The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-07-09

90 with. While much has been witt
ten and published on the subject, th'
following article will doubtless be reae
with interest. A late Washington dis
patch says:
Public attention is again focused
upon the execution of Mrs. Surratt fol
alleged participation in the murder
of President Lincoln. For as much
as many writers of great skill have
given to the world their opinions ot
the principal actors in that sad drama
and their individual guilt, and public
sentiment having been nodded to some
extent therefrom, Father Walter, pastor
of St. patrick's Church, who heard
Mrs. Surratt's confession before hel
march to the scaffold and accom-
panied the ill-fated woman thither,
has deemed it necessary to give his ver-
sion of that memorable occurrence,a land
in the cooler light of justice to place
before the public the circumstances
connected with Mrs. Surratt's arrest
and execution as they appeared to
him.
The Century Magazine and other
influential organs Of public opinion
have repeatedly refused to publish any
paper, tending to establish the inno-
cence of Mrs. Surratt. Father Walter
has more than once tried to bring the
true facts of the case before the world,
but his words were either misquoted
or wilfully misrepresented in each case.
He has recently laid before the Cath
olic Historical Society, of New York,
paper, detailing at length the circum-
stances connected with Mrs. Surratt's
execution and declaration ofinnocence,
a statement which cannot fail to con-
vince the most skeptical that the un-
fortunate woman knew no more about
the conspiracy than the President
himself.
DECLARING HER INNOCENCE.
had long talk with Father Wal
ter in his study this morning. "The
statement" he said, "that was Mrs.
Surratt's confessor is untrue. 1t is
true that l heard Mrs. Surratt's last
confession, but previous to that trial
| had never met the woman or spoken
to her to my knowledge. The charge
has been made in the Century and
other avenues of public thought, that
| prevented Mrs. Surratt from making
public 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 me
to call and see her. I visited the
prison at once, but was informed that
nobody was permitted to see the woman,
and repeated efforts in that direction
were equally futile. Some time after
wards she was removed to the old
arsenal prison, and day or two be-
fore her execution, she again wrote and
asked me to come down and hear her
confession. l called at the prison,
and on the strength Of my passport
was admitted. The unfortunate woman
was in fearful state of mind. She
was not manacled, nor heavily ironed,
as has been said, for she was too weak
to move about. l heard her confession,
and called on the morning 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 her cell, surrounded
by FIVE or ten officers, while the final
for her execution were
being accomplished. When the march
to the scafold began, the poor woman,
laboring under great excitement, turned
from the officers towards me and said,
in as loud a voice as she could COM
mand:
"Father, Father, l want to make
statement"
"What is it, my child p l inquired.
81 want to say here and on the scat
old that l am innocent.
"You can do so,' l answered, in a
one loud enough to be heard by every
person forming the death march, but
strange to say, after lapse of twenty
i've years, Il one has had the honesty to
:ome forward and bear testimony to :
hose memorable words. Instead of l.,
lettering the woman from making
public confession, advised her to do ,
o, and she did declare her innocence, i
'ut so prejudiced are the people that
lot one of those who witnessed this S
ast scene will come forward in the
interests of truth. 1t is my duty to
lefend, and will as long as life lasts,
he reputation and honor of my par S
shoner when unjustly assailed. and
'hen innocent, with my very life if !
necessary, and l should be found want I
ng in Christian charity were l to I
llow Mrs. Surzatt's to go down to his {