, 1878-07-06
The Lincoln Tragedy.

Benn Pitman, the well-known
photographer, Of New York
has been interviewed hy a Her.
ald reporter as to his personal
knowledge concerning the trial
and execution Of Mrs. Surratt
for the assassination Of Abra-
ham Lincoln, with the following
result:
Mr.. Pitman asserted the inno-
cence OF Mrs. Surratt and said
the grave blunders which grew
out Of the assassination trial
were due to the theory Mr..
Stanton entertained, that Booth
was the active instrument in a
great conspiracy, the dictatory
power of which was the Confed-
crate government. Mrs. Sur
ratt was hanged for completely
n the assassination plot, of
she was entirely ignorant, al
though she was aware Of the
previous plots to abduct the
President and take hlm to Rich
mond. The only direct testi-
mony that seemed to implicate
her was that of the drunken,
unreliable witness. LLOYD, who
kept the tavern at Surrattsville.
Her previous life and history,
the testimony of those who knew
her well, and Catholic priests of
known problty and honor, all
went to show her utter incapac-
ity to engage IN SO diabolical a
plot.
The testimony went to show
that the assassination of Lincoln
was a sudden resolution of Booth
on finding that the President
was to visit the theater that
night, and the hasty conspiracy
hatchcd up with Payne, Atzer-
out and Herold, was confined eX-
clusively to their knowledge
and participation. The fact is
that Mr.. Stanton, Judge Advo-
cate Holt, Bingham and Burnett
and other officers Of the govern
ment engaged in the prosecu-
ton were somewhat unbalanced
by the imagined greatness of IA
conspiracy which did not exist.
Nothing but such belief would
justify the treatment to'which
the prisoners were sui jected.
The trial for the first two weeks
was conducted in secret, and the
prisoners-Herold, Payne, Atz
erout and two others - were
masked in close fitting helmet
like white cap which just left a
breathing hole for the mouth
and nostrils. They were besides
manacled at the wrists and anE.
les, and to the latter were at
tached a heavy ball and chain.
Mrs. Surratt was not thus mask
ed, but she was manacled at the
feet throughout the trial. The
masks were removed when the
trial became public.
The recommendation TO mer-
cy for Mrs. Surratt, signed by
members of the Court in secret
session, Andrew Johnson af-
tirmed he never saw, and the eff
forts Of Miss Anna Il. Surratt to
see President johnson in behalf
Of her unfortunate mother were
somehow cruelty frustrated. An
innocent matron was hanged,
and history is dumb as to who is
responsible for the irreparable
wrong.
How Judge kldder Opened the
Black Hills.
The Washington correspondent Of
a Minnesota paper furnishes the fol-
lowing:
This important legislation being car
ried through 10 an appropriation bill,
reminds me of an incident which occur
red in connection with an appropria'
tion bill which passed the first session
of the Forty fourth congress. The
whole country about that time seemed
eager to reach the Black Hills in search
of gold. Under our treaties with the
Indians the white men had no busines:
there. There was no time to get bil
through in the ordinary way, or in any
other, to obtain the necessary legisla-
ton to negotiate with the Indians fol
the coveted country. Guy. kidde
went to Grant. who was then presiden
and asked him if there was no possible
: way for him to exercise his executive
authority to get the country thrown
open to settlement. Grant knew of n,
way, but strongly hinted to Kidder tha
if he conld get him authority to appoin
commissioners to negotiate with tn
Indians, and money enough to pa