Marie to King, Rome, Italy, June 21, 1866

[Untitled]

General: Agreeably with your desire, I have the honor to make the following statement:

1. I am Canadian born, and was living in the United States when the late rebellion broke out. I was engaged as teacher in a small village in Maryland, called Little Texas, or Ellangowan, and there got acquainted with John H. Surratt and William Weichmann. About six months before the end of the war I had removed to Washington, and was there engaged in St. Mathew s Institute, under the superintendency of Father White. Weichmann, who was a friend of Surratt, was there with me. I had occasion to see him several times. He and Weichmann, who was the principal witness in the trial of the assassins of President Lincoln, were intimates. From difficulties with Weichmann I left Washington and joined the northern army, as a substitute for E. D. Porter, of Newark, Delaware, principal of an academy in that city. Not being used to hardships, I straggled in the first marches, and was picked up by Stuart’s cavalry near Orange Court House, Virginia, and imprisoned in Castle Thunder, Richmond. Having been acquainted with the plots of a company of forgers who were then in the same prison, I acquainted General Winder of their intentions, and as a reward of my services got my liberty, and was sent free to Nassau, and from there to my native home—Canada—having gone first to England, on board a vessel loaded with cotton on the account of the confederacy.

2. After my return home the unfortunate assassination of President Lincoln took place. I immediately went to the United States consul at Montreal, and informed him what I knew about Surratt and Weichmann, and told him that in my opinion I thought one was as guilty as the other, and acted only through fear of selling his accomplice. I have met Surratt here in Italy, in the zouaves of the Pope, where I am myself. He has acknowledged to me that he was the instigator of the murder, and had acted in the instructions and orders of persons he did not name, but some of whom are in New York, and others in London. He told me a party in London offered him £10,000 to publish a statement of the affair, but he refused.

I beg to say I am prepared to go to the United States and give all the evidence I know in the unfortunate matter.

I am personally known in the United States to E. D. Porter, of Newark; Delaman, Neil & Derve, proprietors of the St. Louis hotel, Chestnut street, Philadelphia; R. H. Labberton, professor of Greek in the University of the same city. I have known in Richmond General Winder; Captain Winder, his son; Major Carrington and Major Parkhill, and Captain Alexander, who was then commander of Castle Thunder.

I have the honor to be, general, &c.,