The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-19

Ex-HIinister BinSham's Contribution to tho
Story of Lincoln's Murder.
San Francisco Chronicle.

San Francisco Chronicle.
Besides having record as United States Min
lister to Japan for nearly thirteen years, John A.
bingham who Is now IN this city en- route Tor
Washington having been relieved by Minister
Hubbard. has occupied prominent position in
American political history. He is that typical
shrewd man. ''PhilaGel phia LAWYER" but his
early practice was chiefly in Ohio, in which
State he was made attorney for TuscarawaS
county in l645. Next he was member of Con
gress from Ohio from 1855 to 1871, and then
earned his title of judge by accepting the posi-
ton, at Abraham Lincoln's request, of Judge
advocate of the army, in 1864, having been es-
peclaily appointed to try Surgeon general Ham
mond. Not long after this he was made Judge
advocate in the TRIAL of the conspirators for the
murder of Lincoln, aud wound up that period OF
his career by being made one o. ne managers
the Impeachment trial Of Andrew johnson, in
1868. Such being the varied experiences of the
exminister, Chronicle reporter sought, yester-
day. for relation OF some OF the most striking
experiences and as an Introductory question
asked him his idea on the proposed monument to
Mrs. Surratt
"a monument to Mrs. Surratt,r echoed the
Judge with marked spirit. land I suppose the
next there will be an obelisk to the memory of
John Wilkes Booth. There is he went on, "a
good deal of the circus about Americans. They
always want to be doing something that will look
we'll on poster. A monument to Mrs. Surratt,
indeed. What for | should like to know"
classes that she was innocent, | presume" said
the reporter
We'll l ought to know something about that,
| imagine retorted Mr. Bingham, and if the
schemer the abettor or the cOnnyer to an assaS
sination is as guilty as the assassin. and believe
there is no doubt upon the subject then Mrs.
Surratt was guilty as Booth. Harold, Payne,
or any OF the rest Of the gang. L speak thus
authOrltiveiy, for you will remember, sir, that l
was Judge advocate for the nation at the trial of
the cunspirators, and if the gentleman who pro-
pose to put up the Surratt monument had gone
through the mass of testimony that have, they
would not waste their time on any such scheme
for another instant. The proof of Mrs. Sur
rats guilt was direct. clear and positive.
forget the hour now, but 1t was some time IN
the morning of April IA that Mrs Surratt went
out of Washington, crossed the Potomac by the
East bridge, passed the lines-hOw | cannot say
and halted at her hotel at Surrattsville. There,
as was sworn to by the servants on the stand,
Mrs. Surratt left instructions that the shooting
irons would be wanted that night The shooting
irons consisted of pistols and carbnes concealed
between the wooden partitions, one of the car
bines being found, if | recOllect Alright, IN the
possession of one Of the conspirators when
arrested. She then set out various articles that
might be required by the murderers, including
bottle of whisky, and drove back to her house in
Washington That night the shooting irons
were wanted; Lincoln was shot through the
head and Booth, at 10 o'clock, rode through the
lines shouting aloud his own name. That incl
dent in itself is sufficient proof of completely |
should think, to say nothing of the proofs that
were adducel during the trial of the meet
ings of the conspirators at Mrs Surratts house
rs it true that Mrs. Surratt protested her
innocence9'
mo, sir, it is not true. 1t is true that she
pleaded not guilty on her trial, but when once
under the shadow of the gallowS Mrs Surratt
never once claimed to be innocent. She was
guilty. and it was right that she should have
been hanged
1T has been related in the crowd of incidents
brought up by Grants death, said the reporter,
that the Generals modesty saved him from
like fate to that of President Lincoln?'
well, that is measurably true" said the eX
Minister. stanton was aware of the danger
which Lincoln was running by visiting the thea
ter; in fact, he knew for months before that
assassination was in the air, and he begged Of
the President and of the General of the Army
not to visit Ford's Opera-house. Lincoln, how
ever. refused to be influenced, but Grant was
wiser, and so. not to offend Lincoln, announced
that he and Mrs. Grant were going on trip to
Galena to see his mother. Grant did not know
it at the time. but he was locked in the special
car set apart for his use, detectives went out on
the same train to keep guard over him. and the
officials along the line were telegraphed to keep
watch over him. Nor were these precautions
needless, for it was afterwards stated in a news
paper confession that one of the conspirators,
whose name, by the way. never could and
never did discover followed Grant on the same
did not succeed because he could get no chance
to his pistol"
You said just now" remarked the reporter
that Stanton and Lincoln both knew of the
danger that was abroad. Why is it that Lincoln
did not guard against this danger?
Because, sir, answered Mr.. Bin CHAM. "Abra-
ham Lincoln fatalist. and his firm belief
.'as that he had certain work to perform. and
when that was done he would 60, but not before
He knew that there was danger abroad months
before the assassination 1t was in October or
November, 1868, | am not positive as to the
month, that the lady in Fifth-avenue stage
picked up the letter dropped by Booth. 1t was
addressed to some one styled the Charlotte
Corday of the nineteenth century, said that
poison had once failed, and that cow there
remained the pistol and dagger, about whose use
there must be no blunder. The lady took the
letter TO a lawyer he took it to the Secretary of
State, by whom it was handed to Lincoln, who
Endorsed it, ASSASSINATION. A. L. But still he
wont about unattended, nor could he be induced
to take what we're ordinary precautions in those
tloublous times"
pTREACHEEe NynONV