Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-07-19
Secretary stanton and Mrs. Sur
ratt- Treatment of Her Comics

ratt-Ireatment OF AAer comes
sOr. ",
~ Especial dispatch to The My. Tribune.l
~ WASHINGTON, July 16, 1865. K
g5>, On the publication of the statement In
The Tribune a few days ago that the Secre-
tary of War had interfered with the attena
dance of Mrs. Surratt's, spiritual adviser,
The Nep York Times and an obscure Phila-
delphia journal took occasion, without any
knowlege of facts, to denounce it as a ma
licious fabrication. The subjOined state"
-ment was obtained from the very best an=
thority, and neither The Times or the Sec
retary OF War dare defyit. iAEII
On Thursday morning, the 9th inst, the
Rev. Father Walter, pastoro st. Patrick.s
Church, In this city, went to the War Of
flee to ask for . pass to visit Mrs. Sprratt,
ignerant'0f the fact thatsshe- had already
been condemned to suffer death on the fol-
lowing day. He bad never previously yis-
tied Mrs S., nor did he know her except by
reputation. Onapplication, hs was inform
ed by Gen. Hardie, A. A. G.. to Secretary
Stanton, that he could not give him a pass
| withoiit first consulting Mr.. Stanton, who
| was out at the time. Father Walter re-
turned home, and at I o'clock P. M. on the
same day reeeiveda pass tovisit the prison,
lsigned, by order of the Secretary of war,
Gen. Hardie, "A. G, a q A WiEf.MI
The messenger who brought the pass to
Father Walters being an Intelligent Irish
man, Father W.ientered into conversation
with him Oh the subject OF the eXecg top,
| firmly asserting his Belief in Mrs. Surratt's
innocence. In half, or perhaps an hour
atterward, Gen. Hardie himself called at the
residence of Father Walter, and after some
lirrelevapt conversation, said: "Father Wal
ter, you made quite an impression on the
| mind OF my MESSENGER IN Tegafdsto the ex-
ecution of Mrs. Surratt,p to which Father
| w. remarked that he was firmly impressed
with her entire, innocence. Gen. Hardie
then said: "Father Walter, the pass you
have will not admit you to the, military
| prison tomorrow, because it is not signed
by the Secretary of War, l want y9h to
make me. "A promise to say nothing OF Mrs.
| Surratt's innocence, and 4 wiltgiveyou the
necessary pass" S'"',32s ~. n'1i =, -y,. LIZ.
t. Father Walter, naturally indignant, i'm
! mediately refused to accede to Gen. HIsde-
mand, giving him to understand,s IN the
plainest kind of language, that no official
civil or military, could enforce his silence
\ on this point and remarking thai hesk knew
| Under whose authority he tGen. H.) was
| acting. Gen. Hardie--a converted Catholic,
/ BY the way--then said, patronizingly, that
as yet there were no charges lodged against
him., Father W, at the War Department,
to which, the latter fejoined that he might
tell his master, Stanton, that he conscienti-
ously believed Mrs. Surratt guiltless; that
he should proclaim his belief and that the
War. Department might hang him If it
thought proper. ssroIiT 93YGX
Gen. Hardie was about to go without
giving Father w the pass, when the latter
said:C C"Gen. Hardie,o i cannot suffer Mrs
Surratt to die without administering the
sacrament; say yes to your proposition;
give me the pass" Gen. Hardie then drew
from his pocketa pass duly filled up and
signed by Edwin NJ. Station, admitting him
| Father W., to the prison until after. the eX-
ecution. 81 t'tlH .tliA tLlNiBM NJ
Previous to, the removal of Mrs, .Surratt
| from the Carroll to the Military Prison
Father w had made application to the War
Office for pass to visit her, she being very
i'll, but inievery instance his applications
were denied, and up to the very day before
the execution, Mrs, S. was deprived by the
Secretary OF War Of spiritual attendants.
5r,- BRoPHY AND HIS sTATEMENTs.
The affidavits of j. p. Brophy in regard
to, Weichman and the innoceHcy of Mrs
Surratt, are new to the public, but not SC
new to the Judge-Advocates OF the late Mill
ltafy Commission. They are made up from
Weiehman's ewn statements to Brophyijust
before and since the trial. Mr.. Brophy is
far beyond the reach of assault by the Gov
ernment. It.may be also stated that he was
called by the Government for one of their
own witnesses, but by Weichman's special
interposition he was not placed upon the
! stand. Mrs. Surratt's counsel could not use
himlas their witness, because they were not
| allowed to recall Weichman to lay the foun-
dation for his impeachment by Brophy.