The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-06-09
PRISONERS WERE BADLY
TREATED.
A Story Charging Secretary Stanton
with Cruelty.

The Washington, D. c., correspondent
of the Baltimore American, IN recent
issue gives the following interesting ac-
count of Stanton's well known cruelty:
Colonel Richard A. Watts, of Adrian,
Michigan. the father-in-law of Congress
man Henry c. Smith, is here on visit.
Colonel Watts was private IN the FIRST
Michigan during the War of the Rebellion,
the first Northern regiment to march over
the Long Bridge He subsequently was
promoted. and when President Lincoln was
shot he was on the staff of General Hart
ranft. of Pennsylvania, Is adutant gen
eraI, and daily bore the military reports
from the Old Arsenal where Mrs. Surratt
and other suspects were imprisoned, to
General Hancock, in command of the de
partmeut that included the District OF
Columbia, or to Secretary Stanton.
That old prison at the Arsenal witness
ed more severity than any other prison IN
this country, said Colonel Watts, speak
mg Of his military experiences rather re
mctantlv. Prison discipline there was,
perhaps, more severe than in the times OF
the Spanish. hope such discipline may
never occur again III this country
There we're about twenty Pri,ones IA
charge of the soldiers. including Mr. Bur
ton Harrison, private secretary to Jeiter-
son Davis. His wife. Mrs Burton Har
rison. has since that time written many
bright books. which have enjoyed i'm
meuscy. These prisoners were put II
cells. handcuifed aud manaclcd aud guard.
ed dav aud night, Two intantrymen stood
at the door Of each cell aud were relieved
hourly. The arrangements were directly
in charge of Secretary Stanton. General
Hartranit being detailed TO carry ont 'h'
orders. The irons were not removed, ever
during meals. The prisoners were fed by
the iuiantrymen, and slcpt on the bar
floor
Every morning 00a soldier, were Sc
lccted for guard duty They were march
ed Ia the arsenal. and. if remember cnr
rccyly. were taken FROM brigade within
al, rroUn.l, Gut no soldier who had
once dome guard duty there wa, alloweI
a.ain To- enter The grounds Neither Ha,
.he brigade The armie- g General Eran
aud General sherman were stationed neal
Washington "a, the iime. sui the -uarL
we've selected from them
Il recall vcry distinctly how mas
named Syauzlcr. the stage carpenter.
whose ufcu~e vs, tina; b. cut hul,
through the door 10 Lincoln box 1nd ar
RANGED brace 80 that tbe door couli b,
fastened e. preclude immediate pursuit
became insane from ;he terrible oanhne
mrn, He tTirl to beat cut his brain
against III, wall. of his cell Th,reup,u
Secretary stanton ordered that ,higk ans
heavily padded hood ,hoalj be pot tbau
the head af each ct ,bc prisoners. lol
can imagine toe suffering from thu>. bnoI
( I'm the hai day. of june and July NpsH-
lyr WIS -,ul ,u pr, faryu-s> hu; va, sub
scqucusly rarionci aud re.,a-si short.
before b., death
The oficcr- IN charge % ID, prisoner
we're Kept aI ihs ar-.aal s'm +. e. mRfi
a. F,r..aaer, G,nerll llarsul i.l ns
. I,.sy. thc grounds uusa she eNssl,tan. ha.
. taken fJaer ,.s- the saiy aiUesF gba
( uas allua,J outside aal ,h4, sas ;,r ,b'
+ pufj.-, SC conveying ihs DIAL, reports q
lhc Wal department. Tb..e reports ssor
aiWsy- sealed