New-York daily tribune., 1865-07-17
THE ASSASSINATION.
Secretary stanton and MIS-
Surratt.
Treatment of Her ConfessOr.
THE STATEMENT OF BR0PHY
WEICHMAM CCNTRADICTS IT.
WEICHMAM CcNTRADICTs IT
Special Dispatch to The N. Y. Tribun p

Special Dispatch to The N Y Tribun'.
WASHINGTON, Jnly l6 1865.
On the publication of the statement in IHB
TgpuNE few days ago that the Secretary of War had
nerfered with the attendance Of Mrs surrats spir'
ual adviser The Neo York Times and an obscure Pha
delphia journal took occasion. without any knowledge
of facts TO denounce il as malicious fabrication. The
suboined statement obtained from the very best
authority and neither Tie Times or the Secretary OF
War dare deny il.
On Thursday morning the 9th instant, the Rev.
Father Walter pastor Of St Pa.ricks Church in this
city went to the War Office ask for pass to visit
Mrs Surratt ignorant of the fact that she had already
been condemned TO suffer death the following day.
He had never previously visited Mrs. s, nor did he
know her except by reputation. On application he
was informed by Gen. Hardie \. A. G.. TO Sec. Stan
ton that he could give him pass without first con
sulting Mr. Stanton who out at the time. Father
Walter returned home, and at o'clock p. m on the
same day received pass to visit the prison. signed,
by order OF the Secretary of War, Gen. Hardie,
A. 4. G.
The messenger who brought the pass TO Father
Walter being an intelligent Irishman Father W. en-
tered into conversation with him the subject of the
execution, firmly asserting his belief in Mrs sairatts
Innocence In half or perhaps hour afterwsrd. Gen.
uAllStu lHt IVeiu'hNO' y. '"'"N. W"
ter. and after some irrelevant conversation, said.
Father Walter you made quite an impression on the
mind of II in regard to the execution of Mrs
Surratt." TO which Father ". 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 signed by the Secretary of War.
want you to make me promise to say nothing OF Mrs.
and I will rive the
pass"
Father Walter naturally indignant Immediately re-
fused 10 accede 10 Gen. HIS demand giving him TO
derstand in the painest kind Of language that no OIL
cia civil or military could enforce his silence on this
point and remarkng that he know under whose au'
thority be (Gen H. was acting Gen. Hardie-a con.
ver.ed Catholic by the way-then said patronzingy,
that as vet there were no charges lodged against hn
Father w. at tie War Department. which the latter
rejoned that he might tell his master Stanton that he
conscentiousy believed Mrs. Surratt gnte's that he
should proclaim bis belief and that the War Depart
ment might hang him if it thought propx
Gen Hardie was about TO 60 without giving Father
W. the PASS when the otter said: "Gen. Hardie !
cannot suffer Mrs Surra 10 die without administer
ing the sacrament; l say yes to your proposition
give me the pass Gen. Hsrdie then drew from his
pocket pass duly filed up and signed by Edwin NJ
Stanton admitting him, Father W., 10 to the prison
unit; after the execution
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 ill., but in every instance BIS appicn
tons were denied and up TO the very day before the
execution Mrs S. was deprived By the Secretary Of
War Of spiritual attendants.
BRoPHY AND HIS sTATEMENTs
The afidayits Of j. p. Brophy in regard TO
Weichman and the innoceney Of Mrs Surratt are new
70 the public, bu, not TO the JudgeAdvocntcs
of the late Military Commission They are made up
from Weichman's statements to Brophy just be
fore and since the trial Mr. Bropby is far beyond the
reach Of assault by the Government 1t may be also
stated that be called by the Government for one of
their own witnesses, but by Wechmans special inter
position he was not placed upon the stand. Mrs. sur
ratts counsel could not use him their witness be-
cause they were not allowed to recall Weinchman 10
lay the foundation for his impeachment by Bropby