Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-20
GENERAL HANCOCK.

4 WICKED INVENTION BLOWs TO TUE WINDS
ny DOZEN HoNEsT WORDS.
WAsnlSGToN, November L., '7g.-TAe
mention of General Hancock name in
connection with the Presidential nomi.
nation has led, as his friends supposed
1t would lead, TO spiteful outcroppings
over the hanging of Mrs Surratt. an
affair which his official position lust af-
ter the war compelled him to direct. 4
few days ago in the Indianapolis Journal
an interview was printed about General
Hancock, Of which the following is
part:
"The Democrats can nominate General
Hancock sAid Catholic Priest 10 me
the other day, in rcsPonse TO my expression
Of opinion
"Why not p" asked.
"Becausc," he said with much feeling,
che hanged Mr.. Surrait without causc
and porsccuied her for her religion
~ don't zoe how he hanged her, FAid I
"morc than General Holt who wa Judge
Advocate, or stanton, who Wa. Secretary
Of War, or Andy johnson, who was Prcs-
idcnt"
Hancock" exclaimed the priest, chad
her immediate custody, aud he absolutely
rcfusod 10 let her see her clergyman, or
any clergyman Of her church, after she
vAs sentenced. He did all he could to
send the woman to HI but no doubt
her earnest request for clergy was pAssed
20 her credit In the books hey0nd the sky.''
"I never heard Of that, | Fsid
"Wcll, Catholics have, said the priest,
"And II Hancock should ariso and have the
impudence - ask for Catholic votes, they
would bury him under their indignation
The above extract appeared in the
Post of this city this morning. The re
reporter Of the World called upon Rev.
Father Walter, Of st. Patrick's church,
with this interview. lie was Mrs. Sur.
rhtts adviser, and he it was whom
General Hancock was credited with
having insulted. Father Walter i a
tall, square shouldercd man, with
enough fire in his face and yigor in his
movements TO make one almost wish
that he and General Hancock could put
on the gloves together, they are so
nearly matched.
81 am glad you came" he said, "for
this isn't the first Of these irings at
General Hancock. | have blamed my.
self often for not declaring the truth in
the matter, for | am the only one that
should tell 1T, so far as it concerns N.Y.
self Yet, being a priest, have felt
bound TO hold my peace. Besides so
far no tangible iarm has resulted from
silence. For me weeks back though
| have seen lat circumstances might
arise which Ehould change my deter.
minstion this attack seems to me to
call for the kind of response that will
make 49, G. objections to General Han.
og - ,osible in the future. That is
what said TO day TO Bishop Keane, Of
| Richmond, when informed him that
had about decided to brand all such
storiess. false over my own signature. +"
Would you object TO doing II now -
the reporter asked.
"Not at ALL Father Walter replied,
and seating himself at table he wrote
| this denial
Truth and justice compel me 20 deny
| the statement with reference 20 General
IIAncocks participation in the execution
of Mrs. Surrsti, which appeared in the
! Washington Post this morning. attend
/ cd Mrs. Surrati on that occasion and met
with no interference on the part Of Gener-
| al Hancock. General Hancock had great
sympathy with this unfortunate lady and
waited until the last moment, hoping for a
rcpricvc. | consider II an act Of justice TO
General Hancock that this statement
should be made. (Signedl,
j. A. WALTER, Pastor of
ST. Patricks Church, Washington.
"There. That is the first statement I
made for the public in ell these years, +"
Father Walter said, a triAe sadly. 81
hope it may be the means of enough
good to compensate for all the harm
that these stories have done"
An assertion made oday by an ex.
army officer was abundantly corroborat.
ed in the War Debartment that so
strong was General Hancock's hope for a
reprieve for Mrs. Surratt that on the
day of the execution he stationed relays
Of cavalry along the streets from the
White House 10 the Arsenal, that no
delay might ensue in communicating
the fact. In the Arsenal are Photo.
graphs of the scaffold at the time of the
execution. They show Father Walter
at Mrs. Surratt's side.