Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-07-27
The Case Of Mrs. Surratt---The
AFFIDAVIT Of Mr.. John T..
BrOphy Confession Of
Payne.

From the Washington Union, July H.
According TO promise We spread before
our readers two documents which, as we re-
marked yesterday, 20 far toward establish
ing the innocence Of Mrs. Surratt. Payne,
it will be seen, declares her entire innocence
Just before he mounts the scaffod to be
launched into eternity! And Gen. Hart
ruff, who has had charge Of the prisoners
from the beginning, and whose province it
was to have them executed, says to Prcsi-
/. dent johnson that he believes that Payne
. by Mr.. Brophy, whom we know, and whose
lifelong character is without spot or blem-
ish, is also very impostant. The original
. document being in the hands of the Presi-
E dent, the one which we have procured may
, not be exactly word for word with it, but
= the facts and precise substance arc exactly
, the same. From it we learn that WEIGH
man was a coward, and being such, was no
. doubt easily frightened by Messrs. Stanton
and Burnett into declaration Of certain
, things, the truth Of which is rendered more
and more doubtful every day. Every good
, lawyer knows how far such evidence would
90 in a court of justice. We also learn that
IF not informed on" he would never have
, told them word about the assassination.
, How does this statement tally with his
, declaration on the witness stand that she
preferred his Government to John Surratt.
Indeed when his own declarations prove him
to have been rabid secessonist we confess
ourselves at loss to know which govern
, ment he considered his own. His intima-
cy with Atzerott and Payne, and his pleasure
, excursions on Booths horses speak for
themselves. 1t will also be seen that while
every trivial circumstance which could be
, tortured into a condemnation of Mrs. Sur
! ratt was carefully compounded, not one of
! the many things in her favor was allowed by
the commission to have been shown. They
! knew of Payne's confession and Of this af
| fidavit before they gave their decision, al
| though W eichman admissions were made
f since the evidence for the defence closed
o and yet in the face of such an array Of facts.
they rendered a decision which has made
0 the blood run cold in every manly heart
5 AFFIDAVIT OF Mr.. JOHN P BRoPHY.
:; l. can have it proved, if time be al
lowed that Weichman lis and always was
y coward, according to the words of his faith
10 or.
'e .. That he told me since this trial closed
II that he was arrested as conspirator, and
'r threatened with death by Mr.. Stanton and
a Burnett, unless he would reveal all about
IL the assassination-they Stanton and Bur.
: net alleging that he Weichman knew all
: obout
n 3. That he told me since the close of the
C trial that the detective who had him in
5 charge in Canada was offered twenty-five
n thousand dollars to bring him Weinchman
Ie back safely to Washington.
- 4. That he stated to me since the tria
e closed that if Captain Gleasan had not in
r formed on him, they Stanton, Burnett ant
Is the rest,) would never have got word Out
Of him concerning the assassination.
? 5. That since the trial closed he has ad
e mittcd to me that he was liar
= 6. That heswore to filsehood on the
g witness stand
t !. That short time before the assas-
r sination he introduced Atzerott to me as a
5 particular friend of his, and that the same
!, day he and Atzerott were riding on Booth :
II horses. | can bring other and new witness
X es to testify to his intimacy with Atzerott
) 8. That about the same time he boasted
n in the Office in which he works, that he
d ceuld make forty thousand dollars any time
5 he liked, but that it would be in dishonor-
t able way.
r 9. That since the trial closed, he told
/ me Mrs. Surratt wept bitterly at the
o thought of John going to Richmend, and
e implored upon him to remain at home and
t not bring trouble upon himself and upon
Y the family.
is 10. That once, while some men were at
e the housc, Mrs. Surratt, called John (her
= SOM aside and said to him John, am
afraid there is something going on. Why
t do these men come here Now, john |
t do not feel easy about this, and you must
5 tell me what you are about" I asked
$ Weichman if John told her, and he WEIGH
e man told me that John did not nor would
9 not tell her.
: II. That since the close of the trial
Y Wechman offered to give letter to Pres-
d dent johnson in Mrs. Surratt's favor, pro-
= vided | would keep it profound secret. :"
n Judge Holt, and he replied NO | will
c not write to him, because | have no conf
= dence whateverin Holt.
i II. That he said he would not work un-
n der this government if he had anything
t else to do, and that he would never fight on
/ the Northern side.
n l3. That he was an avowed secessionist,
!; and said he wished to go to Richmond to
S get clerkship and he went away to avoid
d the draft, and told me so, and said 'if he
$ were drafted he would take his share of
; ''club money and clear out.
5 II. That he had me summoned to test-
t fly to his character, and atterwards-re-
/ mcmbering, | suppose, that my testimony
WDulu liiiuic Illtu-Ht btHEtu me lot ABOUT
half an hour to leave the court, and brought
some of the ub-officers of the place tourge
me to go, so that would not be placed on
Y the witness stand.
Is. That, since the trial closed, he told
me that he would rather be hooted at as a
spy and intormer, etc, and do anything, than
be tried as a conspirator and have all his
| future hopes blasted.
G II. That other very important facts
a in Mrs Surratt's favor can be brought to
, light if time be allowed.
(Signed) JOHN 7. BRoPHY.
5 Subscribed and sworn to before me this
: 9TH day of July, 1865, and hereby certify
e that the atiiant is a respectable citizen and
n worthy ofcredit. JOHN +. CALLAN,
Notary Public
f THE CONFESSION OF LEWIS 7. PAYNE-TIlE
e COMMANDING GENERAL BELIEVES MRS.
= SURRATT INNOCENT.