Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-10
.KRs. suRRArT AND srANToN.
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Colonel William p. Wood, who was
chief Of Federal detectives during the
late war, writes as follows to the Wash
ington Gazette.
Some time after the execution OF
Mrs. Surratt President johnson sent
for me and requested me to give my
version Of Mrs. Surratt's connection
with the assassination Of President
Lincoln. | did so, and ] believe he
was thoroughly convinced of the inno-
cence Of Mrs. Surratt. He assured
me he sincerely regretted that he
had not given Mrs. Surratt the
benefit Of executive clemency
and strongly expressed his detesta-
ton Of what he termed the - in
famous conduct of Stanton " in keeping
these facts from him. ] asserted my
unehangeable friendship for Mr.. Stan
ton under all circumstances, and while
! regretted the course adopted by the
Secretary Of War towards Mrs. Surratt.
] would never hesitate to perform any
act of Kindness for him. President
johnson commended me for my dcvo-
tion to friends, and the subject Of the
assassination was never afterwards dis
cussed between him and myself. The
great War Secretary Of the Union was
ne longer in power. He was plain
citizen Of our republic, broken in
health, and tottering between life and
death.
The Republican leaders had. after
much pleading, induced President Grant
to name Mr.. Stanton for judge OF the
Supreme Court. The Senate promptly
confirmed the nomination, but Grant,
for some reason best known to himself,
did not put his signature to the COM
mission, or if he did sign the commission
he did not forward it to Mr.. Stanton.
1t was at this time the latter sent for
me, and called n his residence on X
street. When ushered into his presence
| was startled at his woe-begone and
wretched appearance. lie inquired if
! knew the reason why that man
(meaning President Grant, withheld his
commission. ! told him. Then We
drifted in our talk to the executions
herein referred to. and he rebuked me
for not making greater effort to save the
woman that was hanged. lie said he
would have trusted his life in my keep
ing; that would have saved him the tor
ments of hell had been more persistent
in my efforts. ] reminded him of my
call on President Johnson TO plead for
mercy for Mrs. Surratt, and that ! was
met by l.. c. Baker at the entrance of
the Presidents house. and Baker pro-
duced an order over his (Stanton'sl sig
nature which set forth that should not
be permitted to enter the building or
communicate with the President.
:" Too true" he responded. land
the Surratt woman haunts me so that
my nights are sleepless and my days
miserable, and Grant aids my enemies
by refusing to sign my commission,
which would afford me temporary re-
lief and perhaps prolong my life. He
will not do it, and, Wood. this is at
last the end" Placing his hands to
his head he continued: Il cannot en-
dure the pressure am dying, dying
surely, dying now "
\ few parting words were exchanged
between US, and the following day the
death of Edwin NJ. Stanton was pub
licly announced. He never received
his commission Of judge of the Supreme
Court. though he had been confirmed
by the Senate of the United States.