The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-07-21
NEW SERIES.
The Case of Mrs. Surratt.
AFFIDAVIT OF JOHN P. BROPHY.
The Confession of Payne.
It's Truth Endorsed by Gen. Hartranft.

] EioLI tAe " washington NOnsliIuilOHal Union OF
Tuesday,.
According to promise, we spread before our
readers two documents which, as we remarked
yesterday, 60 far towards establishing the nno-
cence of Mrs. Surratt. Payne, 1t will be seen,
declares her entire innocence Just before he
| mounts the scaffold to be launched into eterni-
| t.! And Gen. Hartrauft, who has had charge
of the prisoners from the beginning, and whose
( province 1t was to have them executed, saws to
! President Johnson that he believes Payne has
told the truth
The affidavit sworn to by Mr. Brophy. whom
we know, and whose lifelong character is with
out spot or bleinish, Is also very important.
! The original document being in the hands of the
President the one which we have procured may
not be exactly word for word with it. but the
/ Facts aud eifrs substance are precisely the same
/ From il We learn that Weichman was a cose-
ard. and being such, was no doubt easily fright
ened by Messrs. Stanton and Burnett into dec
! aration 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 Court Of Justice.
We also learn that IF not informed on he
''wouu never have told them a word about the
assassination" How does this declaration tally
3
] ''pref erred his government to John Surratt"
! Indeed when his own declarations prove him to
! have been a rabid secessionist we confess our
selves at a loss TO know which ''Government'
/ be considered his own. Hisintimacy with At
zerott and Payne, and his pleasure excursions
/ on Booths horses speak for themselves 1t will
also be seen that while every trivial circum-
stance which could be tortured into condem-
/ Cc z
/ ded, not one of the many things in her favor
/ was allowed By the commission to be shown
| They knew of Payne's confession and of this
affidavit before they gave their decision, although
{ Weichmans admissions were made since the ev-
idence for the defense closed, and yet in the face
of such an array of facts, they rendered a de-
cision which has made the blood run cold in ev-
cry manly heart, Whether people who pro-
be consumed in the fiery and ravenous Molocb
of usurpation remains to be seen.
AFFIDAVIT OF Mr.. JOHN p. BRoPHY.
!. | can have it proved, If time be allowed,
/ that Weichman Sis and always was 4 coward,
according to the words of his father.
/ 2 That he told me since this trial closed, that
| he was arrested as a conSplrator and threaten
| ed with death by Mr.. Stanton and Mr.. Bur
nett. unless he would re real all about the as
| sassination-they (Stanton and Burnet) ale
ging that he (Weichman) knew all about it.
3. That he told me since the close of the tri-
al, that the detective who had him in charge
in Canada was offered twenty-five thousand dol
lars to bring him (Weichman) back safely to
Washington
4. That he stated to me since the trial closed
that if Captain Gleason had not informed on
him, they (Stanton, Burnett and the rest) would
never have got a word out Of him concerning
the assassination.
s. That since the trial closed he has admit
ted to me that he was a liar
g. That he swore to a falsehood on the wit
ness stand.
Z That short time before the assassination
he introduced Atzerott to me as particular
friend of his; and that the same day he and At
zerott were riding on Booths horses. can
bring other and new witnesses to testify to his
intimacy with Atzerott
s. That about the same time he boasted in
the office which he worked, that he could make
forty thousand dollars any time he liked, but
that it would be in a dshonorable way.
9. That since the trial closed, he told me that
Mrs Surratt wept bitterly at the thought OF Ohm
going to Richmond, and implored him to remain
at home and not bring trouble upon himself and
the family.
10 That once while some men were at the
Ebouse, Mrs Surratt called John (her son) aside
and said to him: ''John ] am afraid there Is
something going on. Why do these men come
, here Now John, L do not feel easy about
this. and you must tell me what you are about
asked Weichman if John told her, and he tolc
me that John did not and would not tell her
? IL. That since the close of the trial Welch'
! man offered to give me a letter TO president
johnson in Mrs Surratts favor, provided
would sskeep it a profound secret" asked
+ him to give me similar letter to Judge Holt
, and he replied ''No, I will not write to MIN
n because have no confidence whatever IN Holt
q II. That he said be would not work nnde
: this government if he had anything else to do
; and that he would never fight on the Northern
1 side.
t l3. That he was an avowed secesslonst, AM
q said LIE wished to go to Richmond to get
r clerkship; that he went away to AVOID tn
d draft. and told me 80, and said, ''h he were
= drafted he would take his share oil the ''ciu
= money! and clear out
a. That he had me summoned to testify I
"a his character, and afterward-rememberng
IS suppose that my testimony would inlure him
a he begged me for about half an hour to leay
r the court and brought some of the sub-otfieer
,r of the place to urge me to go, so that woui
+ not be placed upon the witness stand
:, IS. That since the trial closed, ne told n
= he would rather be hooted st rs a,spy and II
ye former, and do anything than be tried as a col
spirstor and have all bis future hopes blasted