Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-24
UNWRlTTEN HISTORY Which Goes to Prove Mrs. Mary
 E. Surratt Innocent OF HAVING CONSPIRED With Others to ASsassinate President Lincoln-A Priest ,
 Tells the Story.

CHICAGO, March 23--A morning paper prints the following: Fire has just de- stroyed the last shred of documentary evil dence that, it is alleged, would have re. moved the stain of the charge of conspiracy to assassinaie Abraham Lincoln from the name of Mary E. Sufratt. This woman, 1, who suffered death on the charge preferred against her, had for her counsel Col. John w Clampitt of Highland Park, in whose possession was evidence that he thinks would have restored her good name and shown that in the passion of the time an innocent person had been sacrificed.
 For thirty years Colonel Clampitt has been collecting data and evidence, and had 1t so complete, he believed, that none could doubt it. It was ready for publica- tiop, and then came the fire, which de- etroyed his residence and all the evidence accumulated since that day, thirty years ago, when he strove to save the woman from the gallo ws. It was not until yester- day that Colonel Clampitt spoke of this particular loss which he had suffered in the burning of his home.
 ''rhe world was beginning to believe that Mrs. Surratt was martyr,' he said, ''and had that which would have lncon- testibly proved it, but it is gone in the flames. Did you know that only the other day Father Walter, the priest who admin istered the extreme unction to Mrs. Sur ratt at the very foot of the gallows, died in Washington. 1 saw him before his death.
 t'In order that you may know the value of the evidence that his declaration put in my hands, l must detail the scene at the execution. Mrs. SurraUt was devout Roman Catholic. am a Protestant, but, in common with other Protestants, know that the truth falls from the lips of a person prepared for Heaven and who is about to die. The woman on the scaffold, prepared l. -s-tk 1Qxxtr. and said: 'Holy father, can l not tell these people before 1 die that 1 am innocent of the crimes for which l have been con- demned to death?'
 'sFather Walter replied: 'No. my child; the world and all that is in it has now re. might disturb the serenity of your last moments
 s'Father Walter, before h 'ath, re- vealed to me the secret of his ,Al to let Washington to urge him 10 give me that which 1 needed to help clear her name, he told me, first of all, that the woman was absolutely innocent of the charge against her, and then told me this astounding story: He said it had been evident to him that the war department, while bent on convctipg, had doubts of the guilt of Mrs. Surratt.
 s'From the evidence given me by Father Walter learned that he had been sent for by the department the day before the 'exo- cution and had been told that he would not be allowed to see Mrs. Surratt on the day of her death, unless She would pledge his faith and honor as a priest of Sod thatafter he had absolved her she had. received. the sacrament he would prevent her from making any protestatlon of her innocence.
 t'In other words, as the price of being allowed to minister to dying woman, Father Walter was forced by the war de- pertinent to consent to allow her to die without one word from her lips to the world as to her innocence. The fact that she did not declare her innocence when in the state of grace following the absolution has been used as an argument in favor of her guilt. The truth is now known.
 s'Father Walters story is gone in the fire, but have it in my memory. and now let it go to the world.'