The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-01-21

evidence could Baker or Stanton get
To connect Mrs. Surratt, directly ar
indirectly. with the killing Of Mr..
Lincoln. They, therefore, eagerly
accepted this fellows story As q pre-
text to murder her; Weichmann
stated to Baker that Mrs. Surrstt was
= party {" the murder AMI perfectly
familiar with Roothis movements and
plans. and with his information the
hellish work Of the Secretary and bis
tool. Baker, WAS inaugurated. Baker
told Weichnann just what he was 10
swear To beiore the Commission that
was to try Mrs. Surrstt. and in the
presence Ut that court. If court ii
could bs called. Weichmann charged
Mary T.. Surratt with a crime that he
knew she was innocent Of. He sworc
that she was party 10 the murder
plot. and ON his evidence she was COT
victed and hanged.
When Secretary Stanton was sP-
pointed one of the Justices Of the Su.
preme Court Of the United States,
my informant was making things
very 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 attacks on him, and
invoked Stanton's interpositiOn. Mr..
Stanton sent for my friend to call at
his house rs he wanted to speak with
him o., an important matter. When
he en' cred the ex Secretarys room he
found NJ. Stanton proPpsd up on q
Iivan with some pillows. lo"king
very much excited and almost ghast-
~. After greeting him, my friend
said:
":ir. Stanton, you sent for me
what can l do for your
Stanton replied. calling my friend
famiiarly BY his Christian name:
"lIave | not always taken your ad
vice AMI done as you requested me to
do for you and your friends? want
you To- stop this war on Mr.. Boutwell,
and let him alone. l have not vet
seen my commission NJ Justice Of the
Supreme Court, aud l never will see
it unless you stop this fight ON Blunt
we'll"
To- this my informant replied:
mir. Stanton. l would ~ s"n he
guilty Of wronging one Of nv children
rs wronsing you; but while | have
life 1 ~iil never cease To fight Boutwell,
while he is in political position. He
mas wickediy and cruelty wronged
me aud you. sir. know how we'll !
am able To make him regret his COW
dnily action To me.
After n while the conversation
drifted To the subject of Mrs. Suratt's
execution. on which Stanton showed
extraordinary sensiriveness. He
asked INV friend sb'ut Bakers death
and whether he had made any dying
declaration in regard to Mrs. Surrstt.
Ny inturner then told him that short
" before his death Baker had made
u dying declaration that. BY order Of
Edwin NJ. Stanton, he Baker, had
the written promise Of pro
tec,iun tn the Surra,t family. and that
he had subpoenaed Weichmann rs
witness against Mrs. Surra,t, and
the false testimony
which that .coundrel gave against her.
Stanton. pale and excited in the
highest degree. sprang mp from his
couch and said:
Great God! did Baker make that
ID, Won still say that
woman was innocent. Oh Gid +! that
hin: comes back to me now rs il
cannot come to you who do not believe
IN a future state Of rewards and pun
besi,les. YOU urged and
,rayed for mercy for her. l know IL,
confess it; | wish | had taken your
,dvice at that time. Oh! how much
would have escaped"
Thus. the ex-SecretaTy. ut times
llmost incoherent ~ith his strong
ceilings. continued to rave and ejscu.
ate. At last. with the tears stream.
ng down his face. Mr.. Stanton fell
N his knees and implored my friend
'ot TO reveal Bakers dying declara-
ions during his ;Stanton's) lifetime.
lie ren.iily gave Mr.. Stanton the
'romise he Sd excitedly sought. Stan.
On during the latter part Of this scene.
'as crying like a child: and there
lone in his room, prey To remoIse
MI DESPAIR. no: many days after this
Interview did Edwin NJ. Stanton, in
rider 70 get rid OF the ghost ever
him Of Mary +. Surrntt.
Ut hi, own throat and die the death
a suicide.
W len the news Of hrs death was
Di.ei ,broad. l called upon nv in
'rman, and told him that there was
rumor that Stanton had Committed
l;cide. l could get no reply from =
IN OF that time. but he was one Of
e few persons who saw Mr.. Stanton
ter Ms death. and he has since CON- -
uni :ated to me the facts here stated, ia
ID lid mo that Stanton did indeed 81
t his throat. =.
All who knew Baker are aware of in
2 wretched lite, his remorse and B.
isersble death. Before his death he :,
3 as q slight atonement. the dying
claratiOn referred to above. L