The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-15
TIE SURRATT MURDER.

Reading tho Story OF tho Execution The
Daughter Of Mrs. Surratt Tells tho Story
OF General !Hapcook's Connection with
tho Torrible Tragedy--IptervIow With u
baltimore Lady.
Special to the Now York World.
WASHINGTON, January 4.-In view
part which Gen. Hancock is alleged to
have taken in the execution of Mrs.
Surratt, q representative o: the World
visited Baltimore to obtain from the
daughter Of the unfortunate martvr q
statement of all she knew about the
matter. Mrs. Surrutt's daughter is
now Mrs. w. p. Tonry, wife of Prof.
Ionry, wrll-known analytical chem
lst. with her husband aud two chill
drcn she resides at l18 Eager street,
Baltimore.
"Mrs. Tonry," began tho reporter,
81 have called to- solicit from YOU a
statement regarding the part General
Hancock took in connection with your
mothers execution"
The lady seemed visibly affected.
AS soon as she was able to recover her
composure she said: "My health is not
good; you must excuse me, but the
mention ofmy mothers namc brings
all the facts OF that horrible day SO
VlVldly to my mind that am not al
ways strong enough to control my
self" AS she had not seen the card of
Father Walter vindicating Gen. Han
cock it was read to her, together with
statement published in an Indiana
paper on the same subject. When
Gen. Hancock'S name was mentioned
she said quickly: "EIe had nothing
whatever to do with it. l suppose
you have come for me to say some
thing in his favor; what conld I say or
what would it tavail?"
"Why is it that you feel such pre-
judicc against Gen. HancockW
! "Bccausc," said she, "Uf his treat
ment Of me on the morning of the exc
cution. went to him that morning
can ever forget it land begged, i'm
plored and bcseechcd him to ask the
President and secretary Of war to post
ponc the execution. What did he do?
What did he say2 Nothing. Do you
think he is a manT"
"What could he have done, Mrs.
Tonryl"
81 don't know, but he might have
tried"
"Was he not kind to your Did he
say anything offensive to your"
"IIc said, the President and secretary
of war have made up their minds"
"Was that allr"
eyes, but his manner was SO cold.
Hc has no heart"
"Was tho statement 1 have read
from tho Indiana paper, charging him
with indifference to you correct in any
one Particular"
"No, Gen. Hancock had nothing to do
with granting r1e permits. Secretary
Stanton signed them and Gen. Han
cock merely countcrsigncd them.
Stanton and Gen. Holt were tho only
men who controlled the Pres dent and
they are the guilty ones. When nv
mother was SO sick in prison that she
was not expected to live they would
not allow priest to visit her. Who
ever refused such a request before 7
Common humanity ought to have made
him grant her request. / could tell
you great deal about the silent hours
l spent with my mother in the jail. 1
was her only companion, sho my only
friend, and my grief is just as strong
now as it was OH that terrible morn
ing. There is one thing remember
and shall never forget about General
Hancock. On the morning of the exc.
cutien:L. was in an ambulance on nv
way to the President when Gen. Han
cock rode up to the side of the ambu-
lance and said: Miss Surratt, advise
you not to- buoy yourself up with
hope Now tell me, why did he say
that? l thought it cruel"
"Pcople are beginning to think of
your mother as al innocent woman
most cruelty wronged," the reporter
suggested, l"and-"
'Innoccnt, do you say?" Mrs. Tonrv
broke in; who should know it better
than /? Can you think that mother
would conspire with her son? was
her close companion and never left her
and what she did did. Inever have
spoken in all these years. What's the
use of speaking now; who would be-
lievc me! l live secluded from the
world, l never read the papers. Inev-
er have read the proceedings of the
trial and do not even know tho names
of the Witnesses
"But did you not know all about the
trial from your mothers consel?"
"No. Reverdy johnson was her
counsel but he was in court the first
day, never afterwards. He told me
that he considered the court but a
court of inquiry, and said eimply that
nc was astonishcd at the result when
1t was over"
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II ID