Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-07-06
Sllrratt.

sa The au thoritics seem determined,
q, mpdcfancc Of the provcrb, to find II
worse use for man than that of
hanging him. Again the trial is
delayed; this time for the illness Of
the Judge. The conviction is set
thing down upon the public mind
that he will be in some manner lot
off. If the Booth diary is true, he
cannot he convicted of murder; and
true or false, he ought to have his
trial at once. There comes to US
almost mdoubtcd information that
an effort, and a strong one at that,
is being made to induce him, in the
language of felons, "to squall. -
That is to say, save his neck by ex-
posing his confederatos. A New
York Herald correspondent says that
his counsel are defending him, that
their real clients may be saved from
exposure and that he has been Of
fercd, both through his sister and
through his priest, Father Walters,
immunity from all that is past, if he
will bctray his companions. What
he replied to the priest is not known
hut this statement is made of his
interview with his sister:
On the 20th ult., the day after
Surratt was brought to court for
trial, he was visited by his sister,
who found him in a detected and
lachrymose condition, and to whom
be complained, as he also did later
in the day to DR.. Duhamel, Prison
Physician, of being i'll. His sister
observed to him that he should not
allow so trihing delay (roferring
TO the postponcment of his triaD to
affect him so sorely, especially as the
prosecution, in not being ready, had
betrayed the weakness oftheir case.
Surratt replied that it was not the
delay he cared about, but that he
did not like the appearance of affairs
ut court, that he feared his counsel
wero not, in reality, SO confident as
they would have him believe, and
that instead Of seeing in tho failure
OF the government To be ready a
sign Of weakness, he regarded it as
IN indication of careful preparation,
and q determination to move heav-
en- and earth to secure his convic-
ton. Miss Surratt responded that
if he beloved his counsel were de-
cciving him and feeding him on
false hopes, it was not too late for
him TO embrace the opportunity
that had been offered him to save
himself, and that she would, if he
desired, 60 at once to General Ash
icy or General Butler. Surratt
ncrybus!y rejoined, "No, no-not
now" and after a moments pause
continued, 81 know not what to do
but You know, Annie, you know We
rywell that neither of my counsel
would, if they knew / would be con-
victed, give any less encouragement
than they now do. Some of my pre-
tendcd friends don't care q cent
what becomes of me so they can
chain my tongue" Before the in
terview closed Surratt directed his
sister to see Father Walters at once
and request him to call as soon as
possible; and during the afternoon
of the same day the miserable man
was visited alike by his legal, medi-
ical and spiritual advisers. But it
is quite manifest that neither the
briefs of the lawyers, the nostrums
ofthe doctor, nor the prayers of the
priest have restored his confidence,
strengthened his nerves, or inspired
him with resignation. :.
Desirable as it is that Surratt
should disclose all he knows about
the conspiracy which ended in the
murder of Abraham Lincoln, it is
not worth the while Of the govern
ment 10 obtain. the information in
any other than strictly honorable
and upright manner. We would
much rather go without the knowl-
edge than have it bought as the
British Government has bought
Fcnian testimony. Neither the con-
viction nor acquittal of Surratt
could be sufficient inducement for
The government TO do an equivocal