Evening star., 1949-02-12

uge IN this country Like Cfle Irish, LneSe
people are displaced because they resisted
tyranny. in this case by NaZi Germany and
Soviet Russia, and like the Irish they have
been divested Of their homes by an alien
government and have faced religious perse-
cution.
The moral for Americans of other stock,
whether Latin, Teuton. Anglo Saxon, or
what have you, is, I trust obvious.
EBERT r. SISSON.
Why Mrs. Surratt Was Not Spared
To the Editor Of The Star:
A recent correspondent of The Star, who
signed himself Washingtonian, laid before
your readers a part Of the infamous story
of the execution of Mrs. Surratt. but only a
part. May I supply some Of the missing
information?
The military commission that tried Mrs
Surratt voted to 3 to acquit her. The
Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt, who
had lifelong hatred OF Roman Catholics.
as his papers plainly show, and his chief,
Secretary Stanton, were dissatisfied with
this verdict-naturally. If it stood. then
the whole case they had built up against
jefferson Davis and other Confederate
leaders would fall to the ground. So, in the
absence Of the attorneys for Mrs. Surratt.
and in a secret session Of the court, Holt
and John A. Bingham, the trial lawyer.
reargued the case they had presented
move the majority to change their position
Holt made this foul suggestion to the court:
If this verdict stands you will be the OBJ
jects of q venomous assault from the public.
Change this verdict to guilty, and with 1t
send up plea for executive clemency, and
will take it to the President. He will grant
the clemency and the odium will thus be
on him."
So it was done. Three members of the
court changed their votes. thus giving the
legal majority of to for convic-
ton. Then the plea for clemency was
written out and signed by the original six
who had voted her acquittal ''"~
Judge Holt carried the verdict of the
court to the President and read it to him.
He did not carry the plea for clemency.
sNerf in his discussion of the case with the
President, did he refer to the latter. After
getting the Presidents approval OF the ver-
dict, he took up a pen, and In the presence
Of the Chief Magistrate OF the Nation. know
ing that the court had acquitted Mrs. Sur
raft and had recommended clemency in her
behalf, wrote the following: 80 the pro-
ceedings were regular, and the ind
ings were fully justified by the evidence. 1t
is thought that the highest considerations
Of public justice as well as the future
security Of the lives of the officers OF the
Government demand that the sentences
based on these findings should be carried
into execution This he signed: u. Holt
Judge Adv. General"
President johnson Shocked.
Judge Holt and President johnson. some
years later, had bitter controversy over
whether the President had seen the plea for
clemency. Mr.. johnson denied that he had.
At least two members of his cabinet saw the
papers on his desk, and though Holt ap-
pealed to them to support him in his conten-
tion, they refused. One of them, Attorney
General Speed, was his lifelong intimate
friend. Montgomery Blair went to the White
House two days after Mrs. Surratt's execution
and asked the President why he had refused
to heed the plea of the court for clemency In
her behalf. Mr.. johnson was shocked. and
replied that he had never seen 1t. He was
telling the truth.
Immediately after the execution of Mrs.
Surratt, Benn Pitman, the official reporter,
published the testimony in the trial OF the
conspirators. It's accuracy is attested by
Judge Holt. On page 248 is the verdict in
the case of Mrs Mary E. Surratt, but not one
word about the petition for clemency. De-
ception could not be carried further.
It is not without interest to see what was
tNc 1aLe Ol IlOSc VIII lldo d PoiU al VAiAo
awful transaction. Stanton died by his own
hand or was murdered. Holt lived to great
age, hated and avoided by every one, and one
day he fell down the stairs of his home on
New Jersey avenue and sustained injuries
from which he shortly died. Gen. David
Hunter who presided at Mrs. Surratt's trial.
who insulted Reverdy johnson. chief counsel
for her, and drove him from the case, COM
mitted suicide at his home on street Gen.
L. c. Baker, Stanton's detective, who de-
stroyed the evidence that had been assem-
bled by COL William P. Wood, head of the
Mrs. Surratts innocence, was murdered by
poison. John Lloyd. the tavernkeeper at
Surratt's Tavern, who was one of the chief
received injuries that his doctor told him
were fatal. Thereupon he dictated and
signed confession of his perjuries against
against her, ran a crooked and devious
course, blackmailing Holt and others, and
then, driven into obscurity by society, lived
with bitter memories behind locked doors
until death laid cold hand on him. John
A. Bingham died pauper. living on the
bounty of his neighpors at Cadiz. Ohio. COL
Chris Rath, the hangman who placed the
moose about her neck, went insane and died
in an institution. And Gen. w. 8. Hancock
who was in command of the troops at her
trial and execution. was defeated for the
presidency because of the part he played in
her cruel death.
DAVID RANKIN BARBEE.
TndorSes Labor Bill Study