Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-17
CASE OF MRS. sURRATT.

The Statement of nIr. Weichmann-Who
is John p. Brophy-His Affidavit Re.
futed.
The following card from Louis J. WEIGH
mann. who was a Government witness on the
trial of the Washington conspirators, says the
Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch, explains itself.
1t has been brought forth in consequence of the
attacks upon Mr.. Weichmann's character
made since the execution in Secession journals
which sympathiZed with the murderers of the
President. There are some matters in this
statement in relation to Mrs. Surratt's conduc
which are important corroborations of the
evidence publicly given against her, and
which show that her punishment was Just.
PHILADELPHIA, July Is, 1865.
TO the Editors Of the Sunday Dispatch:
Will you favor me by the following state
ment in your valuable paperl
Mrs. Surratt is dead, and what now have
to say can do her nd harm. There was 4 time
when none had more respect for her than l.
When living 1 did everything for her that
was in my power. / testified to her character
nobly. I plead for her day after day with
those in authority that they might spare her
life because she was woman, and because she
Government knows best, and must make a
dread example to terrify all enemies TO free
Government.
Yet after all this, an attempt has been made
sy Sns sropn 70
sympathiZers with guilt, deem it necessary
to present the following to the public. Let them
Judge and decide fairly.
am, sirs, very respectfully, yonr obd't ser't,
q. LOUIS J. WEICHMANN.
Mr.. Weichmann's Statement.
The affidavit of John p. BrOphy, of Washing
ton, to the public, instead Of being to me a mat
ter Of surprise and anger, has been one almost
of daily expectation Toprove its utter worth.
lessness, 1t is merely necessary to state that it
was twice submitted to Judge Holt and once
to all the members of the court, and to Presi-
dent Johnson himself, before the execution of
Mrs Surratt, and that it had no effect whatey-
No1 Ptlrn inns han hadr fho
almost ten days before the trial was closed
They had been sent to him by some one who
was afraid to affix his signature thereto. /
laughed at them then, since they were ridicu-
lous; and noW pronounce the statement,so ex-
tensively copied in various papers, 4 tissue of
lies from beginning to end. 1tpuZzles me much
to know why these mOnstrous charges We're
not brought out ON the witness stand by the
learned counsel, Aiken, and his worthy asso-
ciate, Clampitt, who are in close communion
with Brophy. The case had not been closed
when read them. was then, and am now,
prepared to answer all such charges.
Brophy himself was summoned twice, on ce
but according to his own wishes he never ap-
peared on the stand. / had him and a dozen
reliable, gentlemanly witnesses, called to prove
my character, against which he dare not say
one word
1t was only after very fearful protestation
on his part that 'shis poor old mother would
cry herself to death if she saw his name in the
papers in connection with this trial." that
nett to release him, and he at once acceded to
his wishes.
Brophy's s.poor old mother had, consequent
ly, no reason to shed tears.
l never visited President Johnson, never
wrote a letter to him, and don't believe that
Mrs Surratt was an innocent woman The
expression about Judge Holt is an infamous
lie. Brophy accuses me of disloyalty. l
would here say that no person throughout the
whole trial had his good character SO fully
vouched for as have 1t is beyond reproach.
either regards loyalty, veracity or morality.
Brophy had better clear his own shoes first
He is an alien, mas never been nat1raliZed- and
has not taken the oath of allegiance to the Gov
ernment, which he attempts to assail in the
person of its chief witness.
A very prevalent rumOr, too. has gained
ground that i was placed in irons and NAL
treated and threatened by the Secretary
of War. This is another error. The War De-
partment had all the information which pos
sessed on the morning of the 10th of April. It
was given freely and without compulsion The
Government, too, furnished me with money
and transportation to 60 to Canada in pursuit
Of John H. Surratt.
Throughout the trial the treatment which
experienced at the hands of the Secretary Of
War, Judges Holt, Burnett and Bingham, and
the members of the court, was very marked in.
deed and courteous.
AS regards my testimony, have nothing to
regret. Conscious OF my integrity and my de-
sire to do right to all, stand to-day in the pure
light Of heaven without one sin on my soul TO