The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-19


thence into the ilclosure OF the fort.
A poor excuse was better than none.
Immediately below our quarters was sta
toned the whole guard and two sentinels
guarded all exits from the fort who had
full view at all times Of our immediate
quarters. which would have rendered II
impossible for any one to have crossed over.
Even had II been possible TO have elnded
the vigilance Of the sentinels at this point.
thcy would have been forced to have come
in direct contact with the entire guard as
they descended the steps leading 10 the
groundwork of the inclo-ure Of the fort.
NEWS OF PARDON RECEIVED.
Finding that We could not accomplish nav
ing the boards removed We became resigned
to the new order Of things, never afterward
asking any questions relative to IT, This
continued until few days before our de-
parture from the island
When it became known that DR.. Mudd
had been pardoned and the Fifth Artillery
had been relieved Spanger requested that
the portion of the fence directly in front
of our quarters be removed, 80 that we
could obtain light and proper ventilation
to our room. the side walls of which were
hung with deep masses Of slime and spongy
substance, created through extreme damp
ness.
The provost marshal said that he would
consult Gen. Hill. then commanding, In re-
gard 10 his request. He did so, and the fol-
lowing day the obstruction was removed.
Very soon afterward We received the news
Of our pardons, when we became callous TO
all surroundings, feeling that their tenure
of persecution and intense hatred which
had existed for four years was drawing TO
a close.
Before the departure Of the Fifth Artillery
We received a telegram notifying us OF our
pardon, whereupon we received the con-
CALCULATIONS Of each officer Of the post,
whet her real or fictitious II is beyond my
power to state,
On March 20. 1850. having received my
release from their custody by virtue of the
official pardon granted by Andrew Johnson,
President OF the United States, issued in our
respective cases, We departed from the fort
transportation alone being furnished rs far
AZ Key West. Fla.
The Government had deported us far from
our homes To strange land and had dis
charged us with no means at command to
return. Had IL not been for my father,
who came for me, ! would have been lett
penniless among strangers, without means
TO reach my home or to purchase subsistence
to alleviate hunger. Like justice followed
my FOOTSTEPS from its beginning to its end
PAPER THAT SET ARNOLD FREE.
Armed with the Official authority which
restored me again To the world free man,
pardon granted by tho United states
Government, copy OF which Il h"re"rh
appended
Sf1fcs ~ America:
To all to whom these presents shall come
W6ersas' On the soth day Of June. In the
year 1895. one Samuel r Arnold Was. by the
Judgment Of military comni .sion. con-
vrned and tolden in tie city of Washington.
declared guilty Of the specification wherein
10 was charged in the words and figures
following. to wit And in further profecl-
and tho military lines Aforesaid on or before
divers other days and times between that
day and the 18TH day OF Anril, 4. ID 1885.
combine. conspire. with and aid, counsel
h1 '9 Bo616 Lns 'I Psyne George A
zerodt. Michael OIaug lin and their con:
edsrat@s in sad unh winl m ,Ss Ind
thereof as afor.ss i'll; and
Whorcds. The sentence imposed by said
Arnold was that he be impri,oned at hard
Ia Dor for life. and the confinement under
such sentence was directed 20 b. had In the
military prison at Dry Tortugas. Fla, and
the said samuel Arnold has been Tor more
than three years and six months, and now
ia. suffering the infection of such sentence;
whereas, The evidence adduced against
said Arnold before the said military com
the true measure and nature OF the conf
plicity of the said Arnold IN the said muir
ap top TT that " the said Arnold rendered no
active assistance whatsoever to the said
Booth and his ,confederates IN the actual
execution OF said abominable crime ana
WHSrea. The pardon OF the said Arnold
i strongly ,1econ!mended by ,hs GMy Council
and more than I've hundred other citizens
Now. therefore, BE- il known. that ], Andrew
johnson. President OF the United states oil
America in consideration OF the premises,
divers other and sufficient reasons me there;
unto moving do hereby grant to the said
Samuel b Arnold full and unconditional
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
signed my name and rause the seal OF the
rP ssS states f Done ne a, tss CITY of Washing
ton this first day Of March. 4 D 1850, and in
the Independence OF the United States the
uinet y-third.
President of the United states
WILLIAM II SEwAEp,
Secretary OF state
With the receipt Of this was at last free
man.
TRUTH. NOT MALICE.
Ihave in the foregoing pages strictly con-
fined myself 10 the truth compiled from a
diary as daily taken note by me. IL has
not been written through malice nor vim
dictiyeness on my part, but solely for the
purpose Of giving to the world the manner
OF treat ment adopted and pursued In my re-
spective case, both during the period await
ing trial throughout the trial itself, and
even after sentence had been imposed
Also relative to the treatment 81 others un-
dergong sentence and confined at Dry Tor
tugas. Florida.
The hatred engendered by the Civil War
had not yet abated. The crime in which
was supposed to have been connected, and
for which was imprisoned, 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 AZ monster, from
the sentence imposed by the military COM
mission, 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 con-
tinued TO do 10 had ! remained under their
charge.
NO JUSTICE IN POPULAR FRENZY.
To have obtained justice at or about
the period Of my trial was an imposslbility
as well as a fruitless undertaking, while
the public mind was in such chaotic ex-
citement and frenzy. Evidence was hardly
necessary to convict. The desire was
only to crafty and appease the public
mind, and to avenga the death OF Abra-
ham Lincoln.
The crime in 1t self was Of such a base,
cowardly, damnable and atrocious nature
that IL necessitated harsh measures, yet
lust oe should have interposed it, hand,
splrating the innocent from the guilty
which was not performed in the begin