Mr. King to Mr. Seward.
Sir: * * * * * * * * *
On Saturday last, 21st instant, a private in the Papal zouaves, giving his name as H. B. St. Marie, and claiming to be Canadian by birth, called upon me for the purpose, as he said, of communicating the information that John H. Surratt, who was charged with complicity in the murder of President Lincoln, but made his escape at the time from the United States, had recently enlisted in the Papal zouaves, under the name of John Watson, and was now stationed with his company, the 3d, at Sezze. My informant said that he had known Surratt in America; that he recognized him as soon as he saw him at Sezze; that he called him by his proper name, and that Surratt, taking him aside, admitted that he was right in the guess. He added that Surratt acknowledged his participation in the plot against Mr. Lincoln’s life, and declared that Jefferson Davis had incited or was privy to it. St. Marie further said that Surratt seemed to be well provided with money, and appealed to him as a comrade not to betray his secret; and he expressed an earnest desire that if any steps were taken towards reclaiming Surratt as a criminal, he, St. Marie, should not be known in the matter. He spoke so positively in answer to my questions as to his acquaintance with Surratt, and the certainty that this was the man, and there seemed such entire absence of motive for any false statement on the subject, that I could not very well doubt the truth of what he told me. I deemed it my duty, therefore, to report the circumstance to the department and ask for instructions.
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I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.