The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-09-20
WAS MRS. sURRATT MANACLED
Mrs. sysisshelm has Something 10
- =. Say.

We copy the following communica-
gcn5r5m the New York Tribune OF the
l5thE,se
Ills mornings papers, on what pre-
tni to be the authority OF Governor
f,s tranft, stated that Mrs. Surratt was
III mauacled during her imprisonment
a tended the trial Of the conspirators
~ day. There was q railing the
St,le length of one end OF the room,
tut three feet from the wall, in which
81 a door leading, they said, TO the
3 ion. The prisoners sat in row, be-
4 "a this railing, Mrs. Surratt being
! ne hest to the door leading into the
lnre room at that side, and quite near
.llkt leading to the prison. | was given
~ chair in the aisle, just inside the
iI,or, and so near to Mrs. Surratt that
LII could easily have shaken
IihanGs with her over or through
EEhe railing. / sat there two
tRours, sometimes touching the railing
When the crowd pressing at the door
for entrance, induced me to move my
chair, so that part OF the time | was not
more than one foot from her. She
wore a heavy black dress, falling on
the floor around her feet, so that /
could not zee them, but every time she
moved them | heard chains cllnk. l
had, before that, lived fifteen years on
farm On which was saw mill, was
familiar with the sound OF chains, and
the difference between that OF a wagon
aud log chain. The sound was that Of
a log chain. 1t could not have been
male by anything but the
heavy Inks Of chain, and
that chain must have been fastened to
both her ankles. The sounds could
not have been made in any other way
The chains on her ankles must have
been heavy enough to prevent
her lifting her feet, Cor she
only slid them on the floor, one at q
time, for little change of posture
tShe seemed to avoid moving, so a!
not to attract attention TO the chain
for every time they clanked she blush
ed painfully, blushed SO that | could
see it through the heavy Grape veil SHIT
wore over her face. l sat until she wa
removed. She arose with difficulty
lleanirg on the arm of the officer, VIII
seemed TO be kind. She did not lit he
feet in moving to and through the door
but slid one at time, a little way,
think not further than that the heel o
| tn, forward foot came on a line will
| the toe of the other; but al
the time the liuks groun'
and clankad She could not NOV,
one foot an inch without making then
grind. Mrs. Surrait sat before or rath
er on one side OF her judges, chaire(
with links OF iron as heavy as those o
q Ice chain; and while she sat thus sh
was grossly insulted by spectators, mes
and women, or things that looked lik
men and women. Once she turned pal
when one OF these creatures said: :"
hope they'll hang her Jus! look a her
| She looks ike q devil" ! could no
bear it, but spoke out and said: "Sh
| does not look like a devil! She look
| like q good kind-hearted woman, ar
YOU are mean coward for insulting {
prisoner" A man, in rep ly, said to me
"She's Rebel" and | repeated, Cow
lard coward !!
| Mrs. Surratt looked up and cur eye
met. The expression OF her face vii
haunt me to the grave, and | thank Co
for the look of gratitude it wore; but, q
we were getting up quite side show
an officer forced his way to us, to se
what the matter was. L told him tina
people were insulting the prisoner
He made them stand back, move
my chair to the ether side of the aisle
aud set q man at the door, to keep orde
and prevent my holding communica'
ton with the prisoner. Mrs SCrratIl
chalrs were 4 common subject OF coz
versatjon in Washington at the time
| wrote an account. at the time, "hicl
was published and extensively Cop;ec
SGD commented upon, and this morn
NJ - the iirs. time have heard an,
denial OF tie tao! that Mrs Surrat
was ;ettcred as she sat YEARLY throug;
! tie long hours and days of that trial.
JANE G. Sw!SsHELM
p,---,rr-,, G.rt - 1874