Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-24
From the Boston Advertiser.
Calumny Rcfuted.

!
! The Rochester Union having recently, in
some comments on lecture by General H..
w Slocum in Brooklyn, asserted that all the
persons ''chicfy responsible for the execu-
'tion' of Mrs. Sennot 'have felt the unseen
''hand of the Great Avenger," and proceed
ing to specification, declared that Secretary
Stanton committed suicide in a fit of remorse
that Andrew johnson was stricken suddenly
BY death, that Preston King committed sui
eide, that Judge Holt had disappeared from
public view, and Congressman Bingham,
driven from Congress in disgrace, had sought
refuge in Japan. The report that Secretary
Stanton committed suicide has been heard of
before. The editor of the Philadelphia Press
the Hon. Edward Mcpherson, thinking it was
time to put an end to the malicious SANDER,
requested and obtained from the surgeon
general of the army statement of the facts.
The following is the letter of the surgeon
general:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., 10th April, 1879.
The Hon. Edra!d MThersoa, Miiadeiphia
Dear Sir. In reply to your inquiry, the
late Mr.. Edwin NJ Stanton was for many
years subject to asthma in a very severe form.
and when he returned from the War depart
ment was completely broken down in health.
In November of 1869 the 'dropsy of cardiac
disease" manifested itself (after a very ex-
haus,ing argument in chambers, in a legal
case, and from that time he did not leave his
house. rarely his bed For many days be-
fore his death | was with him almost con-
stantly, ard at no time was he without most
careful attendance by members of his family
or nurses. On the night of December %. the
dropsical effusion into the pcricardum had in
creased to such an extent, and the symptoms
were so alarming, that the Rev. DIR. Starkey.
rector of the Church of the Epiphany, was
summoned and read the service appointed for
such occasions he, with Mrs. Stanton, Mr..
+. l.. Stanton, the three younger children,
Miss Bowie, their govcrness. myself and sew
eral of the servants were by his bedside I'M
til he died, at A. NJ, December ~, 1869.
After the pulse became imperceptible at the
wrist placed finger on the carotid artery.
aftcrward my hand over his heart. and when
its action ceased | announced it to those
present
1t is incomprehe lsible to me how any .sus-
picion or report of suicide could have origi-
mated. except through sheer and intentional
malice, as there was not the slightest incl
dent before or during his long sickness indi-
cativc of such tendency, nor a possibility
of such an act. Fully aware of his critical
condition, he was calm and composed, not
wishing to die. while unterrified at the pros
pect of death. During the lifetime of his
widow and of his son, Mr.. +. l.. Stanton,
did not feel called upon to make any written
contradiction of the infamous and malignant
falschood you allnde to; but now, in view OF
your letter of April II. and in behalf of Mr..
Stanton's minor children, do most emphaii-
cally and unequivocaly assert that there is
not any foundation whatever for the report
that Mr.. Edwin NJ. Stanton died from other
than natural causes, or that he attempted or
committed suicide
Very respectfully yours,
Jos. X. BARNEs. NJ ID.
Preston King did die by his own hand while
insane, but it is not known what caused the
insanity johnson, Mcpherson SAYS, "dicd
from natural causes which are well under
derstood by his friends, and which had no
more relation to official acts than to the mo-
tons of the planets" Judge Holt lives in
Washington, and Mr.. Bingham is minister to
Japan, the retirement of the one and official
position of the other having no more relation
to their course in the trial of the conspirators
to assassinatc the President than to any other
e a.. lN.x