Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-21
5rl THE CONSPIRACY CASE.
A Letter from General Hardie-His Inter-
view with Father Walter-The "Pass"
Mystification Explained.

AZ - n. rug, uehefat dyeWV " dsSoCsotcU ffess.
SIR: Referring to the special dispatch to the
New York Tribune, from Washington, of the
10Th Instant published in the issue of that jour-
nal OF the 18th, relating to the circumstances
attending the issue of pass to the Rev Mr.
Walter to attend Mrs. Surratt, 1 beg to state
that the facts in the case are as follows:
On the 9Th instant the Rev. Mr. Walter called
at the War Department and asked for pass to
visit Mrs. Surratt in the military prison. saw
ing, II am not mistaken, that she had expressed
desire to see him. submitted the request to
the Secretary OF War, who at once said that
pass might be given. Neither the Rev Mr..
Walter nor myself then knew of the approval
of the sentence Of the Military Commission in
the case Of Mrs. Surratt. / sent Mr. Walter
pass, but afterwards, fearing that the pass
signed by myself might not, under the circum-
the prison, in order that there might not be no
possibility OF disappointment in the admission
OF clergyman to afford the necessary spiritual
services, sent Mr.. Barry, clerk in my Office,
to see the Rev. Mr.-Walter, to tell him that it
would be better for him not to 60 on the pass
sent, but that / would again see the Secretary
OF War, and, as he had assented to the visit Of
the clergyman to the prisoner, would get pass
signed by himself. as otherwise there was q
possibility Of his being put to the trouble of
going to the prison without being enabled to
sign that Mr.. Barry should impress upon Rev
Mr.. Walter the necessity of good faith in the
use OF the pass when replaced.
After thus sending Mr.. Barry to Father WAL
ter, went to the Secretary of War and asked
his own signature to pass, as referred to
above. Upon his signing which said to him
that was confident the pass would be used
solely for the purpose for which it was asked
professional visit, TO administer the sacra.
ments, and to prepare the person to be visited
for death; Upon MI Barry's p1y messenger
the violent and excited language of Father
Walter with regard to the trial and its result,
which he (Mr Walterl it appears, had heard
after leaving the War Department.
On this i went mVSalf to the Rev Mr.
Walter, to caution him as his we'll wisher, and
as friend of the church, and in my private
capacity entirely. with regard to the use of
language so infiammatory that he had in.
dulged in at this, time OF great public excite.
ment. introduced the conversation by stating
that what he had said had made an impression
upon the mind OF my messenger, who had re-
peated his remarks to me. explained to him.
as have said above, that there might be a pos.
sibility Of his not getting into the prison upon
my pass, and that / had therefore asked the
Secretary of War for pass signed by himself
upon giving which ! had said that was con.
fdent that it would not be used for any other
purpose than that for which it was asked, and
/ wanted him, Mr.. Walter, to be SO governed
as that would be safe in the assertion had
made.
Mr.. Walter had displayed so much excite
ment and temper that it was duty of charity
on my part, in view Of all the circumstances,
to endeavor to induce him to pursue q more
discreet course, and to counsel him to be silent,
as became his place on these topics. 1 asked
him in a friendly and kindly way to promise
lie that he would desist from talking about
this matter. Mr.. Walters conviction as to the
the innocence of the prisoner, or the use of any
proper efforts believing her to be innocent 20
avert her execution, were not made matters of
objection 1t was to the infiamInatory charac-
ter and effect of his servations at this period
when the public mind was agitated that my
attention was directed. Unnecessary, idle and
angry discussions and harangues could not
Dut oe mlscmevous just at this moment, and
since it appeared that Mr.. Walter could not
approach the subject with temper and dis
ersnon, it was better he should let it alone.
lhls was confidential con versation between
mysel1 and Mr.. W alter; as has been seen, the
visit was not at all official, but entirely that of
a private individual. My motives were lauda-
chievOus discussions, and to insure the use of
the pass to be given in the faith intended when
it was signed, and then to make my assurance
good. The visit was not suggested by the Sec.
retary of War. or even known to him until the
present time.
On this point, after what l had said, L do
not see how Mr.. Walter could have under
stood me as prompted by instruct ons in my
conversation.
In replying to me, the Rev. Mr.. Walter was
very violent, and generally denunciatory. The
range of his conversation was quite wide. He
harangued upon the Administration and the
rebellion, and dwelt with bitterness upon what
bly, all he is represented In the fourth para
graph of the article in question as ha wing said,
and very much more than prudent priest
loyal citizen, or q man of common sense would
not have said.
During all this time was endeavoring to
counsel moderation, demonstrating against his
expressions. and enjoning prudence. 1 donot
know that sought to patronize the Rev Mr..
Walter at all, and the phrases which allude to
do not bring to my mind the recollection Of the
scene described.
l did not. tell Father Walter that he should
not have a pass if he did not promise to say
nothing of Mrs. Surratt's innocence. An
noyed by what he had said, was about, how
ever, to leave the room, and to defer giving
him the pass, remarking. 81 will send you
word as to the pass in two hours;;'' when he
said, II PROMISE
intended within the two hours to see the
Secretary OF War and say to him that l was
convinced after what had taken place, that
Father Walter was not In the proper dispo-
sition and frame of mind to be a suitable re-
ligious attendant upon the prisoner. and that
under the circumstances the services of another
priest should be procured for her instead, when
Mr.. Walter said that he promised. Satisfied
that he had determined to be governed by the
and believing that he would perform what he
had undertaken, gave him the pass. Nor did
/ when designed to withdraw from Father
w. without giving him the pass, by any means
intend that this act should have the effect to
deprive the prisoner OF the services of the
clergy Ny view on the contrary was that
some other priest should go In fact another
priest did 60 besides Mr.. Walter.
1t has been my fortune to be the means of
sending the clergy to attend many during this
war in need OF their services, and never threw
faith, visiting {; penitent, loyal or disIoyal,
living or dying, when his services We're called
for. could not see or know OF person OF my
own creed dying without giving any assistance
in my power to secure the attendance of a
priest.
With regard to the denial of passes to Mr.
Walter to visit the prisoner when ill, referred
10 in the last paragraph of the article in ques-
ton, Father W. stated to my messenger that he
had been requested by Mrs. Surratt, shortly
after she was arrested, and since, to visit her,
but that he had refused to do so, not wishing
to have his 'sname connected with it until the
trial was over"
did not seek to meddle with Mr.. Walters
convictions as to the innocence of Mrs. Surratt,
nor did attempt to restrain him from the use
of any proper efforts to bring his convictions to
notice in quarters where his representations
might be OF avail. So far from this, an hour or
two after the conversation referred, when he
called upon me at the War Department and told
me that he could not ger admittance, with the
daughter of the prisoner, to the Executive
Mansion, and asked for my assistance, gave
hi, 10 Aofi,, arxS SQHrofaTV