The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-07-15
A ISLANDER REFUTED.
The Testimony Reprosuced of Priest M
to General HaE cocks Gentle Bearing I'm
the Gurratt Cnse. tTsT ufI TgttUJl

cock the brave priest who shrlyed
Mrs. Surratt bears witness tor his just
and gentle bearings wicked invention
blown to the wind by a dozen honest
Words" a special dispatch appeared in
the World of November IA, 1879, as fol-
lows: - asi AInH ..T jttf ts1
"WAsHrNaroN, November 13.-The
nection with the Presidential nomination
has led, as his friends supposed it would
lead, to spiteful outcroppings over the
hanging of Mrs. Surratt, an affair his of
fetal position just after the war COM
PEELED him to direct. Afew days ago, in
the Indianapolis Journal, an interview
was printed about General Hancock, of
which the following is part:
"The Democrats can't nominate Gen.
eral Hancock" said Catholic priest to
me the other day, in response to my ex-
preston of opinion.
Why not?" L asked
:" Because" he said, with much feel
ing, she hanged Mrs. Surratt without
cause, and prosecuted her for her re-
hgion."
81 don't see how he hanged het, "said
/, "more than General Holt, who was
Judge Advocate, or Stanton, who was
Secretary of War, or Andy johnson, who
was President.
Hancock" exclaimed the priest,
:" had her immediate custody, and he alb
solutely refused to let her see her clergy
man, or any clergyman of her church,
after she was sentenced. He did all he
could to send the woman to --, but no
doubt her earnest request for the clergy
was passed to her credit In the books be-
yond the sky" aas-ssi
"I never, heard of that, I said.
swell, Catholics have, I" said the priest,
sand if Hancock should arise and 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-
porter of the World called upon Rev.
Father Walter, of st. Patrick's Church,
with this interview He was Mrs. Sur.
rats adviser, and he it was whom, Gen.
Hancock was credited with having in
suited. Father Walter is tall, square
shouldered man, with enough fire in his
face and vigor in his movements to
make one almost wish that he and Gen.
Hancock could put the gloves on to-
gether, they are so nearly matched.
CT am glad you came, he said, sfor
this isn't the first of these filings at Gen.
Hancock. 7 have blamed myself often
for not declaring the truth in the matter,
for am the only one that should tell it,
so far as it concerns myself Yet, being
apriest, I have felt bound to hold my
peace. Besides, so far, no tangible harm
has resulted from my silence. For some
weeks back, though, / have seen that
eireumstances might arise which should
change my determination; this attack
seems to me to call for the kind of re-
sponse that will make such objections tc
General Hancock impossible in the
future That is what I said to-day te
Bishop Keane, of Richmond, when in
formed him that I had about decided tt
brand all such stories as false over m,
owu signature. 'a GzIii
I" Would you object to doing it now
the reporter asked.
I" Not at ALL Father Walter replied
and, seating himself at table, he wrot'
this denial: frE
Truth and justice compel me to deny tn
statement with reference to General Hancock
participation in the execution of Mrs. Surratt
which appeared in the Washington Post of thi
morning. 1 attended Mrs. Surratt on that oc
casion, and met with no interference on tn
part of General Hancock. General Hancoc
had great sympathy for this unfortunate lady
and waited until the last moment, hoping for
reprieve. consider it an act of Justice t
General Hancock that this statement should b
made. YsFssff - LA. WALTER &
Pastor, of St Patrick's Church, Washington
q There That is the first statemen
have made for the public IL. all thes
years. Father Walter said trihe sadly
Il hope it may be the means of enoug
good to compensate for all the harm tina
these stories have DONE
can assertion made to-day by an ez
army officer was abundantly corroborate
in the War Department that so stron
was General Hancock's hope for II
prieve for Mrs. Surratt that on the da
of the execution he stationed relays {
cavalry along the streets from the Whit
| House to the Arsenal that no delay migf
ensue in communicating the fact. I
the Arsenal are photographs of the sea
fold at the time of the execution. The
show Father Walter at Mrs. Surratt
| side"
This was followed by another dispatc
published November 25, as follows:
'fWAsHMaToN, November 24.-Whe
General Hancock was here last week
met Rev. Father Walter at the house
q mutual friend. General Hancock
carriage was at the door, and after tt
visit Father Walter entered the carriae
at General Hancock's request. and the
drove off together. Their conversatic
lasted fer nearly an hour. From c
army officer who knew what was said
seemed that General Hancock began Il
conversation by thanking Father Walt
for the statement and card he hf
published in the World about the d
famatory stories in connection Wi
the hanging of Mrs. Surratt. Th
denial alone was necessary, Gener
Hancock said, to destroy viciol
falsehood, and it was sufficient to do i
Father Walter replied that he felt he hi
done merely his duty, and that while
was by no means inclined to arouse bi
feeling in the matter he thought tn
while the press were dsposing of it thu
might as well at the same time place t.
blame for the execution where it b
longed, upon Andrew johnson. VIII
the time for the execution had be-
fixed, he said, 4 went to Preside
johnson to urge postponement for q fl
days. Mr.. johnson peremptorily refus
to postpone the execution and acted as
he suspected would be led to hope tn
one favor might be followed by othel
and that eventually a reprieve mig
Justly be demanded. tried
disabuse him of such an impression
declaring that if he would but grant
, ten days no other favor would be ask
of him Shortly before the execution
called at the White House second tin
. My card was returned with MESA
, that Mr.. johnson would not see me.
asked him then for hearing OF
minutes, but he refused; then for t
minutes, and he still refused. The
was no reason in his refusal, and !! ho
, he felt at the time of his impeachme
4 4 = H. nnf