The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-07-26
From the Wheeling Register.]
The Case of Mrs. snrratt--Afidavit
of Mr. john II. .EBroplly--The Com
fesSiOn of Payne--Its Truth En-
dOrsed by Gen. Martrauft.

feSSlOn Oh Payne--EtS Truth En-
dOrseSI by Gen. Wartrauft.
In our telegraphic column yesterday
the substance of an affidavit
made by Mr. John =. Brophy, discredit-
ing the testimony of Weichman, one of
the witnesses in the conspiracy trial.. who
boarded at Mrs. Surratt's house in Wash
ingtun, and whose testimony bore partic-
ularly on her case. The point of one
statement in the affidavit, to the effect
''that Weichman was always coward, ac-
eording to the words of his father was,
it appears, to indicate that he was fright
ened into giving the testimony he did
with the view of saving himself. A por-
ton Of Brophy's affidavit, which is dated
the 18th, the day of the execution, and
which was omitted in the telegram is as
follows:
THAT he (Weichman) told me since
this trial closed that he was arrested as
cons pirator and threatened with death un-
less he would reveal all about the assassi-
nation-they alleging that he (Weich-
NAM knew all about it.
'That he told me since the close of the
trial that the detective who had him in
charge in Canada, was offered twenty five
| thousand dollars to bring him (Weich
map) back safely to Washington; that he
stated to me since the trial closed that if
/ Captain Gleason had not informed on him
they would never have got word out OF
/ him concerning the assassination; that
since the trial closed he has admitted to
me that he was liar; that he swore to
! falsehood on the witness stand; that since
the trial closed he told me he would rather
be hooted at as a spy aud informcr, &C.,
and do anything than be tried as cQnspi-
rator, and have all his future hopes bias
ted; that ether very important facts in
/ Mrs. Surratt's favor can be brought to
light if time be allowed"
The Constitutional Union vouches for
Mr.. Brophy's lifelong character as being
without spot or blemish, and the notary
public, John F Callan, before whom the
affidavit was made, certifes that ''the affi-
ant is respectable citizen and worthy of
credit"
The Constitutional Union also has the
following:
THE CONFESSION OF LEWIS T. PAYNE AND
EXoNoRATIoN OF MRS. sURRATr.
| On Thursday afternoon, July 6, Rev.
B. +. Wiget, Rev. j. D. Walter, Mr. J ohm
4 p. Brophy, and Miss Anna Il. Surratt re-
: Iceived permission to visit Mrs. Mary E.
Il Surratt, at her cell in the pententiary, Mr.
Brophy, remembering that Payne had de-
clared Mrs. Surratt innocence all through
the trial, urged Father Wiget and Father
Walter to visit Payne and ask him wheth-
tnr sho ~ Nho, .
Payne, by permission, and he told them
openly that she was an innocent woman.
| Friday morning, Father Walter. sent
Mr. Brophy with letter to the PreSSent,
containing Payne's statement, and asking
that little time bc allowed Mrs. Surratt
to prove her innocence.
i Father Walters letter was endorsed by
Gen. Hartrauft, who has had the prison
ers in charge, and whose orders were to
carry cut the execution. Gen. Hartrauft
: wrote in substance as follows to the Pres
ident short time before the execution:
1.-The prisoner Payne has just told me
that Mrs. Surratt is entirely innocent OF
) the assassination of President Lincoln,
! and of any knowledge thereof lie also
states that she had no knowledge whatev-
er of the abduction plot, that nothing was
ever said to her about it, and that her
name was never mentioned by the parties
: connected Herewith.
: Al the close Of the letter which Gen
5 Hartrauft wrote to the President, be (tien
Hartrauft) said: 'I believe that Payre
/; has told the truth in this matter"
He ther signed his uame, rank, &C.,
and very kindly aud humanely furnished
;, Mr.. Brophy with two of his best horses
in order that he might arrive at the Pres.
idebt's in time for q reprievc. At the
White House Mr.. Brophy met Mrs. Dou-
) glas, who united her cxertions with those
5 of many other distinguished persons who
: had come to ask even a short respite for
woman whom they believed to be limo
cent. All efforts proved fruitless, how
ever. The President, Judge Holt and
Mr.. Seward, were inexorable. The woman
must die, and not minute should she
have beyond the appointed time.
MRS. sURRATT's LAST MOMENTS
So many contradictory and false ac-
counts have been published concerning
! Mrs. Surratt's last moments, that we feel
compelled TO furnish the public with a
true version. 70 all she declared herself
innocent. The parting of daughter and
mother was agonizing in the extreme. Mr.
Ilolchan next TOOK leave, and after him,
Mr.. Brophy babe her adieu. On the
scaffold she said to her spiritual attend
ants, "Sball | say anything2" Father
Walter asked: "What do you wish to say,
Mrs. Surratt?" She replied; II wish to
say to the people that am innocent. p
Father Walter told her it would be useless
to do so now. She said: 81 am innocent;
but Gods holy will be donel''
1 General Sherman on Politics.
General Sherman, in his late reception