The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-04-05
WAS MRS. aiRy &. suRRArT IEsOCEsTt
Evidence That Her Counsel Thinks Would
Have Restored Her Good Name
DESTROYED.

CHICAGO. H., March y, ls95.-A
morning paper prints the tollowing:-
Fire has just destroyed the last shred
OF documentary evidence that, 1t Is
alleged. would have removed the stain
OF conspiracy TO assassinate Abraham
Lincoln from the name Of Mary h.
Surratt. This woman. who suffered
death on the charge preferred against
her, had for her counsel Colonel John
W. Clampitt. of Highland Park, in
whose possession was the 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.
Colonel Clampitt had been collecting
data and evidence for thirty years.
and had it so complete, he believed,
that none could doubt it. 1t was
ready for publication. and then came
the fire. which destroyed his residence
and all the evidence accumulated
since that day, thirty years ago, when
he strove to save the woman from the
gallows. 1t was nOt.until yesterday
that Colonel Clampitt spoke of this
particular loss which he had suffered
in the burning of his house.
The world was beginning to believe
that Mrs. sSurratt was Il martyr" he
said, land ! had that which would
have incontestably proved it, but it is
gone in flames. 50
SCENE AT TIE EXECUTION.
"Did you know that only the other
day Father Walter, the priest who
administered extreme JUNCTION to Mrs.
Surratt at the very foot OF the scat
fold. died in Washington? | saw him
before his death. In order that you
may know the value of the evidence
that his declaration put in my hands
| must detail the scene at the eyecu-
ton. Mrs. Surratt was a devout Ro.
man Catholic. | am Il Protestant, but
IN common with other ProtestantS
know that truth falls from the lips OF
Il person prepared for heaven and wht
is about to die. This woman, on the
scaifold, Shrived for eternity, turned
to her spiritual adviser and said;-
"'IIoly father, can | not tell these
people before | die that | am innocent
of the crime for which | have beer
condemned to death"
Father Walter replied:-'No, m,
child, the world and all that is in i
has now receded forever; it would d,
no good, and it might disturb TIL
serenity Of your last moments
FATHER WALTERS STORY.
FEATHER Walter, before his death
revealed to nc the secret of his refusa
to let her speak. When | first sough
him out in Washington to urge hin
to give me that which | needed t
] help clear her name, he told me. frs
j of all, that the woman was abSolutel
innocent Of the charge against hel
and then he told me this ~astoundin
story
'lIe SAID it had been evident to hin
that the War Department, while ben
on cOnvicting, had doubts of the gull
OF Mrs. Surratt. From the .evidcnc
given me by Father Walter, | learne
that he had been sent for by the d,
' partmcnt the day before the cXecutio
and had been told that he would nc
be allowed to see Mrs. Surratt on til
day OF her death unless he w0ul
pledge his faith and honor as a pric,
of God that after he had absulvcd he
and she had received the Sacramer
The would prevent her from maxim
any protcstation Of her innocence.
b. I'm other words, as the price
being allowed to minister to a dyin
woman Father Walter was forced /
the War Department to consent I
allow her to die without one wor
~ from her lips to the world as to III
innocence. The fact that she did ne
uprlarp her Innocence whom in ~
lis state of grace following absolutio
~ has been used as an argument in fave
Of her guilt. The truth is now know
"Father Walters story Is gone |