The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-17
GEN. HANCOCK AND MRS. SURRATT
A Complete Rafutatlon Of tho Statement Re-
Gently Made IN an indianapolis
Newspaper.
Washington Post.

washington Posf.i
A late issue or the Indianapolis Journal con-
tainrd what purported to he MI interview ba-
tween IT. New York correspondent and
Roman Catholic priest, In which tho latter
stated That should Cen. Hancock be nomt-
mated by the Democrats for the Presidency.
the Catholic voters of thH country would re-
fuse to support him ON account uf his instru-
mentality IN the hanging n Mrs. Snrratt.
An extract from this we copied, principally,
for the reason that wn desired to bring the
statement therein Contained to tha attention
or Catholics here ID Washington, and obtain
from them some authoritative statement as To
their truth or falstty,
We print this morning communications
from three wellnformed parties. The first
IL from a lady who was present IN Washing
ton at tho time Of the hanging OF Mrs, Sur
ratt, and ls thoroughly conversant with every
detail In the case. She says.
To the Editor Of ths Post =
| La your ssue of this morning yon give m
extrhc from the lndtannpols Journal. which
SUBSTANTIALLY states that some Qa,hole priest IN
| au intet view with n reporter of thnt paper has
enid that Gnn Hancock could never, b. nomi-
| mated by tho Democrns for the Presidency be-
| cause ,f his acli"n in tho execution OF Mts
hurrntt llo hanged nor without cause, and
refused Yer religious consolation . n an her last LAST
| her imm, dinte cuetodY. aud he absolutely re-
fused ~ lel her $50 her Clergyman. or any
| ctsrg mnn of her church. after she WIS son
4 tepra1 Hs did nll hn could to send tbs woman
4 to he'll hul doubt her earnest rt1usst for
clergy WAS passed to her cr.Lr in ne NJ books
1 beyond the sky" In contradiction of the above
i please state thn Fft- Surrntt In her last hours
| was allowed III Thu consolation her faith could
/ fail bv Fathars Walter anh Wiggst. Or thia CITY.
/ No priest over mnae an assertion 70 @ ths Y ~ con
| trnry. OAIHOLlO.
Tho second is from Father Walter, ono OF
| tho priests who ot1iciated On tho sea fold dur
| lug tho execution. and Ia as follows:
To tho Editor Of the Post:
,foI
| from Tho luannapsis IoH1nai. III reference TO
4 G3n. Hancock aud to Mc ca. Surratts execution.
Ia net true Az attended Mrs. surfatt On that
I sad occasion. / eau positively assert that Gen.
truth aid Justice 10 Den. Hancock compel me
70 make this statement Yours truly. rrn
Pastor Of st. Patrlck's Church.
The third Ia letter which we clip from the
New York Sun, which It seems also copied the
.fou7nt article.
TO tho Editor Of the Sun:
| Great iniuatns IA hOas Con. Hancock by the
extract you pnhlish this morning from w ,s n.'
He priest. who II wholly misinlurmeh. Gen
Hancock was In command of 2 department 81
the army headquarters at Washington. ut the
time OF tho execution of Mrs. knrratt but had
no more to do with the trial and sentence and
execution OF 'hnt unfortunnte lniy than tno
fraudulent occupant Of tho White House. Hurt
rant. ihe late Republican Governor nf Penn
sylvania and nt present an otllee- holder, m be-
ltpyp
fraudulent administration. was tho hangman
OF that poor woman and II he facts be true. as
related ut the time, of ~ deportment on that
day before The execution Of Mrs Surratt. for the
execution followed speedily hor sentence. an
officer Of high rank iu the army On duty 4it ''i,'
gentleman tMrR. SnrtMtGs conf fesan /, u 40
persisted Ia proclairning her !ut.oeenge. he
would not ba admitted ~ th' nrison nna a ,loWIa WI
II th,s officer Il Yet alive The was u Catholic.
} regret 10 snyl, he has not forgotten the rebuke
the priest aimi inistered to him. ~ he refused 70
obey the baGests OF tho War department. Con
Hancock, under orders from the War Depart.
ment. refused 70 obey the writ OF hdbans corpus
Issued by that eminent Jurtst-who did not 20,
lieve the voice Of the law should be unhehrd
amid the clash of arms Judge Andrew Wylio
or tho Suprame Court district nf Columbia
Had the writ been obeyed. 1t IL thought Mrs
burrntt would have baen saved and tho baek
est page III American history boon unWrltten
81 confidently da Con Hancock. aa others Wtt
were informed or this nIorts brinG made sXpec
a pardon or repriove, that relays of cnyalrS M
We're stationed at intervals between 1ha "hlt'
House and the place Of execution How II psr
don was prevented viii be told IN ,he future
A ROMAN CATHOLIC.
Such substantial testimony In contradlc
tinn OF the calulnniea In the Jour1,Gi inter
view OF course disposes OF the matter. lhf
Catholic priest referred to Is represented ;tF
stating that Gen. Hancock absolutely refused
to lot Mrs. Surratt soc her Clergyman or any
Or the clergy of hCr church after she was sen
fenced. Now right here rises Father Walter
who performed for her the last religious ger
Vices of the Church, and says he was IN al
most constant attendance upon her during
her last hours, and In tho performance or ms
sacred duties met With To obstruction on the
part of tho immediate authorities.
The most charitable construction we can
but upon the whole business is that tho La.
ferview In the Journal was Imaginary, Sure
ly no priest would 50 far forget his calling ae
To indulge III scurrilous abuse OF distin
Ruishcd soldier and statesman, basing the
same upon statements which he knew to be
false
Affairs on the Lower Rio GrRnde.
[San Antonio Herald