Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-02-23
Nv. In. sn. I'm. | ",
Hrs. Anna Surratt,

Herald, wiling from Washington, rolates tho
oft-told talo Of the judicial murder of Mrs.
Suvratt, as impaired to him by John W. Clam
pitt esq. Mr. Clanptt was then in bis 26th
year, end on tho night Of the murder was just
passing from his Office, when gentleman rush.
cd by and said cxcitedy, "President Lincoln
has boen mu.dorcd-and John Wilkes Booth
did it u Those who heard him thought tho
man crazy, but Mr.. Clampitt saw great crowd
surging 10 and fro among tho people. The COR
respondent coninuos:
Immediately be pushed to Ford's theatre,
| but with great difficulty got through the crowd
and saw the wounded Presdent-not quite
| dead. BY and by, curses loud and deep reoded
| the very heavens. Cavalry were sWaIming every
| street snd aveIuc. The we'll Known sympa-
thizcrs Of tho South ibid cut" and made
| themselves very scalc,. A night or two before
that Richmond had fallen, ard Washington
Eas as bright as day. Joy uuoonfined rcigned
everywhere. he rocket red glaro was seen
| at every point in the heavens. The exul.ing
cinnon shook tho surrounding hills. Every
home and Icnement was Illuminated. LLcon
| appeared before tho people. and callcl ior che
bands 10 play Dixie, saying jcc) )sely, ''Wo have
o,ptured the song too !"
! man eve7 saw, the President was warm hearted
| and kindly disposed touaris the South. How
| strange the chargo Tnc victor of this night
| WAS in tow short hours suddenly hurried to
| lhe grcat hereafter No wonder thcro was cx-
| cnemcnt. la lev hours every homo 10
| Washington was draped 10 mourIing-not TO do
1t was 10 bccnmr the especial nlbl k Of the hop-
lngs and puliinps the mob
| Mrs Surrst>'s boarding house was heavily
adorned VITA tie tunera symbol. IG few
l,ou!s she YVES laying upou The straw covered
us 81 The CID hrs3na!-5lck, broken hearted
and utterly cfGsigd. Tho leading lawytrs-sII
lssyers-ot the 7ci1ity were entsea,ed to 10 to
hec bafsldc and t"so her case. Almost all
framed miserable aDd shuf ding excuses. Such
Ha '''taEr AID alci; dif2lac5 never fell or my
eouoiSY, or unoa an? her before. A profession
~ III" lGa3!pG ,nC CT liberty ia al! !te OF time,
iA'tcTi'! ard ii!ckcral in tha; aw!ui hour; pro
irssicH ag'"d tho Wc!!d ever aud il ri! ages fer
liz heroes furnished, brs Ih;oo il. this crisis. II
! 'ctic!s OF gold th;i1 EGacs should DO set iu pc
:urts OF silver, ard to read Of ell mcn for a
tino 20 c1ihe. they aro E2veEdy johnson,
Join ", Giampitt en,. Nlr. Aiken. These threo
; aoeia% nl!hrS Gut duty, and css.ing I'll fear Of
the nIcs2at !rom them, stood ty hex end
! with hcr un:iL cruel haagnon ca.tiad her
NJ, uorc dead than alive, to the gallo.s.-
clamp IS soon as cent for, went to The arso-
! Gal Sad took her case, Day ard night, without
;!'o h"po ci lee Or reward, ho abored for her
\ court nAila! Nas CoDvoncd--s caurt martial
II the n&plts! q republic N purely civil
oase-f!ot 10 Try member OF the army? Where
10 tho warrant ior 1t? 1t vas dole. Men of
| tho rTlng, wholly ignorant cf tic forms OF
law acd tho dictates of equity, waro called TO
compose tribunal to try Mrs. Surratt Paine,
Harold and A;z;rot. Not ono of those persons
bAlonscd 10 tho lend or naval fosces cf tho
Unlon. Tho var was over. Tho courts cf the
lcouptrg WnIc nGeE la fact, rover had oaen
closed in Washington. Reverdy Johnson, the
greatest constitutional lawyer since tie d5ys of
Webster, iaulched his kceccst thuuderbolts at
.ho ilIGgSl and unconstitutional court, but iD
vain. They lusu!ted him end mady drove him
from their presenco. With the Infamous Joe
Holt as Judge advocate, they pushed things
with high hand. Tho prisoners we're brought
10 heavily lroued at every sitting. The 90 called
court sat from April until July.
Every day the aceursod manaces ratified ia
The hcarlrE Of her counsel. The court VAS OF.
san'z.d to cynyiot. Not satisfied with insult
log johnson, General Lew Wallace remarked
that be desplscd the men who wcro seckiog
to break down tho government witnt sses
C'ampitt waited Tor some ono cldor to re
provo tho judicial wretch. No one wishing
to do so, he aEcsJ and said. II am as
founded ut tho remark OF the m(mbr of
tho court. Ii ls supposed that this tribunal
was organized 10 do ju.tice-not to couvic..
: will let tho member know that it is the duty
OF the counsel Tor tho dtteuse to use evety
mcars legitlmately to silt tho witnesses. The
member must remember that ho is before tho
people ss judge, aud that be cannot ride over
preccdcnts with iupunily. He is not ridipg
his horse at Mouocscy now" Wallace bad
bton accused Of running at MonocacY Bridge.
Ooe day Campitt felt touch upon bis
: shoulder, and turned around 70 see who it was.
1t was Harold, 3 mere bog. He said, IL wish
you would give H. envelope AID postage stamp,
!, and some paper. l want to write letter to
3 Ben Wood. | am getting pretty id tried OF
o this thing" Caupitt reached over and told
: Holt what the boy had said, aud be laughed
IS lmmaderasely. The trial progressed aud the
r prisoners were convicted. Then tho trouble
= came on Campltt 10 perfect food tide. He
= and Miss Anna Surratt Went to Judge Wylie,
and ha granted writ of habeas corpus to sus
pend the execution, but this was suspended b.
D. an order OF Andrew Johnson They vent Il
:; Joe Holt, and upon her Bonded koca The
- daughter bt ts2ush. tbs 6aod to sc tho Presi
dent npd fava her mother. lie 6aay cooeeuteC
togo. AZ he was c,r.lng out of the White Hous
q the daughter met him. He Informed her ,her
- that johnson Tas impacsbe. Johusoo after.
yards said that Holt never came 70 him, Clam
- pitt ssys that every avenue 70 the President va
:. closed sgsiDst him and The poor girl. The,
rcver SAG him. Oae su!tsy day 10 July, 1865
they were c1ccnted Ia the old arsenal C!ampit
- went 10 acc Mrs. SurSatt. She was lying o.
3c the samc bed of straw Nth Catholic prizes
attending htr. lie reached over aad seiza
b.! haId. !: vas limp aod slmos: lifsless. Sh
ii !lrIed ber lsngnid eyes full upon him. Mrs
Susra;t. have not slept Eipk ia 4S hours
haze tE!eG everything, and ia every gay. to &c