The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-29
MR.. srURRArr AND srANIOS.
Two Strange Stories Told by Will Am p
Wood, Ex-Chfef OF Detectives.
CAashfnOtou Cazafte

TWO StIduK6 St0IIcB LOU Dy WIFI 6m r.
Wood, OF Detectives.
Washington Gazette
Sometime after the execution of Mrs Sur
rett President Johnson sent for me and re-
quested me to give my version .of Mrs. Sur
rats oonLection with the u alton of
President lincoln. I did SO, and / believe
he was thoroughly convinced of the INFO
cence OF Mrs. Sorratt. He assured me be
siu cerely regretted that he had not given
Mrs. Surratt the benefit of executive Glenn
ency. and strongly expressed his detestation
of what be termed the 'sinfa nous conduct of
Stanton" in keeping these facts from him. /
asserted my III Interchangeable friendship for Mr..
Stanton undef all circumstances, and while
| regretted the course adopted by the Sscre-
tsry of War to wards Mrs. 6urratt, / would
never hesitate to perform any act of kind
ness for him President Johnson commended
me for NV devotion to friends, and the sub
jet Of association was never afterwards dis
Gus ed between him and myself. The great
War Secretary OF the Union was no longer in
power. He was a plain citizen OF our Re-
public, broken iu health and tottering be-
tween life a d death.
The Republican leaders had, after much
pleading. induced President Grant to name
Mr.. Stanton for q judge of the Supreme
Court Tbs Senate promptly confirmed the
but Graut, for some reason best
known to hi nseIf did not put his signature
to the commission, or If he did sign the CON
mission, ne did not forward It to Mr.. STAN
ton. 1t was at this time the latter
sent for me. and I called at his residence on
X street. When ushered into his presencs /
was startled ct his woe-begone and wretched
appearance. He inquired il / knew the rea
SON Why that man (meaping President
Grant) withheld his commission. i told
him. Then We drfted in our talk to the ex.
e~cutions herein referred to. and he rebuked
me for not making greater effort TO save the
woman that was hanged. He said he would
have trusted his life in my keeping; that ]
would have saved him the torments of bel
had / been more persistent in my efforts. ]
reminded him of my call on President John.
son to plead for mercy for Mrs Surratt, and
that | was met by Z G. Baker at the entrance
of the Presidents house, and Baker produced
an order over his (Slenton's) signature
which set forth that / should not be per-
] mitted to enter the building or communi,
|, cate with the President
TOO true" be responded, and the Sur
raft woman haunts me 90 that my night,
are sleepless and my days miserable. AND
Grant aids my enemies by refusing to sigr
my commission. which wo uld afford nj
temporary relief and perhaps prolong m!
life He will not do Ii, and, Wood, this i
I, at last the end" Placing his hand to hi
, head he continued: II can not endure th
pressure; I am dying, dying surely, dyin
noxl"
} A few parting words were exchanged b
tween Us. and the following day the deaf
Q of Edwin NJ. Stanton Wa publicly ~
9 nouoced. He never received his commisio
of Judge of the Suprvme Court, though b
had been cofrmed by the Senate Of the On
70 ted States.