The morning call., 1891-06-23
ON THE SCAFF0LD.
Mrs. Surratt's Last Words to Father
Malt

Mrs. Surratt's Last Words to Father
Walter.
had long talk with Father Walter in
his study, writes Washington cOrresonGent
TO the Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph.
The statement" he said, that | was Mrs.
Surratt'S cOnfessor is untrue. 1t is true
that heard Mrs. Surratts last confession,
but previous to that trial l had never met
or spoken TO her to my knowledge. The
charge has been made in the Century and
other avenues of public thought that l
prevented Mrs. Surratt from making pnb-
lie confession of her guilt The real facts
are these: Immediately after her arrest
Mrs. Surratt was placed in the Carroll
Prison. From there she wrote me a letter
requesting NE to call and see her. | visited
the prison at once, but was informed that
nobody was permitted 10 see the woman,
and repeated efforts in that direc-
ton were equally futile. Some time
atteTward she was removed to the
old Arsenal Prison, and a day or
two before her execution she again wrote
and asked me to come down and hear her
confession. / called at the prison, aud on
the strength OF my passport was admitted
The unfortunate woman was in a fearful
state of mind. She was not manacied nor
heavily ironed, as has been said, for she
was too weak 10 move about. | heard her
Of the day on which she was executed.
After administering the blessed sacrament
to her, she was left seated on a chair at the
entrance to the cell, surrounded BIZ five or
ten officers, while the final preparations for
her ion were being accomplished.
When the march to the seaffold began, the
poor woman, laboring under great excite
ment turned from the officers toward me
and said, in as loud voice as she could
command: Father, Father, l want 10
make statement
What is it, NY child?' / inquired.
| want to say here and on the scaffold
that | am innocent.
" Oh can do So | answered. in a tone
loud enough TO be heard by every person
forming the death march, but, strange to
say, after lapse of twenty-five years, no
one has the honesty to come forward and
bear testimony to those memorable words
Instead Of lettering the woman from max
ing public confession, advised her to do
so, and she did declare her innocence, but so
preJudiced are the people that not one of
those who witnessed this last scene will
come forward in the interests OF truth. 1t
is my duty to defend, and will as long as
life lasts defend the reputation and honor of
my parishioner when unjustly assaled, and
when innocent, with my very life if neces-
sary, and / should be found wanting in
Christian charity were to allow Mrs. Sur
rats name to go down to history without
making this declaration OF her innocence
public"
'HOw long had Mrs Surratt resided in
your parish. Father" l asked.
About three months. She kept a fur
nished-room and boarding house within a
few blocks of my church. Booth and few
other fellows hired room from her, but she
was kept completely ignorant Of what was
going on there. Even Payne, who at
tempted to assasslnate Secretary Seward on
the same night that Lincoln was murdered,
admitted few hours before his execution
that the woman was innocent PAYNE was
Protestant, and up to the very last de-
clined TO nake any statement touching the
tragedy. To his spiritual adviser, Rev.
Mr.. Keeling. he said a short time before
his death; You have been very kind
to me, Mr.. Keeling, and / am willing
now 10 answer any questions you may
put to me- In reply to query touching