The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-04-11
GENERAL SLOCUM On THE MURDER
OF MRS. SURRATT.

General II. W. Slocum. one of the
most distinguished brigade. division.
corps. and grand division commanders
of the war. recently delivered a lecture
in Brooklyn on events of the great
struggle. during the course OF which he
expressed the opinion, always held by
the Union. that Mrs. SuITatt was a muir
dered woman. He said:
Il am going to speak to You one word
about the execution of Mrs. SuTratt nj the
close of the war. for I think some good les
sons can be learned from the story of her
trial and death ] believe any people Situa-
ted as we are ought 10 be cautioned against
placing implicit confidence in evidence given
at a time of high excitement. / could stand
here tonight and relate to YOU fifty incidents
thatwOuld serve TO caution every body against
taking evidence against others when the
people were all IN state OF intense excite
. mpnt. There never was a daE, there never
was an hour. that | did not believe that Mrs.
Surratt was an innocent woman as there is
in this hall. Applause. She was the
keeper of a boarding house in Washington.
She boarded Mr. Wilkes Booth and half a
dozen other rebel SympathizerS. and she had
a son. John H. SuTratt Wilkes Booth was
guilty of shooting Mr.. Lincoln. and this poor
woman was brought to trial in connection
+ with Wilkes Booth. and through the excite
ment Of the times her neck was brought to
the halter. Her daughter young girl eigh-
teen or nineteen years of age. on the morning
.
and begged permission to say few words
+ to him i'm behalf Of her mother. and L :.
Senator from our own State, who acted as
door tender, repulSed her saying, NO, no,
/ yOu cannot go in Worse than that, mean
4 er than that, the poor girl three or four years
afterward married clerk in the Treasury
/ Department Nocharges were made against
him, but because this clerk had married the
daughter Of Mrs SurTatt ne was discharged.
. Let us brag OF our achievements. hut at the
same time let us learn to look our faults and
errors fairly and Squarely in the face and de-
knowlege them when we have cause to-
The murder Of Mrs. Surratt was the
most cruel and cowardly act ever com
mitted in a civilized country. Ii Is
curious and suggestive fact that Hll Who
were chiefly responsible for the eNecu-
tlDn of that innocent woman have felt
the unseen hand Of the Great AEpTger.
Stanton. Secretary of War Who WAS
perhaps the worst of the number. com
mitted suicide in fit of remorse, al
though the fact was sought 60 be con-
cealed. Preston King. the Senator from
New York who rppul~ed Annie ~urratt
at the Presidents door. i'm like manner
ended his own life hy deliberately Jump
ing from a ferry boat into the North
River at New York and drowned him
self. Andrew johnson. who signed the
death warrant and de-poticaily suspend
ed the writ of h0beuS corp,ts that had
been granted 10y the Court. was stricken
suddenly with death upon his return TO
the Senate after he had left the Presi-
dency. Judge Advocate Holt, who
conducted the prosecution. long ago dis
appeared from public view. and whether
dead or alive nobody knows and nobody
cares. And John \. Bingham. Who as
sisted Holt. was driven from Congress
i'm disgrace as one of the Credit Mobiiier
bribc takers. and sought refuge IN Japan.
where we believe he now is.-R0"hcStcr
Union.