Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1885-03-12

OF Jhls TACT is established by the
entry made in his diary, taken
from his person after capture and
death. 1t reads thus.
"April 14th, Friday, The Ides.-
Until to-day nothing was ever
thought of sacrificing to our coun-
try's wrong. For six months we
have worked to capture, but our
cause being lost, something great
must be done. But its failure was
owing to Others who did not strike
for their country with a heart. /
struck boldly
On my return from st, Mary's
county, Maryland, (after the close
OF my mission of tracking BoothD
and assuming charge of Carol
Place branch of the Old Capitol
Prison (the block ofbuildings now
facing the eastern front of the
House at Representatives., one of
the first persons desiring a private
interview. with me was Lewis
Weichman. The interview was
brief, as it annoyed me to be in the
presence of the periidious wretch,
who sought the interview for the
purpose of informing me that he
was willing to betray the unfortu-
nate Mrs. Snrratt to save his own
miserable carcass.
Mrs. Surratt was a convert to
the Catholic Church, and her son
and daughter We're educated in re-
ligious institutions of that faith.
Weichman had been class mate
of John Surratt's. At u subse.
quent period he was employed in
this city as n clerk in the office of
the commissary general of prison:
ers, and boarded with the Surratt
ianily. In his position as clerk
Weichman secured valuable infor-
nation, which was generally for
warded to Richmond by way of
the lower counties of Maryland,
have no doubt the obtaining Of
this information by Weichman
was primarily at the instance of
John Surratt, but he was also en-
couraged by Mrs. Surratt. While
| do not believe she participated
in any Of the councils which were
held to arrange for the abduction
of President Lincoln, yet | think
she was cognizant Of that plot.
She was certainly innocent of any
knowledge of the assassination.
That Mrs. Surratt made frequent
visits to- her place in Prince
George county, Maryland, accom-
panied by Weichman, is a fact.
That Mrs. Surratt had private in
terviews with her tenant (LloyO,
and that sha was accompanied to
her place by Weichman on the day
preceding the assassination, when
a carbine was left in the care of
Lloyd, are possibly true. But that
such visits or the leaving Of the
carbine was in any way connected
with Booths hurried plan Of assas.
sination ] do not believe, as | had
from Mrs. Surratt in person, a short
time previous TO her execution, q
positive declaration that WEIGH
man himself carried the carbine,
which he delivered in person to
Lloyd, and she had no knowledge
whatever of its destination or pur-
pose.
Edwin M. Stanton possessed
great force of character, with an
iron will and unAagging determi-
nation to push TO successful issue
his purposes. To those whom he
permitted to counsel with him he
desired to appear as advisory, but
he was in reality dictatorial. lie
was determined that Mrs. Surratt
should be executed, / appealed
to him to show mercy to the un
fortunate lady, declaring my be-
lief in her innocence, and remind
ing him Of my assurance to her
brother, Zadoc Jenkins. | also
warned him Of the remorse that
would forever follow him in case
he persisted in demanding her
life. But my applications and
circumstances were unavalling.
! was determined to leave moth
ing undone to save the life of Mrs
Surratt, and Mr.. Stanton, know
ing my purpose, caused the priS-
oners who were charged as ''assas-
sination conspirators" and whose
sentence was pre-arranged to be
removed from my custody to the
old penitentiary building, with
which establishment had no Off
cial connection.
Mrs. Surratt and her handsome
and accomplished daughter were
in my custody prior to the order
of removal. Miss Annie was not
selected as one Of the victims, and
the separation Of the mother and
daughter was one Of the most
heart-rending scenes which ever
Witnessed. ! will not attempt to
describe it.
The prisoners arraigned before
the military commission were Mrs.
Mary Il. Surratt, Lewis Payne,
George A. Atzerodt, David +. Har-
old, Michael O'Laughlin, DIR. Sam
uel A. Mudd, Edward Spangler
and Samuel Arnold. The com
mission commenced their proceed
ings on June 70. The findings Of
the commission were transmitted
to the Secretary Of War. Judge
Holt had united with other mem
bers Of the court in recommend.
| Ing Mrs. Snrratt TO executive elem.