Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-09-12
MRS. SURRATT'S CASE.
SOME INTERESTING BITS or GOSSIP
FROM HER EXEcuTloNER.


Capt. Rath's Estimate of Harold and
Pain--Aectdent to sn As.axsia's Re-
volSer--Wrs. sarratt's wondcrdfai self
Controi-MiStakc Of Her Counsel.
Capt Christian Rnth OF Detroit, is a re-
markable man, tie served his country from
lssis TO 1862 and clo~sl his military career by
hanging the four conspirators condemned to
death for the murder OF Abraham Lincoln.
For TINS he was brevetcd major and lieuten-
ant-colonel OF Unitcd States volunteers.
Capt Rath is rather small in stature, hut
not AT all Insignificant, as many small men
are. He Is, moreover, well built soldier,
with clear cut, rcsolute FEATURES, and
round, neatly trimmed, Grantliko beard
II could sit and talk about those people
for whole day Y said Capt Rath Il know
enough about them 10 hil volumes. | had
Charge OF those prisoners through their en-
tire confinement, and at the last superin-
tended their execution, 40 l had a good op-
portunity to study them. always regarded
Harold AS an unthinking boy-a spoiled
enid lie was great sportsman though.
lohd oi smoothing, aud the owner Of a splen
uiu pointer dog. We kept the dog for him
IN the prison, and at his death he left IL 10
Gen. Hartranft.
There was Paine. liked that man. You
know hc was wounded at Clettysbury tnlen
prisoner, brought into Washington and mn
rolled there. lie was magnificent man
big, strong, kind and generous, with an iron
resolution, and a voice aud manner as soft ns
womans liked Paine. When the pris-
oners were hooded and shackled TO prevent
them from dnshlnS their brains out against
hag 80 M. lay.s..
never begged 10 have the hood ana shaclio,
taken Off, The heat and discomfort mus,
have been intense, but he never inurrnured
| tell you that man was a hero He would
have murdered a dozen men-would have
waded through blood--and vet believe he
was thoroughly unselfish The Confederacy
was all and everything 70 him
"You will probably remember that 10 Paine
was assigned the assassination OF Sewnrd
He broke through Stewards door, knocked
young Seward down with tho stock OF his bjo
revolver, and cut the old man severely will
bowie katie. To this day the world ha,
never heard why he did not uss his revolver
TO shoot Seward can tell why. In strikin.
young Seward the pin of the revolver wn
bent very slightly, but enough TO prevent Tn,
chambers from turning, and, consequently. I,
shackle the lock. / tried the revolver nIyscl
afterward. Every chamber was loaded, bu
tho hammer could not be raised The blow
which knocked the young man over was
without doubt, the means OF savin.. his faith
er's life. Paine thought that ho had kille,
the old man. He was never undeceved unit
brought into court at the first trial. Their
he saw Seward, and realized that he hn,
failed de did not exhibit either pleasure o
regret.
D.... h. g.
trenches outside Washington. AT last nasur
gave out. He returned To tho city, tool
refuge in Mrs. Surratt's boarding house. an,
was concealed in the cellar when a searching
party entered the house and found him III,
was carried before Mrs Surratt. who t,
clared that she had never seen him before
1t was shown that he had been ono of hel
boardcrs, and these two facts formed th,
strongest barrier To her pardon. Paine wa
dreadfully cut up about 1t. He held himself
responsible for her position, and when th,
chances OF reprieye grew slight, cursed hi
weakness In returning TO her house over ant
over again.
:" If had two lives he said, Il would le
them both go 10 save her. mentioned tha
TO Maj. Eckert, who told Secretary stanton
Paine was sent for at meeting Of the council
and interrogated, with view, | think, o
bringing out facts which might Justify Mrs
Surratts pardon, or at | ast a Communication
of her sentence
Mrs. Surratt was, think, always actu
ated by the purest motives. She was shown
some favor as being n woman. The rest o
the conspirators were fed ON army rations
but she was allowed to choose what sh,
wished from the general table Mrs. Surrat
was n small plump, pretty brunette, will
al s.ly at..ls.
member one incident of her Imprisonment
which will give you some idea OF her strength
OF mind. You will remember that par
of the old district penitentiary had beel
rugged up u court house, while the othe
part was used as a military prison We'll
after Mrs. Surratt and her daughter.
charming girl of 10 years had been sepa.slte,
for three months, they were allowed an In
terview, which was to last two hours Mis-
Surratt came to the prison in the afternoon
and conducted her 10 a room adjoining tn
court room, where Mrs. SurTatt was writing
The girl just went over and sat down ON he
mothers lap and began 10 cry. | wen
away then; l didn't want TO stay, and di
not 60 near them again until some time afte
the two hours was up. When took the gir
away she was still crying, and noticed tina
Mrs. Surratt had not shed a tear. | won
dered AT that The girl cried all the wa,
home to the Catholic institution whcr,s sh
lived, and you can believe it made me fes
bad.
When l returned, spoke to Gen Hartrnnf
and mentioned what seemed to mo the alnos
heartlessness OF Mrs. Surratt Then tho gen
eral told mo that the httle girl had scarcsl
left the prison when Mrs. Surratt threw heI
self down in commissions Of such grief as h
had never dreamed OF before. Il seems har
20 imagine the struggle that woman mus
have undergone TO control herself throue
that long interview.
There are few people who know ho,
nearly Mrs Surratt came To "a reprieve 10
lowed by a communication of sentenee Their
was strong sentiment in her favor, and,
think, some doubt as 90 tho degree of he
guilt | will never believe that she was priv
70 Lincolns murder She approved, | think
OF his proposed abduction, but never OF hi
assassination
"Tho night before the execution xas whei
they had Paine up before the council Mex
morning Mrs. Surratts counsel had Gen
Hancock arrested Ia a civil process charging
him with having illegal possession of Mrs
bnrratts body. The country was unde
martial law at the time, aud the proceeding
was absurd Nevertheless, think II turne.
the scale against Mrs Surratt. The execu
ton was fixed for p. Ei., but before Hancocl
was released, which WIS done without cera
mony by sergeant and squad Of men, /
had rang 8 o'clock. Hancock came hurryinI
In and said 10 me: