Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-10-08
E1-President Johnson and Mrs. Surratt,

New York Herald reporter had the other
day an interview with ex-Presdent johnson,
at Jonesboro', Tenn, in which the ex PRESS
dent explained his action in Mrs. Sur1att's
case Says the correspondent:
Speaking to ex>President johnson this
evening, after the meeting was over. I asked
him,
GLOW do you intend to meet this clamor
lin Western Tennessee about your action in
Mrs. Surratt's case 2"
81 have no fear of that clamor: if there
are people still so ignorant as to believe T
compassed or am in any way responsible for
the death of Mrs. Surratt, leave them W here
they are.'
''What is the exact fact, Mr.. johnson.
about Annie Surratt's attempt to reach YOU
at the White House, and being repused eth.
er through your order or by the order of
Preston King 2"
81 never knew until after Mrs. Surratt had
been executed that her daughter had been
seeking to see me. Preston King had moth
Ing to do with repulsing her. There was n
fellow named Mazzy-! think he is in Wash>
ington still-tacked himself on to me at the
:" h'te House in some way or other, andSfind
irg this girl looking in a frantic way for me
fused her admission. OF this T knew moth.
ing until some time after. Now as to the
case OF Mrs. Surratt: Mr. Lincoln, as Won
may know. was assassinated at a time when
lie was commander-in- chief of the armies and
martial law prevailed in the District. The
opinion of the Attorney General was taken
as to the mode of trial for the conspirators
and he decided that they were liable to the
jurisdiction of military commission. Thev
had fuil and fair trial, and all four alike
we're found guilty. How was to know that
Mrs. Sn"ratt was innocent All I could do
woutd be to pardon her. Could I pardon her
without pardoning the rest, where there was
nothing bnt sympathy for her sex to Justify
1t! AS for the Surrat clamor. shall NEE,
and answer it wherever it comes up."
The Washington Star gives the following
as Gen. Musscy's version of the matter:
He says the Presi3en. Informed him that
ne wonld he engaged looking over the papcrs
with Mr.. Holt relating to the court martial
and could not be seen. at the Termination
OF the interview he informed Gen. Mussev
that The whole matter was settled, and that
all persons desiring to see him or give anv
new information mnst he referred to Mr.. Holt.
1t is alleged by Gen. Mnssey that actin q
.rstt see the President. though he believes Mr.
johnson must have known of her presence at
the White House from the fact that Mrs
Douslass (now Mrs. Williams) was interced
ing fer Mrs. Surratt and was intimate with the
Presidents daughters. The President. after
the announcement by the telegraph through,
out the country that the verdict of the COM
mission would be executed, received many
dispatches, Que Of which was an appeal for
cteuency, with an argument that the military
trlhuua! was unconstitutional. Gen. Mussev
read the dispatch to the President, who at
this point remarked, "Oh, that point has all
ready been settled" Gen. Mussey supposed
On FRIDAY morning the day of the execution,
that the Presa would reprieve some Of the
prisoners, and kept horse and carriage ready
at the door to drive to the armory until after
the execution, when the President informed
HIM, he was only waiting to inform his Cabs
net OF the intended executions, and as no suy
geStions were made he did not feel disnosed
to postpone it.