The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-01
HANCOCK AND MRS. sURRATT.
Counsel, Judge CIamPitt, Of Chi.
eagO, and Bishop KeRne, of
RichmOnd--HRncO
INDICATED,


an interview with Judge Clampitt, of Chica-
go, upon the subject OF General Hancock's
with the Surrstt trial. Clsmpitt
is the only surviving counsel for Mrs. Sur
raft. Hancock was from first to last" said
Judge Clampitt 1.-The ideal Of an ofiiser and
u gentleman. He reilly was powerless to do
much, one way or the other. He was not a
member of the court; he was merely an Of
fetal, and an official whose first duty was
to command and order the execution
Of the sentence. Mrs. Surratt was
treated most carelessly as respects con-
venience, and in most brutal manner by
those in whose charge she was. 1t may not
have been done purposeiy, but certainly they
" are coarsely indifferent toward her while she
was still An unconvicted woman. l found
her, when first admitted to speak to her as her
counsel, in wretched room with an apology
for bed, in the shape of some straw strewn
on the floor, and not sign Of furniture
within the four walls. She was lying sick on
the miserable pallet, and l had to kneel down
to speak to her. She was in charge, as were
other prisoners, of Colonel Hartranft. On a
motion | made before the court, it expressed
its ignorance of the brutal treatment she
lived under, and at once ordered decent
accommodations for her." Hancock" con-
tinued Judge Clampitt, chad no more to do
with these details or matters than you had.
When Judge Wylie, NTH Roman majesty
Of character, issued, almost at the peril Of his
life, awrit of habeas corpus in the. case of
Mrs. Surratt, President johnson and Secre-
tary Stanton decided to suspend the writ and
the execution followed. We had hopes to
the last OF reprieve and pardon for Mrs.
Surratt, and | waited at the arsenal, hoping
against hope. General Hancock rode down,
and approaching him | asked, Are there any
hopes? he shook his head slowly
and mournfuily, and, with sort Of gaping
catch in bis speech, said ! am afraid not.
No there is not He then walked of a
bit. He had dismounted. He gave some or
ders to his orderlies and walked about for Il
moment or two. Returning he said to me ::
Il have been in many 4 battle, and have seen
death, and mixed with it in disaster and in
victory. I've been in a living hell of fire,
and she'll and grapeshot, and, by God, ia
sooner be there ten thousand times over than
to give the order this day for the execution
of that poor woman. But | am soldier,
sworn 70 obey, and obey | must This is the
true and genuine history Of all that Ham
cock HAD in common with the affair. He was
commanding, and as commander and con-
servator of the national capital was obedlent
to the orders Of the court which sentenced
the conspirators and the o-cnlled conspiratol
TO death. He had no voice in the matter
and could have no action save as agent to SEE
that the letter Of the law was carried out IL
an order of alphabetic certainty"
Richmond, June 30.-The Right Rev
Bishop Keane, Of the Catholic church, wa
found al MS residence, next to ST. Peter;
cathedral, on grace street. In reply to al
inquiry asking his opinion about the Domina
ton OF General Hancock, said he must de-
cline al answer to that question, as he hat
nothing whatever to do with politics. Tit
bishop was then asked if the charges as tC
General Hancock's connection with thu
Surratt case would affect him with thu
Catholics. He answered that most I'm
doubtedy they would, and with Pro!estsnt'
as well as Catholics and all others, If the
truth were not told. Since these charges
however, had been denied and had been dis
proved as preposterous and false, ne coulC
not see how General Hancock could be
affected BY them.
1t was then remarked that Father Walter
of St. Patrick's church, in Washington, whC
had attended Mrs. Surratt through all he
trials to the last, was said to have written Q
letter entirely exculpating Gen. Hancock
from all responsibility in the matter, anc
asked, if the bishop knew anything about that
letter. He replied
~ happened to be in Washington abou
the time, few months ago, when these
charges were reiterated by the press agains
Gen. Hancock. | was there for the purpose
of delivering lecture. Father Walter thei
had consultation with me regarding thost
charges. and asked my advice as to what hi
should do in the premises. He statet
in the most emphatic language
that there was no truth what.
ever in the charges. Father Walter Nn+ III
spiritual adviser and confessor of Mrs. STR
raft. told him that it was his duty t
truth and to history, as well as to Genera
Hancock, that be should write the lette
which lie did in reference to the matter"
"Of course" the bishop again remarked
"the charges were preposterously false an
devoid of even shadow of truth" BishoI
Keane said that ne was the assistant c
Father Waiter at Washington for lively
years, up to the time he came to Richmon
10 take charge of the duties of this diocese
Father Walter has been in charge Of 81
Patrick's church, Washington, D. c., 70
twenty one years, and is now about ffty-fou
years OF age.