The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-07-01

should change my determination; this ar
tack seems 10 me 10 call for the kind o.
response that will make such objections to
Gen. Hancock impossible in the future
That is what said to-day to Bishop Keane
Of Richmond, when informed him had
about decided to brand all such stores as
false over my own signature
"'Would you object to doing it nowi
the reporter asked.
"'Not at all, Father Walter replied, and
seating himself at table be wrote this de-
NAL:
"Truth and justice compel me to deny
the statement with reference to Gen. Han
cocks participation in the execution of
Mrs. Suratt,, which appeared in the Wash
ington Post this morning. attended Mrs
Surratt on that occasion, and met with no
interference on the part Of Gen. Hancock.
Gen. Hancock had great sympathy for this
unfortunate lady, and waited until the last
moment, hoping for repreve. consider
it an act Of justice TO Gen. Hancock that
this statement should be made.
ia. WALKER.
"Pas,or Of St. Pa.ricks Church"
"'There. That is the first statement l
have made for the public in all these years.
Father Walter said, a trife sadly, Il hope
il may be the means of enough good to
compensate for all the harm that these sto-
ries have done
IAN assertion made to-day by an ex-army
officer was abundantly corroborated in the
war department, that SO strong was General
Hancock's hope for reprieve tor Mrs, Sur
raft that ON the day Of the execution be
stationed relays Of cavalry along the streets
from the white house to the arsenal, that no
delay might ensue in communicating the
fact. In the arsenal are photographs of
the scafold at the time of the execution.
They show Father Walter at Mrs. Surratts
side"
This was followed by another dispatch,
published November 25, as follows:
"WAsHNGToS, Nov. 24.-When General
Hancock was here last week ne met the
Rev. Father Walter at the house of q
mutual friend. General Hancocks car
rage was at the door, and after the visit
Father Walter entered the carriage at Gen
eral Hadcock's request and they drove off
together. Their conversation lasted for
nearly an hour. From an army officer who
knew Whist was said, it seemed that
General Hancock began the conversation
by thanking Father Walter for the state
ment and card published in the World
about the defamatory stories in connection
with the hanging OF Mrs. Surratt That
denial was necessary, Gen. Hancock
said, TO destroy vicious falsehood, and it
was sufficient to do it Father Walter re.
Piled tina, he had done merely his duty,
and that while he was by no means inclined
TO arouse bad feeling in the matter, he
thought that while the press were disposing
Of it they might as well place the blame
for the execution where il belongs, upon
Andrew johnson. When the time for The
execution had been fixed he said, 4 went
to President Johnson to urge postpone
ment tor few days. Mr.. Johnson perem-
torily refused to postpone the execu.
ton, and acted as though he suspected
l would be led 10 hope that one
favor might be followed by Others,
and that eventually reprieve might justly |
be demanded. l tined to disabuse hill Of
such an impression by declaring that If he |
would grant US but ten days no other favor
would be asked Of him, Shortly before the
execution called at the white house a
second time. Ny card was returned with a
message that Mr.. johnson would not see
me. | asked him then for hearing Of ten
minutes, but he refused; then for two min
utes, and be still refused. There was no
reason in his refusal and hope he felt at
the time Of his impeachment trial that the
refusal Of the senate to grant him ten days
IN which to prepare defense was in a
measure retributive."
"A letter was received by an army officer
here from one of Gen, Hancock's most init
mate associates, few days after the publ
cation in the World of Father Walters
statement, which said that Gen. Hancock
was highly gratifed at the course Of the
World regarding the affair, and that both
he and his friends felt that the prompt ref
utation through the World had SET the in
famous stories at rest forever.
"Ex-Gov. Hartranft, in conversation TO-
day about the stories in connection with the
execution Of Mrs. Surratt, said he was glad
that they had been eifectually disproyed;
that he himself had immediate charge Of
the execution, and that afterward he re.
ceiyed letters from Mrs. Surratt's daughter
and Others thanking him for the consider
ton he had SHOWN both to the prisoners