The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-14
THE sURRAr1 CASE.
General Ekin Denies an Oft-Told Tale An Re
gard tn Mrs. Surratt's Execution.

General Ekin Denies an Oft-Told Tale In Re
gard To Mrs. Surratt's Execution.
Louisville Times.
Respectfully referring to the following pub
LEGATION in the Times of this afternoon:
Tho Times of Saturday last published very
interesting paper from John F. Coyle, relative
to his meeting with John Wilkes Booth the
day when Booth shot President Lincoln. IN
the course of his paper Mr.. Coyle says:
1.-THE executions were over, and nearly two years
signed by every member of the Military Commission
before whom she tried, with the exception of
whose name. think. was Eean, was found hidden in
Holt. He had kept it from the President who ony
by accident heard of its existence and search being
instituted. it was found in the care of named
Wright, q tool aud confidential clerk of Holt
This single exception among the military
commission, referred to by Mr. Coyle was Gen.
eral Ekin. Of this city, lately in charge Of the
Jeffersonville depot"
beg to state that the officers Of the army
which comprised the military commission that
follows. Their names are in the order ~ they
appeared on tho official record: General
Hunter. president; General Wallace, General
Kautz, General Howe General Foster. General
Ekin. General Harris, Colonel Tompkins and
Major Cleudenniu.
With the exception Of Major-eeneral David
Hunter all these officers are now living.
At the close of this memorable trial. ct my
euGRostions memorial was prepared ana
signed by five members, . majority Of the court,
addressed to the President Of the United States,
recommending that, on account of the sex Of
Mrs. Surratt, the sentences. which the commits
sion was constrained TO render from the testl.
mony sented, be commuted from death to
imprisonment for life if the chief executive, in
considering the case, could. in his Judgment,
30 determine. The rough. original copy Of thia
important paper 10 now in my possession.
This petition was signed by Generals Hunter.
Kautz, Foster. Ekin and Col Tompkins. Four
members Of the commission declined TO sign IL.
This memorial. in my hand writing. was. be-
fore the dissolution of the court, attached to
its official proceedings and forms part Of the
record now file in the JodRs Advocate
Generals Department Of the Army. On the
eve Of the execution of the criminals was In
he had submitted the memorial to President
Andrew johnson, calling hia special attention
to its contents; that the President had given
: the matter careful and mature deliberation
and consideration. and could not under any
circumstances, modify the 6ndines Of the COM
mission. They were approved accordingly.
The evidence 10 overwhelming. from various
court was before President johnson at the prop
Or sme and in the regular established way. and
the alIeeation that il was kept from him by
General Holt" is wicked and malicious.
The statements in Mr.. Coyls's publication arc
all contrsdicted by reference to the files of the
proper department OF the governments; they are
Of the most reckless nature, full OF earing in
accuracies and gross misrepresentation. The
facts in the briefly and correctly herein
represented They have been repeated to the
country from time to time, and I am. In this
brief communication, simply vindicatiug the
truth VI history. JAMES A. EKIN,
Brsvet Brigadier-general, q. S. A.