The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-04-04
MRS. sURRATT AND STANTON.
Two Strange and improbable Stories
Told by Wm. p. Wood, ex-OhAef
Of Detectives.

Two Strange and improbable Stories
Told by VIM. p. Wood, ex-ChAef
Of Detestivos.
Some teme 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. I did 80, and I believe he
was thoroughly convinced of her
innocence. He assured me he sincere
~ regretted that he had not given
Mrs. Surratt the benefit of Executive
clemency, and strongly expressed his
detestation of what he termed the
81 infamous conduct of Stanton" in
keeping these facts from him. I as
serted my Interchangeable friendship
for MI. Stanton under all cireum-
stances, and while I regretted the
course of The Secretary uf War
towards Mrs. Surratt, I would never
hesitate to perform any act of kind
ness for him. President johnson
commended me for my devotion to
friends, and the subject of the assas-
sination vas never afterwards dis
cussed between him and myself. The
great War Secretary of the Union
was nc longer in power. He was 3
plain citizen of the 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 a
Judge of the Supreme Court. The
Senate promptly confirmed the
nomination, but General Grant,
for some reason best known to
himself, did not put his signature
to the commission, or, if he did sign
the commission, he did not forward
it to Mr.. Stanton. It was at this
time the latter sent for me, and I
called at his residence on X street.
When ushered into his presence l
was startled at his wO-begone and
wr.tched appearance. He inquired
if I knew the reason why thai man
(meaning President Grant) withheld
the commission. I told him. Then
we drifted in u talk to the execu-
lions herein referred to, and he re-
buked me for not making greater eff
fort to save the woman that was
hanged. He said he would have
trusted his life in my keeping; that l
would have saved him the tor
ments of hell had l been
more persistent in my efforts. I
reminded him of my call on Presi-
dent Johnson to plead for mercy for
Mrs. Surratt, and that I was met by
L. G. Baker at the entrance of the
Presidents house, and Baker pro-
duced an order over his (Stanton's)
signature which set forth that I
should not be permitted to enter the
building or communicate with the
President"
"Too true" he responded, land
the Surrat woman haunts me SO that
my nights are sleepless and my days
miserable. and Grant aids my ene-
mics by refusing to sign my commits
sion which would afford me temper
ary relief, and perhaps prolong my
life."
He will not do itan Wood, this Is
at last the end" placing his hand to
his head. he continued; II cannot
endure the pressure; l am dying, dy-
ing surely, dying now"
A few parting words were ex-
changed between u.s., and the follow
ing day the death Of Edwin M. Stan
ton was publicly announced. He
never received his commission of
Ju0ge of the Supreme Court, though
he had been confined by the Senate
of the United States.