Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-01-15

his companions, he ordered the arrest
of Mrs. Surratt, and secured and dos
troyed his written promise (then on
file in the War Department., Of protec-
tion to tho Surratt family, both OF
which orders were carried out by Col.
Lafayette G. Baker, the detective OF
the War Department at that time.
Mrs. Surratt was dragged from her
homo by Bakers men, and hooded and
ironcd, and thrown into o cell in the
old Penitentiary at the arsenal grounds.
She was denied counsel, and every tor
turc, mental and physical, that human
brutes could invent, was this poor wo-
man made to suffer. .tub.ta.
Edwin NJ. Stanton knew that Mary
Il. Surratt was innocent. My infor-
mant went TO him, reminded him Of his
promise, and vouched for the innocence
OF this lady. Stanton had the most
implicit confidence in him. My friend
appealed to the Secretary to spare the
innocent woman and not have her
murdered, but to all his appeals this
man OF iron turned deaf car, and on
ly said, "Policy demands her death"
When Mrs. Surratt was on trial before
q military court-martial, trial unex-
ampled in American history, my infor-
mant again went to Stanton and ask
ed that he should be allowed to testify
in her behalf; but his request was not
granted and he was powerless to as
sist her. He again went to Mr.. Stan.
ton and begged him, nay implored him,
not to harm this innocent woman.
Said he, "Mr. Stanton it will come up
against you in the future" And it
did come up to make Mr.. Stanton's life
ono Of remorsc.
The chief witness against Mrs. Sur
raft was Weichmann, who boarded ut
Mrs Snrratts house. He was con-
slant companion of Booths, and in full
confidence in oil his plans to abduct
Mr.. Lincoln and he also was aware
that the attempt would be made that
fatal night TO kill the President This
scoundrel, who was implicated, in or,
der to save himself, went to Baker and
offered, if he should be granted immu-
nifty from prosecution, TO give informa-
ton that would convict Mrs Surratt.
OF course, beng an insignificant per.
son, he was allowed to turn States eyi.
dencc. Up to this time not one shad.
ow of evidence could Baker or Stanton
get to connect Mrs. Surratt, directly or
indirectly, with the killing of Mr..
Lincoln; they therefore eagerly accept
ed this fellows story as pretext TO
murder her, Woichmann stated to
Baker that Mrs. Surratt was party
to the murder, and perfectly familiar
with all Booths movements and plans,
and with this information the hellish
work of the Secretary and his tool,
Baker, wasinaugurated. Baker taught
Weichmann just what be was to swear
TO before the commission that was 10
try Mrs Surratt, and in the presence
! Of that court, if court it could be call
ed Weichmann charged Mary Il. Sur
ratt with crime that she knew she
was innocent of. He swore that she
was party to tho murder plot, and on
his evidence ebo was convicted and
hanged.
\ When Secretary Stanton was ap-
pointed one OF the Justices OF the Su-
preme Court Of the United States my
informant was making things lively for
George s. Boutwell,, Grants Secretary
OF the Treasury. Boutwell, believed
, Mr. Stanton had sufficient control over
my informant to stop the latter's at
taclss on him, and invoked Stantons
interposition. Mr.. stanton sent for my
friend to call at his house, as he want
ed to speak with him on an important
matter When he entered the cx-Sec-
. retary's room he found Mr.. Stanton
, propped up on divan with some pill
: lows, looking very much excited and
!, almost ghastly. After greeting him
Z my friend said aMr. Stanton, you
sent for me what can do for you.
D Stanton replied, calling my friend ia
Q miiarly by his Christian name
"Havo | not always been your
n friend2 Have | not always taker
Q your advice and done as you requested
Q me to do for you and your friends :
r want you TO stop this war on Mr.
Boutwell,, and let him alone. have
not yet seen my commission as justice
Q OF the Supreme Court and never will
!. see it unless you will stop this fight OF
|, Boutwell,"
+, To this my iniormantreplied "Mr
Q Stanton, | would as soon be guilty o
n wrongipg one of my own children al
), wronging you but while 1 have life
/ will never cease to fight Boutwell, whil'
; he is in political position. He hal
/, wickedly and cruelty wronged me, ant
l. you sir, know how well ! am able Il
It make him regret his cowardly actor
o to me-"
!. After awhile the conversation driile,
It to the subject of Mrs. Surratts exccu
D. ton, on which Stanton showed extra
l. ordinary sensItiveness. He asked m,
d friend about Bakers death, and wheth
It er he had made any dying declaration
If in regard TO Mrs Surratt My infor
/. mant then told him that shortly befor
!. his death Baker had made dyinI
rs declaration that by order Of Edwin NJ
y Stanton, ho (Baker) had destroyed th
d written promise of protection TO th
r. Surratt family, and that he had sub
q. pnnaed Weiohmann 90 witnes
1t against Mrs. Surratt, and manufactuI
Q, cd the false testimony which tina
r, scoundrel gave against her.
ID Stanton, pale and excited in the high
D. est degree sprang up from his couci
O. and said
8. "Great God did Baker make tina
b. revelation Do you still say that VIZ
T. man was innocent? Oh, God tina
IS. thing comes back to me now as itcar
Of not come TO you who do not believe J
G. future state OF rewards and punisl
m ments, besides you urged and praye
Ie for mercy to her know il, confer
ne IT.; wish / bad taken your advice .
q that time. Oh how much ! woul
40 have escaped"
N, Thus, the Secretary, at times q
A. most incohcrent with bis strong fec
nd ings, continued TO rave and cjaculat
lis AT last, with the tears streaming dow
lis his face, Mr.. Stanton fell on his khe,
nd and implored my friend not to revc
"a Bakers dying declarations during b
re (Stanton's) lifetime. He readily gay
lis Mr.. Stanton the promise he 80 excite
to ly sought. Stanton, during the latt
ut part Of the scene, was crying like
,al child. And there alone in his room,
an prey to remorse and despair, not maj
ar, days after this interview, did Edw
rs. NJ, Stanton, in order 10 get rid Of u