The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-09-23


ed if you would publish the following arts
Gle from the Washington Cnioa, in your
2ext issue, SO as to let the readers Of your
paper, and the people of the 10th District
know that Ben. Butler was right in his a, =
sertion when he called your townsman,
John A. Bingham, the murderer of Mrs.
Surratt.
TRUTH.
Mrs Surratt's Case.
That was rather an effect nal reply made
by Hon. John A. Brigham to Corp, r.
head who called out to him while address,
ing Republican meeting at Bangor. How
about Mrs. Surratt?' Mr.. Bingham's in
slant response WAS. How about heri Go
and consult the records of the court that
convicted her. Go and ask Gen. Hancock,
who issued the order for her execution in
spite OF writ OF habeas corpus which had
been served upon him; and, If you are still
unsatisfed, go and ask that .apostste Presi-
d 1t, Andrew johnson, who refused her
pardon afcr petition had been sent him
signed ty every member but one of the
court who tried her, and drawn up in the
handwriting of the man you seek to insult"
This is one of the richest things yet. The
Chronicle and the Republican both give it
conspic US places.
We happen to know something about the
affair. Gen. Hancock was the Military
Commanjant of the Department of Wash
ington at the time of Mary E. Surratt's
execution, and he simply carried into effect
the Military orders of his superior officers.
He did not issue an 20 der for her execu>
tion, and Jnu, A. Bingham knows it. The
writ OF hd6eds corpus was served upon Cen
eral Hancock to produce the body of Mrs.
Suiratt in Court, and if he could have had
his wy at that time, he would have obeyed
it, but John A Bingham, thirsting for in
nocent blood, assisted in framing excuses
why the order OF the writ should not be
obeyed.
After the case was closed and the argu-
ment of the counsel submitted, the Court
meet to deliberate and make its findings. A
majority Of the Court were in doubt as to
Mrs. Sutratt's guilt and so expressed them
selves. At this juncturc John A. Bingham,
in the absence of her counsel, re-argaei the
case in violent manner, and did her the
most fragrant injustice by her bold misstate-
ment OF the evidence, aud it was only after
a long brow>beating process that the final
decision in her case was reached. 1t was at
this point that the communication of her sen>
tence, not for her pardon" was drawn up
and signed by many members of the Court,
General Hunter at the head 1t there was
no doubt about her guilt, why this hasty
action on the part OF the Court to secure
reversal OF her sentence?
Mary E. Surratt would never have been
hung for the unwaIrantable and illegal in
reference of John A. Bingham after the
case had been closed, and in the absence of
her counsel.
|. is no answer to this charge to say that
MIR. Bingham, as assistant Judge Advocate,
was a member of the Court and had a right
to be present at the findings The law
permitted General Holt to be present and
only he; but even General + Fot would have
had no right to re-aryue the case. 1t is
due to President johnson to say that he
never saw nor heard Of this petition until
long alter Mrs. Surratt was in the reposa
Of her wicked and unchristian burial, and
the matter was kept as a secret from her
counsel until after el ccutioD. But this il
not all, and perhaps this is not the time
either to tell the sad and bloody story Of
her personal sufferings during her incarcer-
alton, but John A. Bingham in attempt,
hs to bolster up the failing fortunes of the
Radical House has overstepped the mark.
Mary Il. Surratt was arrested in April
when the weather was cool, and while she
was yet dressed in her winter clothing.
She was confined in an inner cell of the Ar
seual the dimensions of which were about
seven feet long and three wide, 1t had a
store floor stone walls and an IRON grated
door, Its only furniture consisted OF a We
ry thin mattress, an army blanket, and an
old pail. She had neither washing uten-
sils nor chair to sit in, nor single COM
fort for her toilet and dress. A year or So
previous to her incarceration she had been
cured of serious private malady. She had
been sitting on the cold floor but for three
Or four days when it was brought on again
with redoubled violence. The pains in Ter
back and hips were Of the most fearful des
,cription. and at night time they penetrated
her chest, and with the damp chilling ,tmos-
phere of her prson>house seemed almost to
nsnced her real martyrdom in the addi-
lge, which continued up to the day of her
most foul and damning murder, and FROM
which she was rapidly sinking III peaceful
10 her at twelve o'clock on the sixth of Ju-
", 1865, to be ready to mount the scaffold,
between the hours of one and two O'Clock,
1n the 7th of July, 1865.
In condition related above, Mary II.
Surratt was confined in that cell for nearly
i've weeks, and up to within few days of
her trial. After visit by more humane
physician that she had had, and after Gen
.ral Hartmuit, commandant of the prison,
had told the Court that he would not be
rssponibe for her life another night she
was taken out OF the cell change Of clothing
allowed and in one of the witness rooms sho
was nut to bed, and her devoted daughter
was allowed to remain with her. All this
line she was brntally treated in her food
aud diet. We have not the space for the
details, but could give them. During the
trial her position was in the hottest part Of
the ROOM The heat was intense. She
wore all the time her thick, heavy, winter
C othes. Her poor back became one literal
bore from the effect of the heat, perspira,
tim, and lack OF opportunity to bathe.
John A. Bingham knew all this and
much more, yet he never di. anything to
ameliuratc her sufferings, or relax the rigor
of her refinement, and it was as much as a
man 5 life was worth to suggest anything
of the kind Tho weight Of the infany 81
this wrong and outrage rests upon Radical
shoulders and the Attorney General, Mr..
Eyarts, with an irony as keenly pointed as
the style Of death. has shown how Butler,
the most finely polished political mi,creant
IN tho land, conpsimented brother Rad
icol az Mrs. Surratts murderer. We
trust the Bangor papers win notice these
lacts a. an answer 10 Binghan,'s 'effectnal
reply' to thr inquiry OF the Bangor cops
nerhead" The ,nan who openeda very
sore wound in Radicalisln at Radical
meeting. - Washington LInoa.
A