Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-09-02
The Murder Of Mrs. Surratt.

other excellent articles, one by j
W. Clampitt, Esq, who was an at
torney for Mrs. Surratt before tho
military commission, in which the
evidence relating to Mrs. Surratt's
case is pointedly reviewed her limo
cence made manifest, and the his
tory of her execution put On record
She was found guilty by a packed
commission on the evening OF July
6, and hanged at IL m. the mex,
day. The fury of this politica
murder has been eqalled in Paris
amid the throes of riot and revolu-
ton, but never elsewhere. We
quote as follows:
After the long and exhausted
trial, naturally we were gratified al
its close, and, as young men of oul
profession, still more SO, at the
congratulations of many of the
older members of the bar who had
closely examined the testimony, as
each day it appeared, and predict
ing the acquittal of our client
About five O'Clock in the afternoon
of the 9Th OF July, while sitting in
in our office awaiting the findings
of the commission, we were suo-
denly startled by the cry of the
newsboys on the street, "The ex-
ecution of Mrs. Surratt -
We found to our dismay that,
instead of an acquittal, ,or at most ,.
temporary continnent of our client,
the judgment of the military com
mission had been that of death,
and the President haG signed her
death-warrant. So sudden was
the shock, SO unexpected the re-
salt, amazed beyond expression at
the celebrity of the order of execu-
ton, we hardly knew how to pro
ceed.
Acting upon the first impulse,
we went hastily to the White House
and endeavored to have an inter
view with the President, in the
hope that Executive clemency
might SO far intervene as to grant
Il respite tor few days at least.
In this we were baffied. We were
informed that the President would
see no one. Attempting to pass
inside OF the main doors, we were
met by Preston King, OF New
York, who, pointing to the guard
of soldiers stationed at the foot OF
the staircase with fixed bayonets,
informed us that it was "useless to
attempt an issne OF that character"
We went to plead for three days
OF life for this poor woman, that
she might arrange her earthly af-
fairs and prepare for eternity, and
we were denied admission.
AS we could not obtain ah au-
dience with the President, the aid
OF distinguished gentlemen was
They, too, were toiled.
1t must not, however, be for
gotten that a noble woman, pnsh-
ing aside the bayon of the SOL
diers, gained admission to the
President. Alas her burning
words and queenly presence could
make no impression for the inno-
cent. | refer to Mrs. General
Williams, at that time the widow
o! Senator Douglas.
Our next movement was. in
company with the daughter, to go
to the Judge advocate general and
implore his services in her behalf.
Notwithstanding he had conducted
in chief the trial, we thonght that,
touched by the nnutterable woe of
the poor girl, the plying chords of
eympathy might find responsive
echo in his heart. Our plea was
in vain I. His heart was chile d,
his souI impassive as marble. Upon
her bendcd knees, 5athed in tears,
the forlorn girl besought him to 90
to the President and beg respite
for three days-three days more of
life for the mother about to be
murdered b, the strong arm OF the
government. Finally, to clese the
scene, the Judge-advccate-gencral
agreed to meet us at the executive
at agiven hour. We reached
there at the appointed time. He
had gone before us, and was Just
as we came.
He said: 81 can do nothing
The President is i,nmovable. He
has carefully examined the findings
OF the commission, and has no
reason to change the date of exc
cntion, and you might as we'll at
tempt to overflow tins building as
to alter bis declsion." We left in
despair, and teiegraphed the situa-
tion to Hon. Reverdy Johnson, re-
questing his Immediate presence.
He was at his home in Baltimore
city, and telegraphed the following
reply: ''lt is very late. There are