New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-24
TOLD BY MRS. STRR4TT'S COCNoEh'

,,v,nrvCp DESTROYED HE SAYS. THAT NoIh"
HAVE HELPED TO PROVE HER INNOCENCE.
,,nicago March ga morning paper prints the
foIIowine. Fire has just destroyed the last shred
NJ documentary evidence that. 1t IL aleseu' "ou"
have removed the stain OF conspiracy 10 asS"eSiil"
Abraham Lincoln from the name OF Mary f. cur
raft This woman who suffered death on the charse
49,, ,a,red against her had for her counsel Coonei
John W Campitt OF Highland PARK IN whose pos
session was the evidence that ne thihHS "ou' ia
restored her good name and SHOWN 'n". !" '"' pa
sion of the time innocent person hau Dee" 'a'''
feed For thirty years Colonel 'laHpI't ""' '
collecting data and evidence, and had II so COM
plete he believed that none cou.d DOUBT H. - ""'
o,d,, for nublcation and then came the hre, when
de..roved his residence and all the evidence accuhu
lated since that day. thirty years ago "ne" ~
s,roye to save tn woman from the sa'lo"s' IL We"
not until Yesterday that Colonel ClampH' spohe %
,bIs particular loss which he mad suffered in the
burning OF his home. -,
:. .1,ho world was beginning 10 believe that Mrs
surra., was a martyr he said. and ! had tha'
which would have incontestabiy proved IT, but II l.
gone in flames ~
".Dii Won know that only the other day fa'her
Walter the priest who administered eAue"i' W.,
ton to Mrs Surratt at the very FOOT or the scaVu
.ied in Washington? | saw him before MS neat"
I, order that YOU may know the va'ue OF inc
evidence that his declaration put In my hdhus
must detail the scene at the execution ME '''t
ra,, uas q devout Roman Catholic. ! am Frot-
cst,nt Int in common with other Protestants' !
know that truth falls from the lips OF person pr
nared for Heaven and who is about 70 NE i"',
woman on the scaffold shrived FOR eternity 'u'"''
IN her sprltual adviser and said Holy rather can
I no, tell these people before die that am NM
cent OF the crime for which have been cohuethe"
70 death" Father Waiter replied: no my chlid'
tho world and all that is IN 1t has now receded Tor
ever /, would 10 good. and II might disturb 'ne
serenity OF your last moments.
Father Walter. before his death. reVeaiei 10
m the secret OF this refusal 10 let her speak w n
I fire, brought him out In Washington to urge MN
>, plve mo that which needed TO help clear her
name he told me- first OF ALL that the woman was
absolutely innocent OF the charge against her. and
,hen be told ne this astonishing story He SAID II
had ba.n evident TO him that the War Department.
while bent on convcting had doubts OF the guilt
NJ urs Surratt From the evidence given me by
Father Walter ! learned that ne mad peeh sent IO'
nv the Department the day before the execution
and had heen told that he would not be allowed 10
soc Mrs Surratt the day OF her dea'h ulIieSs ne
yyould pledge his faith and honor as ptlrs' OF
CoI that after he had abso.Eed her ana she hdn
received the Sacrament he would prevent hsr iIo'h
,rakiny any proesta,lon OF her innocence IN othe'
"rri. "a the price OF being allowed 10 minister 10
a diving woman. Father Walter was forced py me
War DEPARTMENT 20 consent 10 allow her 10 ul"
,ri'hou, ON. word from her lips TO the word as 10
har nnocence The fact that she ala nov declare ner
nncence when I'm the state OF grace following abso-
it,on has been used an argument In FAVOR OF her
IN, The truth Is known. Father W after :
se,orv * gone IL. fire. but have u in my memory
and now let 1t go 10 the world