The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-14
THE ASSASSINATION.

The New York Tribune states that
oneof the prominent counsel engaged on
the late conspiracy trial, asserts positive
ly that spiritual attendants were denied
admission to Mrs. Surratt on the day of
execution until Secretary Stanton had
received from them a promise that they
would not, on the scaffold, proclaim their
belief in her innocence.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, July IL, 1865.
The Constitutional Union of this after
noon, publishes an affidavit of John p.
Brophy, who says he could have it prov.
| ed, il time We're allowed, that WEIGH
man is, and always was, a. coward, ac-
cording to the words of his father; that
since the trial closed he has admitted
that he was liar that short time be-
fore the assassination, Weichman, iutro
duced Atzerodt to him as particu lal
friend of his, and that the sans
day he and Atzerodt were riding
on Booth horses. Brophy saws he can
bring other and new witnesses to testify
to his intimacy with Atzerodt; that
since the trial Weichman told Brophy
that Mrs. Surratt wept bitterly at the
thought OF John going to Richmond,
and implored him to remain at home
and not bring trouble upon himself and
upon the family; that once, while some
men We're at the house, Mrs. Surratt
called John, her son, aside, and said to
him: John, 1 ara afraid there is some
thing going on. Why do these men
come here? Now, John, I do not feel
easy about iris, and you must tell me
what you are about" Brophy asked
Welchman if John told her, and WEIGH
man replied that John did not and would
not tell her. Since the close of the trial
Welchman offered to give Brophy let
teT 10 PRESIDENT johnson in Mrs. Sur
rats favor, provided Brophy would
Keep 1t a profound secret Brophy ask
ed Weichman to give him a similar let
ter to Judge Holt, and he replied: "No,
L will not write to him, because have
no confidence whatever in Holt.n Bro
ply further says that Weichman had
him summoned to testify to his charac-
ter, and afterward, remembering. as
Brophy. supposed, that his testimony
would injure him, begged him (Bropby1.
for about half an hour to leave the
court, and brought some of the sub-offi- |
GERS of the place to~u him to 90 so
that he (Brophy) Would not be placed
upon the witness stand. These and other
things were sworn to John P. Brophv
on the 18th inst.
The Constitutional Union further saws;
Gen. Hartranft ON Friday wrote in SUBJ
stance as follows to the President 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. He also
states that she had no knowledge what
ever 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 - |
A Washington correspondent of the
New York Tribune says:
'"When about to rise from her chair
Tor the purpose of being pinioned, Mrs.
Surratt inquired of her spiritual adviser
what she should say on the scaffoId, and
upon being answered, % nothing
what do you desire to say?' replied.
That am innocent"
Mrs. Douglas, the widow of the late
made two personal attempts to
obtain from the President reprieve for
Mrs. Surratt, but in each case was firm
ly but courteously denied.