Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-03-05
Murder Will Ont.


published his version oft. As was
in Washington at the time of the trial
and judicial murder. / send you my
views on the subject.
Thirteen years have come aad gone
since the bullet Of John Wilkes Booth
was speI forth on its horrible mission
ofassassinalion. Mary L. Surratt died
on the gallows in atonement for Il
great crime, with which it is now known
she had neither lot nor part. Two mar
tyrs to the deed of the satanic youth!
The one was the beloved chief mags
trate Of the triumphant Republic. limo
cent, unsrspecting, and hurled headlong
into eternity the other pious Chris
tan widow, equally innocent, and drag
ged forth, hooded and masked and iron-
ed, to the gallows, where they strangled
her to death.
+. For some time afterher execution the
demon Of wrath stalked abroad through
the land, and the multitude said Amen
to her death. But the evidence of her
innocence could not be covered up for
long. Now and then we heard two or
three remorselcss revelations uttered
through the lips Of Congressman, show
ng that somebody was not at peaca
within, that the blood Of woman had
left its stains on the conscience Of one
or more Of the actors in the conspiracy.
Presently General Butler arraigns Bing-
ham, and tells him be will have to ac-
count to God for the life of Mrs. Surratt,
and Bingham, agitated at the maledic-
lioR, started like guilty thing alright
ed. Presently Senator jim Lane, who
with ctary Stanton, Judge Holt, and
Senator King, had taken active part in
preventing the daughter of Mrs. Surratt
from seeing President Johnson, aud
telling that infatuated and perhaps mis-
led executioner to stay his hand aud not
to do murder on the innocent-presently
we saw poor Lane blow out his brains
in St. Louis. and then it was said Mr..
Lane had never been happy since the
taking OF Of Mrs. Surratt.
After awhile Senator King went into
a store, and buying several pounds of
shot, started Tor the river. He jumped
in and was drowned. At a later day
it is obseryed that an unwonted meIan
choly sits on Mr.. Stanton. For years
he had dreamed ofand had sighed tor
bencher's seat in the Supreme Court Of
the United States. The Presidents
appointment and the Scnate's confrma-
ton crown the dream with fuffllment.
But the melancholy still rides him like
witch. He has been more or less an
invalid for some weeks when the news
OF the judgeship is conveyed to him.
The surgeon-general advises him to take
the air, to ride forth among cheerful
scenes, and to shake OF what he DEEM
ed the dependency of a sick-room.
The attendent is sent for to shave
Mr.. Stanton, aud they prevail on him to
ride down as far as the Capitol. The
barber finishes the toilet, and the 6ress-
ing case is closed and returned to tie
bureau-drawer. For a short time the
secretary is left alone. When some
members of the household re-enter the
room, Edwin NJ. Stanton is discovered
stretched out on the floor with horri-
BILE cash in bis throat and a razor by his
side. Surgeon General Barnes is flash
cd for by telegraph, but it is too late.
Stanton Is past surgery and the lie
blood spurts over the walls and floor.
The arch-chief of Mrs. Surratfs execu-
TONERS. has executed on himself and the
spirit of the martyred woman, with
blood and manacles, such as glazed the
ewes of the bcholders at the Arsenal
seems 10 fit across the chamber OF the
suicide. As if conscious that another
link had been added to untimely death
of all those who figured in the execution
of Mary Surratt. The friends Of Mr..
Stanton attempted to conceal the cause
Of his shocking end. But sooner or
later the facts here stated will be youch-
cd for by those who know them to be
true. Surgeon-General Barnes has
never denied them: He cannot do so.
From a sudden and unproyIded
death, 0 Lord, deliver US" Such is
the language Of the Christian Litany,
the supreme appeal Of men for mercy.
Did Andrew johnson, who was deaf to
the agonizing shrieks Of that poor child
of Mrs. Surratt,' whom Stanton and
King and Lane :epulsed from the human
mercy-seat, ever appeal to heaven in
the beautiful words of the litany? Was
he saved from sudden and unproylded
death when it came his own turn to die?
Let it be hoped that it was, for the sake
of his eternal salvation. But it cannot
be forgotten that the ex-Presldent, after
having been hunted down by his own
party, when trying to do his duty; after
having been sold out by Gen. Grant in
shameful manner; after having been
impeached and tried and almost con-
victed, and finally after having triumph
ed over all his foes aud been borne back
10 the Senate on tidal wave Of Demo-
cratic ascendency, itcannot, ltmust not
be forgotten that Andrew Johnson fell
down IN fit and died Of apoplcxy al
most within the hour which had seen
him we'll and full oflusty life.
From a sudden and unprovided
death. o Lord, deliver u.s." What a
terrible moral do not these pregnant
examples teach Out Of the world, hip