Evening star., 1901-07-23
Colonel Crook Refutes Mr.. John
Brophy's Statements.
PRESIDENT J0HNSON DEFENDED
Saw Miss sSurratt at the White
!. House.
AN UNPUBLISHED STORY

A story has been recently published pur-
porting to give facts known to John p.
Brophy Of New York, relative to the at
tempts made at the last minute to save the
life Of Mrs. Surratt. Mr.. Brophy Is clerk
Of Part II of the court Of general sessions
OF New York and was professor in this
city at the time Of the execution of Mrs.
Surratt. He says that Weichman, who
was the chief witness against Mrs. Surratt.
afterward confessed to him that Mrs. Sur
ratt had nothing in the world to do with
the plot against President Lincoln. and alb
solutely knew nothing Of 1t. and that on
the day Of the execution Lewis Payne Pow
ell. one OF the conspirators, declared most
vehemently to Mr.. Brophy and General
Hartranft that Mrs. Surratt was entirely
innocent. According to Mr. Brophy Gen.
Hartranft furnished him a carriage and
swift horses and told him to drive like mad
to the White House and try to see Pres
ldent johnson and obtain reprfeve. Gen.
Hartranft, he says, was so impressed with
the story of Powell that he agreed to post
.pone the execution long as possible,
hoping there would be reprieve. When
Mr. Brophy arrived at the White House,
he says, he found Miss Surratt endeavor-
Ing to get to the President, but she was
refused admission, the bristling bayonets
OF soldiers shutting her out from an au-
dence With the chief executive.
Col. Crooks RecollectiOns.
The story throughout contains some criti-
cism OF President Johnson's course, and in
one instance MIR. johnson was spoken Of
as vacillating. The story was referred to
Col. William H. Crook. disbursing officer
of the White House. Col. Crook was the
personal bodyguard Of President Lincoln.
and will one day compile for publication
his knowledge Of those thrilling days. AZ
ter the assassination of Mr. Lincoln Col.
Crook remained with President Johnson.
having the confidence of the latter to the
fullest extent.
Il was with President Lincoln at the
War Department the afternoon OF the
night he was assasinated," said Col. Crook
to Star representative, ''and l was at
the White House during the terrible days
that followed. Those were anxious days
for the nation, and the facts Of the time
Brophy may have played the good Samari-
tan In Mrs. Surratts behalf, but his de-
scription of his ,efforts to save her life
must have been dream. Immense pres
sure was brought to bear upon President
johnson. and no,pne felt the responsibility
more keenlY than he did. The nation. how
ever, at that time demanded the punish
ment Of those who had taken part in the
murder Of President Lincoln, and Mr.. John
son could not see, his way clear to granting
reprieve to Mrs, Surratt.
He Saw Miss Surratt.
II saw Miss Surratt when she called at
the White House and heard the conversa-
ton when she was told that it would be
useless to pee Mr.. Johnson. as nothing
could be done; and further that the inter-
view would prove painful to both. She
gave long look at the White House and
turned away. Every man present sympa-
thized with her and would have liked to
help her. The newspapers Of the country
that were hostile to Mr. Johnson published
that the reason he did not see Miss Surratt
was that he was drunk at the time. A
more Infamous libel was never published.
I saw him every day for nearly four years,
and was with him nearly every evening
when he went for a drive. I never saw
him under the influence Of strong drink,
and don't believe the person lives who ever
saw him In such a condition. I do not
think that any one saw him oftener than
l did for four years.
Il see that reference is made to the an
proaches to the White House being guard
ed by stern. bronzed-faced soldiers. No
one was ever prohibited from entering the
grounds. although those who were un-
known were occasionally scrutinized' No
president was more accessible than Mr.
Johnson.
Il never believed that Mrs. Surratt knew
OF the plot to assassinate President Lin
coin, but certainly believe she knew OF
the plot to kidnap him. as was freely talk
ed Of afterward.
Those who refer to Mr. johnson as hav-
ing vac1llating nature did not know the
man. There was never more positive man
In official life. He was the best hater 7
eyer knew and one Of the best friends
ne.ans ne ansoiu1ely & Knew no fear. physically or
morally preston King. a great friend of
the President, and General Lane never
stood as barriers to the President. MT
Johnsons doorkeeper was Edward Ker-
shaw, Baltimorean, and he was ALWAYS
courteous"
Story of John Surratt.
Colonel Crook tells an interesting story
Of the son Of Mrs. Surratt that has never
been made public before Colonel Crook
says: ION the 23d Of March, 1865, I left
Washington with President Lincoln on the
steamer River Queen, commanded bv Can
tain Bradford. After our arrival at ctty
Point the boat continued to be the Presi-
dents headquarters. A few days after we
got there a man with sunburned face and
tattered clothes. looking almost like a
tramp, came aboard the vessel He had no
card card but said A his name name was Smith and
that he was from Springfield. He wanted
an Interview with Mr.. Lincoln but de-
cltned to disclose the subject Of his bust
ness 1t was my duty to go to the Presi-
dent with such messages, and I reported
to him the facts about Smith. 4 do NOT
know any such man and cannot see him
said Mr.. Lincoln to me. and.I gave to the
stranger the PreS1dent'S message Little
Tad Lincoln was standing near and OBJ
served the man closely. Smith begged me
to tell Mr.. Lincoln that he had always
been his political friend and had worked
for him on numerous occasions He de-
sired most earnestly to see Mr.. Lincoln
1 went to the President again with the
mans statements. but Mr. Lincoln again
refused. When l told him the second time
that Mr.. Lincoln odid not know him and
could not see him he replied hotly, He
would know me. = =. soon after he saw
me- and walked OIL the boat
AFTER the assassination of Mr.. Lincoln
it was learned beyond doubt that youne
Surratt was, in the vicinity of city Point
about the time Of this incident. and I
have always belisved that the mysterious
visitor was none, other than young Sur
ratt. A good while afterward when Sur
ratt was arrested little Tad and I went to
see II we could identify him, but that was
impossible. We could not have sworn that
the visitor- at City Point and young Sur
ratt were one and the same, but 1 have
always thought hal was and that when he
came aboard the vessel he was made up
to escape detection by any one who might
have known him iq Washington"
CANADA CUP RACES.