Indiana daily times., 1921-09-06
Indiana Military Case, Carried to the
; Supreme Court IS Years Ago, Cause of
Holding Up Martial Law Edict in VIVA

, visitor at my house while / was still q
resident of Ohio. few days before the
date set for my execution at Indianapolis,
my wife visited Washington. A card
from Judge McCulloch to Mr. Stanton OBJ
tained her an interview with the Secre-
tary of War. she was very cleverly and
cOurteously received, and although the
interview was brief-Mr. Stanton being
very much occupied by business-Mrs.
Miliigan left his presence with the full as
surance that l should not be executed.
Governor Morton was using his utmost
endeavors to influence johnson to com
mute my sentence, and had sent Hon.
John U. Petit of wabash to intercede in
my behalf The morning before the day
set for my execution, Mr.. Petit had an
interview with Johnson, but the Presi-
dent gave no sign of interference. He de-
clared in language exceedingly discour-
teous, that Morton was not running this
shebang.' and that his leniency already
was bringing him into reproach. Mr..
Petit was thoroughly disheartened. The
President was about to attend a grand
review Of the Army, and Petit made one
last appeal.
"Is there To hope?"
"I will not say that" said johnson.
"but We will see you again"
In the meantime, word was received
in indianapolis about o'clock p. m. and
before the review at Washington was
over, from the War Department, order
ing the commutation of the sentence
If President Johnson ever consented to
the commutation it was after Secretary
Stanton had issued the order and re-
deemed his promise to Mrs. Milligan.
FEARED INJURY
TO UNION CAUSE.
"The interest Of Governor Morton in
my case is explained by the fact that
but for his influence with the commits
sion, the night of their final action, and
his promise to its members that l never
should be harmed, 1 would not have
been convicted of the charge Of treason.
majority of its members favored nv
acquittal. Governor Morton. General
Hovey and other prominent men feared
such a result. 1t had been alleged that
my arrest was Tor political effect, and
the commission were told that an ac-
quittal would be an injury to the Union
, cause. My conviction, therefore, was de-
manded as necessity, and Governor
Morton personally pledged the mem bers
or the commission that I should net be
heard. Abiding to DR. Bowles, Horsev
from harm, and they will be glad
enough after while to take the oath
OF allegiance and secure their release.
Morton probably believed Lincoln would
( commute the sentence when 1t came 10
nm. When q copy of the record was
taken to Lincoln in December. 1864. by
my attorneys, Joseph f. Mcdonald and
jonathan w. Gordon, Mr.. Lincoln de-
| clared he could find nothing to Justify
the hndinS rs against Horsey and nv
self and promised these gentlemen. In
the presence OF General Singleton. that
Wher official record reached him. he
would disaffirn the finding, and SET
Horsey and myself at liberty. DIR
BoWles, he said, should be sent across
the line to his southern friends until the
close OF the war. Judge Advocate Holt
never presented the official record 70
Lincoln. and when after Lincoln's as
sassination. It was presented TO John
son. he promptly affirmed the finding
without an examination The earnest
efforts OF Governor Morton to fnduc,
President Johnson 10 commute the sen
tence were due to his promise TO tha
members OF the commission more than
his sence Of Justice to me or his an
probation OF the fact that my trial was
an iiAesdi one fettlt enorts were
solely at the solicitation OF Morton. He
was neither Influenced by personal
friendship for me. nor expectation OF
personal gain. Petit was speaker OF
the Indiana House, and e1-Inember Of
Congress and was selected by Morton az
his ambassador to influence johnson.
ATE WITH COLORED
MEN IN PRISON.
After my sentence had been commuted
was taken to Columbus for confinement
For the purpose or annoying me- / sup
pose was assigned place at a table
where all my associates were colored
men. This was, no doubt, regarded as
a joke, but 1t did not disturb me in
the least. Whenever there were distIn.