a gutter
in the morning; Mrs. Surratt had sent for him." Afterwards he said
"Mrs. Surratt knew he was a poor m&n&xi