Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-06

colin. The question OF Tel Pol9iDii''- i''
the hanging Of the woman, now generally
believed 10 have been Innocent, has been
one of strong interest for nearly quarter
of a century. At this late day the interest
ha. been strengthened by paper IN the
current North 1meucm Reuac hJ JOHN
r FORD who was the proprietor Of Ford's
Theatre at Washington IN which President
LINCOLN was sssassinated by john
WILKES Boom, and by paper read the
other day IN New York by Gen. henry
l.. BURNETT. who was connected With the
Trial Al legal officer Of the Government.
TIE two writers take opposite views IS
to the res possibility for the execution OF
Mrs SrREArr and the charge of Prssi-
deaf Johnson that the military commits
sion's recommendation to mercy in her
case vas suppressed by the judge Advo-
cate General Judge HON.
Mr.. FoRD's paper recalls the salient facts
in the case. DE was Imprisoned for forty
dsys in he Wild excitement which fol-
loved lba ss-s--ina.ion and while in prison
learned facts which thoroughly satisfied
him Of Mrs. SrRRArr's innocence. He
enseavored with ardent perseverance, from
the time ofhi- release ull the execution to
save her. but without avail, a. be was de-
MED access {, those 10 authority
Ether ANDREW JOHNSON or Judge
HON seems to have been responsible for
This State murder Mr. FORD places the
blame oo Judge HoLT The rscommen-
ds,ion to mercy sigatd by Eve members Of
tbs Military Commission President JoHN-
sox hss stated never reached him, and
thstifi. had ne would have committed tbs
sentence. Judge HoLr states that be did
send #. with the other records IN The case,
10 the President It would appear from
these two dtuy contradictory statements
that either President JOHNSON or Judge
HON. was guilty of simple falsebocd,
charge no. sustained by the kcown caar-
acier II either. The weight Of MI FoRD's
testimony 10 against Judge HOLT. Speak
ing of .ae official report OF the trial of the
conspiraiors prepared under Jodse HoLrs
direction. in which there is no mention Of
the recommendation to mercy, Mr. FORD
slys,
This book. ,o carefully prepared under Judge
f..f.. own .luerV i-l1u and every me -ciAllH-
la ID ny his assistant. ioIouc. hNruet "t' to-
,.......-t Dr. -.r.rI lu amy way. "tle recommends
zion OFF mercy, Wnich was -l-. a ..-. , i,,.. NJ
Dol. accuracy OF history, due to enc Moill' que .o
fna memory of Mr, Surratr. H- Do was que =,
President Johnson ON the SIN of July. l,''. ~
Was an essential part oi Che history or l'c l5p
rlalIul.- of fhe commission. It's omission lA lue
publication is. however boz keeping win ils sup
p-C,.iou at che White House
judge HOLr was the custodian OF the
important paper lie Gays he did present
ID to Toe President Mr.. JOHNSON says he
did not. else be would have commuted the
sentence. Sir. FORD concludes:
The world hardly Anew iu Che seven years
which followed. up t0 1872 tlA she lal pc-u
recommended in amy way lo mercy. and b, YET
.I,,,. Ir q-..ge dluht whether Or, ,ideu- Johnson
.---'.-i tbr recommendation a commission
advised hv judge Holt condemned htii a tfc'i
dent and Cabinet practically inNlcn' tl anu ~
vI-.d hy judge Holt. hanged her, WHl .ts, m
t... fr... n.tat TEe very man of Cod VINO
,hrIyet her soul for eternity was said i1 Poe CON
,fraiuetI oprnwlso That she should hol comm. I
,IIeatr with the world As Che poor marty walk
I'D In her shrouf % the scaH'.d 10 Is also SAID
chat sse begged tbe ministcrns priest oy hti
side tn DEE ncr telI the people she wa, luho
r.nt She was told that Che church was per
r1iffeI only to prepare her sou. for eternity thal
already She was dead OBJ all else.
Nov for Gen. BURNErr's version Of the
case which puts it in totally different
Light HE paper is very interesting, and
ifuus exouerstes Judge HOLT and place.
President JOHNSON in a very bad light
We ouoteextenlyely from it:
zone of the main points in President
I Iohnson's response 20 this evidence was
I that in the puplished volume or the re
cord of the trial OF the asslssins, prepared
by Mr. Bonn pimsn, of Cincinnati, undei
INV official su. ervision. TINS recommended
ZION 10 mercy does not sppsar. There l.
mn force in this, the petition or recommen
dstiou 20 mercy constituted properly M
mart of the official record OF the trial. II
may he sidei that Mr.. titman, m bis ap
pHcation for permission % make this pub
LEGATION, announced specifically that suci
published record should comprise, VIZ
such record TO include the testimony
documents adduced IL evidence, discuss
ION Of points of law raised during the trial
this addresses OF he counsel for the accused
/ the reply o. the special Judge Advocate
and The findings and sentence. Bui
fnrther than this Mr. Piiman was one o
the official st1nogrnphers of the Court
there we're five others-but Dir. fltman
tho had his deck and place IN the office
the War Department, Rad special charg
and custody of che record from day 70 day
The other reporters sent IN TO HIM thei
por.ions OF the testimony as they wer'
written up and thereafter be was respon
s.b'e for them NV recollection Is also
chat az the testimony wss written mp,
presa copy was made OF D., which he, Mr.
ptmau. took with BIN 20 Cincinnati ant
rsei ni or De had received permission from
the War Department 90 pUblish.
'.The Commission met with closed doom
|al1oa m. on the 29th of Jane, TO consid
or ms lab.rs with clcssd doors on the 5O.b
From these meeting, an the .enographi
r-ror,ers were excluded The finding
and sentences when finally made and re
corded snd were handed 10 me TO ne 81
tacaed 90 the record, or 20 20 VIII
the record 10 the Judge Advocate
Generals office, as was then On
,,nrss ofproc-dure. By the oath admin
isfsred ali the members of the Commission
as we'll as the Judge Advocates, wen
bonpd not 20 reveal those hndiug' and sen
terces. I therefore retained them IN m.
possession. instead of pNsins them on q
I ihs sie,oersphers. When the rscommen
dation 20 mercy w,s drawn ao0 signed ny
five members of the Commission that w
also handed 20 NE 10 accompany the hna
ipgs
"Mr. PJmau never saw, / presume
either ihe original findings or the recon-
mendluos % mercy. snd th7 nrSI Sno"i
edge he had of the former. doubtless, We
after they were promulgated hy the AoJu
tsnt General on the 5th dsy Of Jelly. I'M
is evidenced bv ,he fact that the Aolutan
Ceuersl I'm pronulgsin, the proceedings
took Ma. SurrAlt's name from the posi-
ton IL occupies 10 ths original record cnJ
placed Nc next that of Payne evidently fol
the p1rp1se of grouping together the foul
persons condemned 10 death. Mr Pitmar
civss the findings and -entencs IN IN,
I r,t.rt ~ r. d.. N,,l,~',