The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-13
FRIDAY ,iomNING, NAY 49,
Cenerul =. NJ. Harris and the IIauginE oil
Mrs, hIFFRIt

RtGtIet UuIlyi W. Na.t HaA'H'
Asis well known, Gen. I. NJ. Harris, Of
this place, was a member oil the Commits
sinn which TILED the assaseins OF President
Lincoln For the sake OF gaining their
oTn ends, INSCRIPTIONS politicians have
frequently uuiuslly assailrd him Tor con-
scientiolsly dischargiDg his duty In this
connection. a. bearing on this matter
we make the following extFac. from o let
ter voluntarily written TO Gen. Harris, by
gentleman OF s'andngGnd respectfully,
residing in another State, who for reasons
eounly Satisfactory does not wish pub
Lefty given to his name.
"uvAefgl Harris; When | had the
pleasure Of meeting you short time ago,
had entirely forgotten the fact OF your
having been on the court martial that
tried and condemned Mrs. SurTatt; but
after leaving your place, whilst talking
to u gentleman at Olsrksburg, | was re
minded OF the Tact, and | also learned
that some politicians in your region had
criticised to some extent, your action on
that court martial. Possessing iniormR
ton relative TO that case, which justifes
the finding OF the court martial, there
fore concluded that 1t will BIO but m act oi
justice 10 YOU to communicate the fol
lowing; An intelligent widow lady oil
Southern birth aud prejudice, who was
acquainted with JEFF Davis and who ran
the blockade several times during the
Rebellion, carrying intelligence to Mr.
Davis, was captured and imprisoned, al
the time Of Mrs. Surratts trial and exc
Crtiou, in tho old capital ut Washington
The two women became acquainted, wher
Mrs, SuTratt made s0me confessions which
show that she was guilty"
a. ter saying that he does not feel at lib
Grty to give the lady'a name or the Ian
guage, the writer OF the letter says, evil
Gdi, however, that the lady iga relative oI
mine, whom visit occasionally, since the
Rebellion; she is married again, and can
VonCh for her veraCity and reBpeCtability.'
We append copy OF General Harris
letter to the author OF the foregoing ex'
tFaG', as pertinent in this connection:
"DgAE sIR:-Permlt me to thank you
Tor your very kind letter OF the Sd inst,
aud the motives that prompted 1t. 1t Il
trus that some Of the Democratic politi'
Clans OF West Virginia haze, from the
stump, appealed TO tho ignorant pniudiCes
Of cur dtsOyaI people, by referring TO the
fact that | was member OF tie military
company that tried tho ConspirstoTs who
aided, abGt'ed and assisted in the assaai
nation OF President Lincoln; and TO give
point to their sppea, assumed that
WAS instrumental in the conviction and
execution Of an innocent woman Mrs
Surratt. always regarded such appeals
n being intended Ia break the force OF ar
gumGnt which they felt unable to answer
and az inspired alike by spirit oil disloy
atty, aud disregard OF truth and justice
and as being too contemplate 10 merit 81
answer. | discharged that duty honestly
carefully, ConsCientiously; rendering my
decision in accordance with my Judge
ment OF the evidence presented IN tht
Case. have never had u doubt Cross my
mind but that | gave just and proper
verdict one that will be sustained by al
intelligent people in coming generation
that shall be free from party spirit and
'ptejndiCgs that bias the minds Of many
who are now actors on the stage. In the
meantime, be assured that | shall never
be disturbed either in mind or conscience
by the criticisms OF the people who would
now condemn me. | am very truly yours
ETC., T. NJ. HARRIS"
We presume that this letter from Gen
Harris will throw some OF our West Vtr
glnia Democratic brethren into fresh dis
tre3s OF mind over Mrs. Surratts execu
ton. Butas long n the officers who cal
on the court martial that condemned hel
10 death have the answer OF q good con-
science In the matter, as we believe thai
General Harris always has had, they need
not feel disturbed over the periodical re.
yIval OF tho subject. BY tho light
OF subsequent events We have had
some doubts whether Mrs. Surratt
was actually privy to the Presidents
assassination. Tho conBpirAtors met u
her house in Washington and there
Matched the plot, 1t was at her house in
Surfattsvlle, alter tho deed, that Booth
stepped and got gun and a bottle Of
whisky. There were many circumstances
going to show that she was in the
conspiracy, and yet inasmuCh as she was
woman and could not well take mans
part in the general massacre intended,
there has arisen good deal OF doubt
whether che WAS actually informed as 10
what was to be done on that dreadful
night. II Is not improbable that she had
aguilty knowledge oil the affair, and her
death was the penalty paid for being de.
tected In such close relations with the az.
saSsins. She went to her death, however,
protesting her innocence, and we presume
that II the trial had not followed the deed
30 swiftly she might have escaped death
She was tried when the public mind was
greatly excited, and when the general
judgment Of the country was decidedly
against her, and this was also the slate Of
mind Of the Court Each member Of that
Court, however, was responsible only to
his oath for his verdict, and II be kept his
oath, to be guided by the evidence in The
case, he has certainly no cause 10 reproach
himself.