The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-11
Copyright. 1898


night, for i feared the worst. My fears
were not mitigated by the prisoners below.
who Informed me through a hole In the
floor that the cell occupied was the one
In which condemned prisoners were con-
fined. and that from 1t ten men had been
taken only few days before ard shot
After q few days confinement in Pal
myra was transferred TO st. Louis. There
] was tried by court-martial and sentenced
TO be shot a spy. My brother Ailmon.
who was then captain in the Union army
with Grant, had already learned Of my
trouble through letters from my wife, and
he had written to John B. Henderson. who
had just been elected United States senator
from Missouri laying my case before him,
and urging him 10 do everything he could
;. to save me. On receiving my brothers let
ter Senator Henderson went to Secretary
Stanton and laid the entire matter before
him. Stanton promised to make Q thorough
investigation. but after making Il he de-
ckied that must die. Henderson wen. to
him again and begged. expostulated and
argued with him. but Stanton would be
moved neither by entreaty nor argument
/ had been guilty OF serving as spy he
said and must die according TO the laws
OF war.
Lincoln Orders = New Trial.
Finding Stanton immovable, Henderson
appealed to Lincoln. He explained TO him
the situation. and after looking through
the papers In the case Lincoln sent word
to the secretary OF wa~ that he must order
new trial for me. The secretary issued
the necessary orders and was again tried
In st. Louis. but again sentenced to he shot.
On learning the result OF this second trial
Henderson again took up the case. He
went TO Stanton and again the secretary
said he would not intervene Henderson
once more appealed 20 Lincoln. with the
same result as before.
MY third trial occurred at Alton. Ill.
where / had been removed after having
had the sentence OF death imposed on me a
second time. thought tina. this was my
last chance for life, and when I learned
that for the third time ourt-martial had
declared my life forfeited I gave I'D all
hope. Blu, Senator Henderson's blood was
up now. and he determined to make a last
stand. He went directly TO the president
He called his attention to the fact that the
war was practically over insisted that, 10
use his own words the pardon would be
In the interest OF peace and conciliatlon'
ard urged II Is a matter Of public policy
az well as a thing In which he Henderson,
had a personal interest, The president, aft
er hearing him through. said:
Senator go over TO Stanton and tell
him that this man must De released
but Mr.. President Henderson pro-
tested, 4 have been 10 Stanton twice. and
no will do nothing
lyon go and tell Stanton what I tell
you. and I believe he will do IL replied
Lincoln. And he added. II he doesn't.
come back here
Henderson went 10 the war secretarv.s
office. and that which he had expected took
,elaee stanton lost hts temper swore n.
would do no such thing. and the two gen
:lemsn parted in an unpleasant frame OF
mind
Senator Henderson was In deadly earn
est now however. The court-marfiai had
decided that I should ~ shot on April 6.
fSs ara II anything was 70 be- done IL must
Re Done quickly After supper he went 20
the White House I. was the evening OF
Aprl "a a black letter aay in American
history. The president was dressed 10 80 TO
the sheater. and IN his office when the
Missouri senator was shown in The sem
ator related II, a few words what had hap
nene.t I<sncoia thought penSsvely a few
moments and turning 70 his desk
~ picked up sheet Of official
pane-. wrote a few lines on IT,
ara handed Il 70 ne with the
remark: i guess tha'll stand a little over
Stanton II was an order for my Gncandi-
sional release and pardon. and Il was the
las, official papsr Re ever signed An hour
later he was assasstnatea fl the oi3 Ford
tn.sater BY Wilkes Booth"
Nj Vaughan "a noN = years eli. Ten
wears ago Ae suffered a Haralytic stroke,
and paralysis has since confined hsEn TO the
house he has iosS spsigeiy tie Use @; sis