The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-12


after which (tlie hood being replaced upon
my head) he retired. leaving me TO ponder
over the charge alone in my cell
The next morning was removed from
my cell and conveyed up several flights Of
stairs. TO I've seated upon bench, when
the hood was removed and found myself
in the presence of number OF the martial
heroes Of the United States. decked in their
glittering uniforms, and on either side, vic
tins like unto myself, weighted down with
chains and irons.
BEFORE mr. MILITARY COURT.
The court of military inquisition was
convened, the charge read to each by As
sistant Judge Advocate Bingham, who
asked If We had any objection To any MEM
Der Of the court A. il wa Useless u object
each replied in the negative. | pleaded
mot guilty 10 IA" charge.
After the pleading Of each of those ar
raignod was over. the hoods wer" placed
upon our heads n formerly before removal
from court, and | was removed anlds,
the Clanl;ing of irons again to my cell to
wait there until the next morning.
The next day | was taken from my cell
my clothing and the hood removed, and
wa. ordered 10 batho myself ! cannot
cpnc"iv" how ! escaped from receiving my
death, n the water used was ~ cold ~ ic''
itself II having been taken from the barrels
used for making ice water. My whole
frame shook aud tr,mhl,d from contact
with thi- c,li a aid until my limbs near ~
shook from beneath my body.
A detective. seeing me- shivering and
trembling in such "A manner. inquired what
allied me-. If ! were ILL., NC, when he knew
within his own vile heart the causes of my
suffering
THE HOOD DEVISED FOR THE PRISONERS.
After the bath a change Of clean clothing
was furnished | was taken back TO my
| cell. when found that a differently con
structcd hood had been prepared for a
head cover Of much more torturo3us and
painful pattern than the one formerly used
II fitted the head tightly. containing
| cotton pads which We're placed directly
| over the eyes and ears, having the ten
dency To push the eyeballs far back in the
| sockets. One small aperture allowed about
| the nose through which to breathe, and one
bv which food could be served To the mouth
| thence extending with lap ears on either sid.
| 10 the chin, to which were attached evelet-
| and cords, the same extending also iron
| the crowns Of the head backwards to the
| neck
The cords were drawn a. tight "a the
| TAILOR in charge could pull them, causing
| tn" must eNCruciating pain and suffering
| and then tied in such a manner around TIN
| neck that II was impossible To r"mov" them
sIX WEEKS DEAF AND sIGHTLEss.
! Thus hooded and douby ironed ! re-
| NAMED DAY after day, until months haC
| cirCled themselves away. condemned un
| heard. or inc imputed and branded a
! guilty before guilt had been estahlsh"C
! even by that inQulsition court, "A milltar,
/ commission. before which ! was after
! ward tried in mockerv. This manner 81
/ treatment continued uninterrupted, TN
! hoods never being removed except when
| | was brought before the court and Away
| replaced on exit, If but moment interviewed
from on or about April IS To June 10, 1853
The surgeon in charge expressed In
| opinion that the hoods had the SAM" cfec
| upon the head and brain a. # II had beef
encased in poultice.
These infections Of punishment and tor
| ture We're practised upon nearly all OF th
others. They have all passed Ia the ha
| of God, suffering on earth ended, and Il
lently awaiting justice at the hands OF IN
| Almighty, in whose presence truth shall ID
revealed Man can hide it from his felloy
| man, but the truth will he established lt'
| fore the bar Of God.
ATzERoDT TEMPTED TO TELL.
This was the Justice meted 10 me befor
trial What could he expected when tn
trial itself took place During the perlo
Of our suffering At7erodt was daily takel
! from his cell into the outer prison yard, ia
! irons and hood removed accompanied d.
detectives and hireling spies, holding on
| to him hope of life in case he dlVulged al
| the particular, and knowledge he po-ses-e'
relative to the parties connected with I'm
| assassination.
That he Informed them of each and ever,
| particular l. not to be doubted, and VIII
| all these infamous proceedings by detsc
tives. courts inside and inqui-itions out
side, failure stamped itself in connectin
me in the assassination Of Abraham Lin
coin, as the decision of that drumhea'
court-martial proved IN" truth OF the state
ment made in Marshal McPhaiIs OH"
after my arrest,
PRISONERS TALKED AT EXERCISING
After June 10 |, with others, was per
mitted two hours recreation and exerci-
in the outer yard attached to the prison
where frequently. unobserved, ] held con
verse in broken expressions with Hcrold
Payne and Atzerodt We were not per
mitted TO speak, II Is true, being strictl
and closely guarded by armed sentnels
overlooked by the officers Of the prison.
David f.. Herold, in the presence OF Col
Mccall. Major Frederick Herhert and IN
Government detectives. stated that JOIN
| II Surratt was not in the city OF W ashlnR
ton at the time Of the ASSASSINATION, no
had he been seen by Booth since his visi
to Richmond on March %. 1885.
Herold and Payne also publicly eXpresse
| that Mrs Surratt was an innocent woman
which was reiterated by Payne in the pres
ence of his executors, a he assembled 10 tn
fatal trap which launched his soul int
eternity.
We we're permitted this outside recrcatio
from June 10 until our departure from ther
on July II, 1885. Irons were removed q
these occasions, but Immediately replace
upon my return To my cell.
BIBLES TAKEN FROM THEM.
Bibles presented by some humane hea
during the trial to some Of the prisoner
were taken from them by the officer
charge. they not being permitted 10 ga
consolation even from Gods holy writing
Nor were they ever furnished throuR
their own good will, myself having mar
the request TO he permitted To apply TO II
father to furnish me Testament Gle
Hartranft stated he would obtain the
from the Christian Association and d
liver them to US.
They were furnished. a. well a. memol
can recall, about ? O'Clock in the afternoc
before the execution took place. as We We
, returning to our cells from the prison yard
PUTTING Up scAFFoLD HEARD.
That same afternoon the noise Of han
, mers was distinctly heard, a. IL some r
, pairing about the building was being don
| tried TO concentrate my thoughts in
attempt to unravel it, meaning, never for {
: instant dreaming that they were erectir
the scaifold to launch human souls int
endless eternity in such quick and sudde
haste.
The hammcrings continued througho
| the afternoon until late, when tho nol-" iro
| the hammers ceased. The next mornii
there was an unusual movement OF fe
hurrying to and fro, tn" rafting OF chair