The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-12
L. p. MILLIGAN.

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE)
military prisoner during the war, and when
he did talk upon the subject there lit
tie trace of bitterness in his remarks. 1t is
related that mutual friend once intro
duced MIN TO stranger visiting in the CITY,
Mliligan, did you say, sir?' said the
visitor. as he shook his hand warmly. LET
me see, the name is familiar. By the way,
Mr.. Milligan, were you not member of
Congress once?'
No, sir, was the reply; II was in the
states prison.
In an interview given to the writer sew
eral years ago Mr.. Milligan said of the
Communication of his sentence and of his
prison life
From the date of my arrest to the time
or my release covered period of eighteen
months. l owe the Communication of my
sentence TO Secretary of War Edwin M
stanton. Governor Morton and Hon. John
Y. fettlt had interested themselves in an
effort in my behalf, as we'll as Senator
hendricks and other leading Democrats
ana the Hon. Joseph L. Mcdonald. who
was my attorney, but, despite their eff
forts, 4 should probably have been hanged
but for Stanton. Mr.. Stanton and I were
early friends. We were admitted to the
practice of law at the same bar and he had
peen frequent visitor at my house while
1 was still resident of Ohio. A few days
before the date set for my execution at In
dianapolis my wife visited Washington A
card from Judge McCulloch to Mr. Stanton
obtained her an interview with the secre-
tary OF war. She was very couiteosuly re-
ceived, and. although the interview was
brief-Mr. Stanton being very much occu-
pied by business-Mrs. Miligan left his
presence with the full assurance that I
should not be executed. Governor Morton
was using his utmost endeayors to infiu-
ence Johnson to commute my sentence and
had sent Hon. John L. Petit. of Wabash
to intercede in my behalf The morning
before the day set for my execution Mr.
Petit had an interview with Johnson but
the president gave no sign of interference
He declared in language exceedingly dis
courteous that Morton was not running
this shebang, and that his leniency was al
ready bringing him into reproach Mr. Pet
tit was thoroughly disheartened. The Pres
ident was about to attend grand review
of the army, and Petit made one last ap-
peal is there no hope?' L will not saw
that said Johnson, but will see you
again. In the meantime word was re-
ceived at indianapolis about o'clock D. m,
and before the review at Washington was
over, from the War Department ordering
the Communication of the sentence If Pres
ident johnson ever consented to the com
had issued the order and redeemed his
promise TO Mrs. Milligan.
A SECRET AGREEMENT.
1.-THE interest Of Governor Morton In my
case is explained by the fact that but for
his influence with the commission the night
of their final action and his promise to its
members that / never should be harmed
/ would not have been convicted Of the
charge of treason. A majority of it's MEM
bers favored my acquittal. Governor Nor
ton. General Hovey and other prominent
men feared such result. 1t had been al
legged that my arrest was for political ef-
feet, and the commission was told that
an acquittal would be an injury to the
Union cause. My conviction. therefore was
demanded as a necessity, and Governor
Morton personally pledged the members Of
the commission that 1 should not be hurt
Abiding TO DR.. Bowles, Horsey and
myself. he said: We viii shield them from