The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-08-02
Hancock aad the surratt Case

Hancock and the Surratt Case.
Hon. John P. Barpley. president of Sc
Louis College, New York, writes lette
to the New York Herald. in which b,
gives some facts in connection with the
Surratt case not heretofore published. Ii
his Communication 10 the Herald Mr.
BRrpley says:
"Of all those in authority TO whom
appealed in behalf of the unfortunsta
woman, from two men only did | expert
ence kindness and consideration. Those
two men were Gen. John T, Hartranft ane
Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock. President
johnson and Secretary Stanton seemed
actually to thirst for her innocent blood. .
THE TWO SOLDIERS
scorned to have her blood upon thsir
hands. and did what in them lay TO save
her from q felonious doom. / know
whereof speak, and no man living has q
better right to speak than /. On July 8.
1865, the people were startled by the
official announcem ent, over the president g
signature, that four of the prisoners, in
Guiding Mrs. Surratt, were to be hanged
on che following day between the hours of
10. and o'clock. That day received
permission. for the first time, to visit Mrs.
Surratt. | went Immediately to her cell.
in the penitentiary, and found Rev Father
Wiget, the president of the Gonzaga COL
lege, already there. Soon after her
daughter Anna aud Rev. Father Walter
arrived. They had
BEEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE
in the hopes of obtaining q reprieve, but
were refused an audience by President
johnson. We remained with Mrs. Sur
ratt several hours, affordiug her such con-
ISOLATION as we could, That night Father
Walter and myself called upon Judge
Holt, but our efforts proved fruitless. Or
the morning of the fatal day l went before
notary and made an affidavit of such
facts as hoped would induce the presi-
dent to grant a stay of proceedings IN bel
case. The affidavit | had forwarded TO
the president | then rode in haste tC
the peuitentiary, where found Mrs. Sur
ratt suffering intensely from cramps aud
cougestivo chiIls. AZ my request Gen,
Hartrauft went to the prisoner Payne nd
held conversation with him, SO i'm
pressed was Gen. Hartranft with Payne Is
solemn declarations of his own guilt and
protestations of Mrs. Surratts innocence
that he Immediately wrote
LETTER TO PRESIDENT JOHNSON,
The prisoner, Payne. has just told me-
that Mrs. Surratt is entirely innocent Of
the assassination of President Lincoln, o.
of any knowledge thereof. He alsG
states that she had no knowledge what
ever of the abduction; that nothing was
ever said to her about it, and that bel
name was never mentioned by the parties
connected Herewith" Attic close of The
letter Gen. Hartranft wrote these sigpi6'
cant words; Il believe that Payne bat
told the truth in the matter" While
writing he ordered pair of the fastes
horses to be brought, and when be had
finished writing and had signed his name
he delivered the letter to me and told me
to go in all haste and place the letter IL
the presidents hands. Arrived at the
white house, |.
CRAyED AN AUDIENCE WITH MR.. JOHNSON
1t was refused. l then sent Gen. Hart
rants letter to the president and waited
tor an answer. No answer came, While
there met Anna e, Surra,t. who, in heI
endeavors to see the president had been
rudely repused. Judge Mason, of Iowa
With tears streaming down HE cheeks. was
there seeking in vain for an interview with
the president. and endeavoriUg 10 assuage
the GRIEF Of the heartbroken child Mrs
Senator Douglas came down the stairs OF
the white house. Despite the Efforts o.!
the guards she had forced her way into
the presidents office aud mad begged for a
few days respite to allow the condemned
woman time to prepare for death. MIR.
johnson refused. Coming to me, she
said: Mr.. tBarplev, have seen the
president. but there is no hope" / said
to her: Madam, has the president seen
my statement and the letter that have
just brought from Gen. Hartrantt2' In
mediately retracing her steps, she again
forced her way to the presence of the
president. Mr.. johnson said he had seen
both pap ers, but there was nothing in
them, and
THE WOMAN MUST DIE.
Mrs. Douglas returned to tell the sad
news. and then. with bowed head and
fearful eyes, departed for home. Finding
that no hope remained, l urged Ann to go
to her mother while she was yet alive,
tiary. On our way from the white
house J noticed mounted soldiers at
intervals along the route. but | did not
know at that time for what purpose they
had been so stationed. When we arrived
aE the arsenal gate. an hour or so before
the execution, we were refused admission
by the soldiers on guard. La she excite
nent had mislaid my pass. and for a
time il seemed as if mother and daughter
were to be deprived of the mourDfui pri-
yilege of a last farewell, j ust then a car
rage drove up, and
GEN. HANCOCK
descended from it and came TO the ambu
lance in which were Anna Surratt and
myself, surrounded By the guard. Order |
lag ihe guard away. the general spoke to
Anna, IN voice of subdued sadness. told
Der tnat he feared there was no hope, as
the higher authorities were memorable.
and urged her to brace herself for the
terrible ordeal. Coming around the am
bulance TO the scat occupied, General
Hancock said to me in a low tone; Mr.. J