The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-08-12

am, has the President seen my state
ment and the letter that l have jus
brought from Gen. Hartranft?' There
was not moment to loose. Immediately
(. retracing her steps she again forced hel
way into the presence of the President
Again she pleaded with all the eloquence
of woman's heart stirred to its depth
but all in vain. Mr.. Johnson said be
had seen both papers, but there was
nothing in them, and the woman must
die.
"Finding that no hope remained, l
urged Anna to 60 to her mother while
she was yet alive. We drove rapidly
toward the penitentiary. On our way
from the White House l noticed mount.
ed soldiers at intervals along the route,
but 1 did not know at that time for what
purposes they had been so stationed
When we arrived at the arsenal gate, an
hour or so before the execution, we were
refused admission by the soldiers on
guard. In the excitement [ had mis-
laid my pass, and FOR time it seemed as
if mother and daughter were to be de.
prived of the mournful privilege of a
last farewell. Just then carriage drove
up and Gen. Hancock descended from
it and came to the ambulance in which
were Anna Surratt and myself, surround.
ed by the guard. Ordering the guard
away, the General spoke to Anna in a
voice of subdued sadness told her that
he feared there was no hope, as the
higher authorities were inexorable, and
urged her to brate herself for the terri
BILE ordeal. Coming around the ambu.
lance to the seat occupied, Gen. Han.
cock said to me, in low tone: "Mr.
Brophy, fear there is no hope, and it
would be cruel to hold out any hope to
that poor child when there is nome
Still, I have stationed mounted men all
along the line to the White House, with
instructions to make all possible haste in
case the President should at the last mo.
men relent and grant a reprieve for
Mrs. Surratt. Ifa reprieve be granted,
it will probably be directed to me as the
commander of the department, and I
shall be on the spot till the last moment
for the purpose of opening reprieye
should any be sent He then, in the
kindliest manner, gave me instructions
to let Anna remain with her mother rs
long as prudence would permit, but upon
no condition to allow her to witness her
mothers execution, rs the memory of
the terrible scene would in after years be
too horrible for her to contemplate. He
then gave orders to the guard to let lis
pass, and he drove near US until we
reached the penitentiary.
ITO describe the heartrending events
of that memorable day, the frantic part
ing Of mother and daughter, the solemn
protestations of innocence of that mother
in the face of death upon the scaGold,
her outpouring of gratitude to myself for
the poor services had tried to render,
her only regret at parting with poor
Anna who would soon be alone in the
cold, world and above all, her most
humble submission TO the will of Almigh-
ty God in that direful hour--to describe oil
these scenes is beyond the power Of my
feeble pen, aud beyond the object / have
now in view. My object now is to add
my testimony to that of others in vindi.
cation of one who has been most upjustly
assailed for alleged connection with this
case of which no brave man could pos
sibIy be guilty."