The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-01-22

she was able torecover her composure
she said, my health is not good, you
must excuse. me, but the mention 81
my mothers name brings all the facts
Of that horrible day SO wildly to my
mind that am not always strong
enough to control myself. Why is it
that nearly every four years newspaper
men come to me, always about General
Hancock? Idon't like him. He is not
brave man. But. what I might say
would have no weight"
She was assured that her staten ent
would be regarded as important, and
might tend to remove the vague doubts
SO generally entertained regarding the
matter. As she had not seen the card
of Father Walter vindicating General
Hancock, it was read to her, together
with the statement published in an
Indiana paper on the same subject.
When General Hancock's name was
mentioned, she said quickly, "He had
nothing whatever to do with it. I sup
pose you have come for me to say
something in his favor; what could I
say, or what would it avail?"
The Worlds editorial comment upon
Father Walters card was then read to
her. She still persisted, however, that
she could say nothing which the public
would accept, and seemed decidedly
opposed to saying anything in favor of
General Hancock, while at the same
time she seemed to concede that he
was innocent of tho charges so falsely
made against him.
"Why is it that you feel such y pref
udice against General Hancock" she
was finally. asked.
Because" said she, "of his treat
ment of me on the morning Of the ex-
ecution. Invent to him that morning
cen ever forget it?-and begged, inn
plored and beseeched him to ask the
president and secretary of war to post
pone the execution. What did he do?
Nothing. Do you think he is man?''
"What could he have done, Mrs.
Tonry?" s.
II don't know, but he might have
tried"
"Was he not kind to you? Did he
say anything offensive to your"
"He said. the president and secreta-
ry of war have made up their minds ,"
"Was that alp.
"Yes, but his manner was so cold.
He has no heart"
"Was the statement have read from
the Indiana paper, charging him with
Indifference to you, correct in any one
PARTICULAR
"No; General Hancock had nothing
to do with granting the permits. Secre-
tary Stanton signed them and General
Hancock merely countersigned them.
I suppose he only did his duty as SOL
der by obeying orders. Stanton and
General Holt were the only men who
controlled the president, and they are
the guilty ones. When mother was SO
sick in prison that she was not expected
to live, they would not allow a priest to
visit her. Who ever refused such re-
quest before? Common humanity
ought to. have made them grant her re.
quest. I could tell you q great deal
about the silent hours i spent with my
mother in the Jail. I was her only com.
panion; she my only friend, and my
grief is just as strong now as it was on
that terrible morning. There il
one thing I shall remember and
shall never forget about General
Hancock. On the morning of the ex
ecution I was in an ambulance on my
way to the president, when Genera
Hancock rode up to the side of the am
bulance and said. Miss Surratt do MOI
buoy yourself up with hope Now tel
me, why did he say that? I thought i
cruel"
care you certain that those are tn,
words he used?"
II am certain; I have never forgotten
them; Miss Surratt, advise you not t,
buoy yourself up with hope.'"
| '1Do you not think they were mean
in kindness?"
''They may have been, but why di,
he say them? I do not know what t.
think"
"People are beginning to think O
your 1other as an innocent woma,
most cruelty wronged," the reporte
suggested, "and
innocent, 90 you say! Mrs. IOnr'
broke in; *"who should know it bette
than l? Can you think that q mothe
would conspire with her son? I was he
close companion and never left he1
and what she did I did. 1 never hav
spoken in all these years. What's tn
use of speaking now; who would be
lieve me? I live secluded from tn
world, I never read the papers, I neve
have read the proceedings of the trial
and do not even know the names of th
witnesses"
"But did you not know all about til
trial through your mothers COUNSEL"
mo. Reverdoy johnson was he
counsel, but he was in court the frs
day, never afterwards. He told me h
considered the court but court of il