The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-19

II has not been written through malice
nor Yindictiveness on my part. but
solely for the purpose of giving to the
world the manner of treatment adopted
and pursued in my respective case,
both during the period awaiting trial.
throughout the trial itself, and even af-
/ ter sentence had been imposed. Also
i relative to the treatment of others un-
dergOing sentence and confined at Dry
Tortugas, Florida.
| The hatred engendered by the Civil
War has not yet abated. The crime in
( which was supposed to have been
| connected, and for which 1 was i'm
| prisoned, was of such an abominable
and atrocious nature that the hatred
which at first had been instilled into
| the hearts of the entire nation did not
! subside during my entire incarceration.
| They looked upon me as monster,
from the sentence imposed by the Mill
| tary Commission, and nothing could be
brought to bear to change or modify
| their deep-roOted convictions.
Not even the government nor those
| in high authority could be appeased,
and they still prosecuted, even after
sentence had been imposed, and would
have continued to do so had l remained
under their charge. To have obtained
| justice at or about the period of my
trial was an impossibility, as well as a
fruitless undertaking, whilst the public
mind was in such chaotic excitement
and frenzy. Evidence was hardly nee
essary to convict. The desire was only
to crafty and appease the public mind,
I To fhn doofb of hT.4
Lincoln.
The crime in itself was of such a
base coWardly, damnable and atrocious
nature that it necessitated harsh meas
ues, yet justice should have interposed
its hand, separating the innocent from
the guilty, which was not performed in
the beginning, nor through the entire
period of my imprisonment.
WILL HISTORY LIE?
History will associate my name as
one of the partcipators in the crime,
but in doing so it will lie, as I was as
guiltless as an unborn babe as to
knowledge or connection in any way
whatsoever in the horrible crime
When Gen. Thomas Ewing, who had
been retained by me as counsel, came
| StANNN
he would have nothing to do with the
case if l was in any way connected
with the crime I told him that I was
as innocent as he was himself as to
knowledge connection or participation
therein; that had l been a party to It,
or have counseed, abetted or aided In
any manner the commission of the
horrible act, I would have scorned tc
solicit defense; would have pleaded
guilty to the charge, and met with
whatever doom the government might
impose with as much fortitude as
could command, feeling that l had by
my own act entailed upon myself its
full burden and merit
After the consultation had ended he
became counsel for me. l narrated tt
him the entire knowledge l possessed
and my connection with Booth as one
time and gave the names of witnesses
to be summoned in my case. AS he was
upon the point of leaving my cell hi'
eye centered upon the hood, which hat
been removed before his entry and hur
riedly thrown into one corner OF thf
cell. He inquired of me what it was
} and I remarked, handing it to him
"A torture invented by Edwin M. Stan
ton, secretary of war"
After a careful examination of 1t II
all it's devices and details he made
some very uncomplimentary remarks
in reference to Stanton, which forbeal
expressing. 1 requested him in thu
opening Of my defense to give the ma
ton and the world at large my treat
ment. His reply, in part, was: The
less you say about that the better: yo'
have a d hard court to try YOU"
Hope died within my heart as his ut
terances, and from that hour | endeav
ored to nerve myself to meet my fate
fully expecting to meet with death. Tt
my father, who was allowed to see M
| twice during my trial, | expressed thu
same views, stating that perjury wa
: being sl1bordinated and being resOrtet
! to to secure my conviction. From thu
, moment General Ewing made that re
: mark lost all interest in the trial ant
: surroundings, and patiently awaited
: my doom--death, / thought.
ITO he Continued Tomorrow