Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-22
Mi LINCOLN TRAGEDY.

GlACINNATI, June 1o, loto.-ben mt
man, the we'll known photographer, Of
this city, was interviewed today as to
his personal knowledge concerning the
trial and execution of Mrs. Surrstt for
the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
His attention vas ltst called to the state.
ment of Mr.. John 7. Ford, the theAtri-
cal manager, relative TO the innocence
Of Mrs. Snrratt, and, 10 answer TO the
Herald correspondence questions, Mr..
Pitmsn communicated the following in
formation. He said that he vas the off.
ciaI reporter for the United States gov
eminent 10 the assassination trial, the
Sons Of Liberty Investigation and the
congressional inquiries into the New
Orleans and Memphis riots, and subse.
quently Of the K1-Klux trials, all Of
which gave him q peculiar Insight into
the yet unwritten history Of those mo-
mentous events. II have no doubt
said Mr.. Pitlan, "of the correctness OF
Mr.. Ford's statement Of Mrs. sgrrgttg
Innocence; the grave hluoders which
grew out of the assassination trial we're
due to the theory Mr. Stanton entertain
ed, that Booth was the active instrument
in q great conspiracy, the dictatory pow
eE Of WHICH was the rebel government.
Mrs. Surratt vss hanged for completely
in the assassination plot, Of which she
was entirely ignorant, and poor Spangler
was sent to the Dry Tortugas because a
long rope was found in his carpet-sack,
With which Il wss supposed Mr., Lincoln
was to be bound, when in fact no other
use was to be made Of it than the catch.
ing of crabs. Spsngler had simply
borrowed the rope from Ford'7 Thea
ter for that purpose.
MRS. sURRATT NOT GUILTY.
twas not until after my return FROM
Washington, With sll the testimony o.
the 450 witnesses at the trial and ny
compilation in narrative form Of the
facts testified to by those witnesses, that
| pane to the conviction hat Mrs. Sur
raft, though avsEe Of previous plots to
abduct the President and take him To
Richmond, was entirely uninformed Of
the sudden resolve of Booth to kill him.
The only direct testimony hat seemed
TO implloGte her was that Of the drunken,
unreliable witness, Lloyd, Who kept the
tavern at surrattsville. Her previous
lite and history, the testimony Of those
who knees her we'll, and Catholic priests
of known probity and honor, all vent to
show her utter incspacity to engage 10 90
diabolicsl q plot.
WHAT h TESTIMONY SHOWED.
The testimony went to show that the
assassination Of Lincoln vas q sudden
resolution Of Booth on finding that the
President would visit the theater thaI
night, and the hssty conspiracy hatehed
up With Payne, Atzerodt and herold
was confined exclusively to their knowl
edge and participation. The fact IS that
Mr.. Stanton, Judge Advocate Holt, Biug
ham and Burnett and other officers o.
the government engaged in the prosecu
ton we're somewhat unbalanced by the
imagined greatness Of o conspiracy
which did not exist. Nothing but sach {
belief would Justify the treatment Il
which the prisoners we're subjected.
A SECRET TRIAL.
The trial for the first two weeks VA
conducted in secret, and the prisoners
Hereld, Payne, AtEeradb epa tbinl
TWO others-were masked in a close 1T
ting helmet like cap which just left /,
breathing hole for the mouth and %nostrils
They we're besides mapaclsd OF the wrist
aud ankles, aud TO the istteT we're at.
tached 3 heavy ball and chain. Mrs. Sur
raft was not thus masked, but she wa
manacled at the feet throughout the trial
The masks were removed when the tsis.
became public, after the expiration o
two weeks. when admission was obtaiRer
TO the court only ~ the personal sanc
ton Of General Hunter BY card.
STANTON A DEsPoT.
CoFrespondent-Do you think the GOV
eminent ssuctione I this severity toWarr
the ~prisoners7
Mr., Pitmsn-Mr. Stanton was th
government at that time. he was a ma
/, for whom still entertain a profound ad
mirationi q man Of the Cromwell type
strong but unieeling, and who, TO obtaiI
a desired end, would, 10 an emergency
play desPo.- strangely out Of place VI
der a Republican form Of government
For instance, vhet should be more sscre
than the private correspondence of
citizen committed to the public nall
yet by Mr., Stanton's orders | assisted +
open hundreds Of letters that passe
!, through the general postoflce at Vast
ington, Just alter the assassination, whe
every letter addressed TO Canada wa
thus stopped. Ar. Stanton justification
Was that the ageuts Of Jefferson Dayi
who were then in Canada we're the inst
gators Of the ASSASSINATION plot. Th
letters opened 10 detect these suppose
Vaccinations ted to very agrious result
IN revealing other matters not direotl
, sought for. and many a brilliant caree
OF army officer aud politician val stult
lied by these revelations. which the
little suspected would eyer be soen by tb
powerful war minister.
AN INEoOEK7 NATRoN HANGED.
+ The recommendation to mercy 70
Mrs. surtatt, signed by members Of th
court 40 secret session, Andrew JohEso
: Alarmed he nsger saw, and the efforts {
1 Miss Anna y SurrAtt 10 see Preside1
. johnson in behalf Of her unfortpnsi
, mother were somehow cruelty frustrated
al innocent matron was banged, an
= history Is dumb as TO who is rcspoi
sI5le for the irreparable wrong. Franti
enorts we're made TO connect John 81
! raft with the assassination plot; but, 70
tunately for him they we're unsuccessful
-R
Among bis otter accomplishments Ii
= Prince Of Wales is able 10 play a pos