The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-17
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Executive Chamber,
"HarrisblIrg. June g. 1876.


y. F. HARTRANFT"
General Hartranft was for two terms gov
ernor of Pennsylvania, and in 1866 was mar
shall of the military court which tried the
assassins. In 1876 he was a candidate for
the presidency of the United States. and
received the vote of Pennsylvania in the
Jacksonville Depot
"of the Quartermasters Department
Jacksonville. Ind, June y 1877.
'Mr. Louis j. Weichmann Philadelphia,
Pa:
MY Dear Sir-Your letter of June has
lust been received. 1t affords me pleasure
TO bear testimony to your integrity of char
acter. 1t was never questioned by me, and
YOU were on several occasions favoraby
mentioned in conversation both by the late
Secretary Stanton and General Joseph Holt.
During the memorable trial of the conspir-
ators your testimony was considered by the
court as conclusive and clear, and your evil
particular 1t stood the test of croSS-exami-
nation and remained mistaken on the
record. 1 have understood that the duties
with which YOU were charged in the Phil
adelphia custom house have been performed
with fidelity and efficiency, and trust that
you may not be disturbed in the position
you have occupied for the past eight years.
You are authorized to use this letter in any
manner that will be to your advantage.
am very respectfully and sincerely yours,
JAMES A. EKIN.
deputy quartermaster general of the
United States army
hers OF the commission which tried the as
sassins.
Washington, D. c.. June 4. 1876.
mfr: Tuition, Collector of the Port of Phila-
delphia:
Dear Sir-This will be handed to you by
Mr. Louis ]. Weichmann, Of whom ] spoke
to you in our last interview. Mr.. WEIGH
customs S1s tbe q Ss geat waT
Minister stanton. as an act OF justice to
the memory of Mr.: Lincoln. Mr. WEIGH
-
dures and the sacrifices he was compelled to
make by reason of his having testified. He
Is competent and faithful clerk, who will,
] hope, remain undisturbed in his position.
Yours very truly, WIN. ID. KELLEY"
headquarters Eighth u S. Infantry,
Angel Island, Cal, April 27, 1885.
Dear Sir-In reply to your request of the
6th inst. will state that it is my recol-
lection that you were the most important
witness before the commission on the part
of the prosecution to show the nature and
extent of the conspiracy that resulted in
the assassination of President Lincoln. /
have no recollection that your testimony
WAS invalidated in the slightest degree, and
1t certainly impressed me, and also as far
as am able to Judge, the other members
OF the commission as entirely sincere and
truthful cannot now recall any impress
sion on my mind unfavorable to you as II
witness, or that you made any other than
good impression on the commission
whole, I ha.ye no knowledge Of you in any
other capacity, except as a witness on that
e''O'' ; "GuGUssT V. KAUTz.
Colonel Eighth Infantry, Brevet Major
Louis J. Weichmann, u. S. Custom House,
Philadelphia, Pa"
"Omce Of the United States Marshal,
District of Indiana,
indianapolis, July &c. 1885.
'Icuis ]. Weichmann, Esq, Philadel-
phia, Pa:
My Dear Sir-Your letter, under date of
the 9th inst, came duly to hand. contents
carefully noted. ! am glad to hear from
you. l remember you very well, and have
frequently referred 70 your testimony in
that eventful trial. / do not wonder that
you are the target for the venom of the un-
reconstructed You did your duty, and de-
serve and have the respect of all lovers of
Justice and right. You We're placed tat the
cate cate; and trying position. Your evidence
was of great value to us in determining the
guilt Of those parties: You were uniln-
lion leaving the conviction in our minds
that you had told the truth. am, respect
A's' UNITED States Marshal
washington. March 10, 1869.
'@ro His Excellency. the President of the
United States, General u s. Grant:
.Sr-I understand that Louis j. WEIGH
mann, of Philadelphia, will apply for some
place under the government. In his behalf
] beg te say that-I made his acquaintance
while acting as counsel for the United States
in the trial of John III. Surratt in 1867. Mr..
Weichmann was so situated in reference to
the case that he was compelled to act
and enc which severely tried his mental and
moral qualities. He acquitted himself in an
entire confidence of both Judge Pierrepont
and myself, and aside from testfying his
services in other respects were valuable to
us think him entitled to the most favor
respectfully. A. G. RIDDLE"
Mr.. A. G. Riddle was very prominent
washington
time a member of the National House of
Representatives. Judge Pierrepont was
subsequently appointed a member of Grants
Cabinet. and was then several years min
lister TO England.
Treasury Department,
"Office Of the First Auditor,
Washington, d. c., Feb ), 1892.
ST.. J. Weiehmann, Esq:
My Dear Sir-Your letter of the 18th ult
was duly received, in which you request
from me an opinion as to your testimony
and conduct in the trial of John II. Surratt
for the murder of Abraham Lincoln. 1
have no hesitation in saying that your con-
duct on the witness stand all through on
that occasion was that of a perfectly honest
and truthful witness. Yours very truly,
GEO. p. FISHER"
Judge Fisher was the judge who tried
the case against John II. Surratt.
And General Harris. also a member of
the commission and author of a history of
the assassination of Lincoln, has this to
say or me IN reviewing the trial OF john II.
Surratt:
''Weiehmann stood the test of every effort
and came out unscathed from a bitter and
most hostile cresS-examination that occu-
pied a day and a half. Every effort was
made to make him contradict himself as to
his present testimony in chief and also as
TO his testimony two years before at the
military trial. but without avail. No false
witness could possibly have come out of
such fiery ordeal unscathed After every
effort was made that could be devised by
the ingenuity OF man Weichmann stood be-
fore the court and the jury as an honest,
truthful and conscientious man. He was
also a man OF superior talent, education
and intelligence. In short, he established a
character that must challenge the adTnira-
ton of every candid mind"
close this statement with the following
letter. written to me in 1883 by Judge Holt:
washington, ID. c., Dec. Is, 1888
Dear Sir-I read with indignation your
reference to some of the details of the pitt
less persecution to which you have been
subjected because of the testimony given
by YOU on the trial of the assassins. The
world has learned a good while ago how
easy IL is TO preach love with the lips and
practice the fiercest hate with the heart
and hands. Amid all that you have suffered
and are suffering you have q fountain of
consolation OF which human malice cannot
deprive you-the consciousness of having
needless OF all consequences to yourself
faithfully performed great and imperative
public duty This should give you strength