The Irish standard., 1891-09-05


'have made deep impression on him;
I was afraid the pass sent you would
not answer, 80 I have brought you one
from Secretary Stanton, but want you
to promise me that you will not say
anything about the Innocence OF Mrs.
Surratt." replied coolly and delibel-
ately: "You wish me to promise that I
shall say nothing 10 regard to the inno-
cence of Mrs. Snrratt. Do you know
the relation between pastor and his
flock? will defend the character OF
the poorest woman ia my parish at the
risk of my life. Thank God, do not
know what fear is; fear neither man
nor devil, but God alone. You wish to
seal my lips; wish you to understand
that was born free man and will die
one. l know where all this comes from:
it comes from your secretary of war,
whom congressman in my breakfast
room two weeks ago called & brute. or
course / cannot let Mrs. Surratt die
without the sacrameDts, SO it L must
say yes, I say yes" He then gave me
the pass signed by Secretary Stanton.
This was about 230 p. ~, Thursday,
July 6, 1865. That afternoon I went to
see Mrs. Surratt to make gements
to give her communion next morning.
! also called to see the President, hav-
ing Annie, Mrs. Sarratt's daughter
with me. On entering the gate at the
Presidents house met Hon Thomas
Florence, ex.member Of Congress from
Pennsylvania. Heremarked: "-Eather
Walter, you and are on the same e1-
rand ot mercy. The President mast
not allow this woman to be hanged"
We went into the executive mansion
and upstairs to room next to the one
occupied by the President, Andrew
Johnson. There l met Colonel Mussey,
secretary of the President. Preston
King anc Ole other person. request
ed Colonel Mussey to go 10 and ask the
President if be would see me. He re-
turned and said the President would
not see me. Again. at my request. Col
onel Mussey went in, telling the Presl
dent that l would not deta1n him i've
minutes. This WAS denied ma. i
made another attempt, and told Colonel
hlussey to say to the President that l
did not ask for pardon or Communication
of sentence, but asked tea days re-
prieva to prepare Mrs, Surraet for eter-
nity. This reasonable request was
also refused. Annie, Mrs. Surratt's
daughter, was in like manner refused
an interview with President johnson,
The President sent me word to 20 to
Judge Holt. went with Annie to see
this man, but 1t was perfectly useless.
He had no more feeling for the poor
daughter than piece OF stone; ne re-
ferred her to the President. The poor
child, with eyes streaming with tears,
was left without any sympathy from
this cold, heartless man. [ said to her:
"Come, Annie, it is battledore and
shuttlecock; the President sends You
to Holt and Holt sends you to tho Pres
dent.' This was Thursday afternoon,
the day before the execution. On the
following morning went at z O'Clock,
carr wing with me the holy communion,
which I gave to Mrs. Surratt in the
cell. I remained with her until the
time OF execution, which was about
2:SO >. m. can never forget the scene
witnessed on that sad occasion. Poor
Mrs. Surratt had been sick for several
weeks and was quite feeble; she was ]y-
ing on mattress LAID On the bare brick
floor OF her cell. Certainly this was not
the way in which to treat the vllest con-
yict Just before execution. While l
was irving to comfort this poor, good
soul, her daughter had just returned
from another unsuccessful attempt to
see the President; she addressed her
mother in these words; stMother, are
you resigned?' Her mother replied:
"Yes, INV child.'' Again she spoke:
"Father, speak to mother and ask her
if she is reslgned.' Her mother re-
piled; "Annie, my child, this is no
place for you; go to your room" With
out word thus dear child, with broken
sobs, left the cell and retired to one OF
the cells in the penetentiary. Shortly
before the hour of her execution, Mrs.
Surratt was brought out Of her cell and
was sitting on chair at the doorway.
It was at this time that she made clear
ly aud distinctly the solemn declaration
OF her innocence. She said to me. IN
the presence of several officers: Faith
or, wish TO say something "Well
what is it, my child?" ''rhat [ am in
nocent," were her exact words. My re-
ply was: "You may say SO if you wish.
but it will do no good.'' These words
were uttered while she stood on the
verge OF eternity, and were the last con-
fessiOn Of an innocent woman.
When the time arrived for the execn-
tion, she was carried to the scaffoId by
two soldiers, because she was too weak
even to stand on her feet. On the scat
a L - T.