Joseph Holt to J.A. Bingham

Joseph Holt to J.A. Bingham

Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt writes to Special Judge Advocate J.A. Bingham in reference to testimony in the trial of Mary Surratt and to Stanton's request to suppress certain evidence.

Holt, Joseph

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

1873-02-18

pdf

en

300391

T1873.02.18-MISC

Washington

Feby. 18th 1873

Hon John A. Bingham

Dear Sir.

I am in receipt of your reply to my letter of the 11th [illegible] & for your full & detailed answer to my enquiry, I beg to return you my sincere thanks. It would have been fortunate for me indeed could I have had this testimony in my possession years ago. Mr S's advice to you was, under all the circumstances of the case, most extraordinary. It was neither more nor less, than urging a Suppression

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of the truth, at the very time, when, alike the interests of public justice, the honor of the military administration & the [illegible] reputation of one of its officers - who was also his personal friend - required that truth to be made public. The asking you to await the final judgment of the people, & at the same time withholding from them the proof on which that judgment - to be just must be formed - was a sad, sad mockery. I wish i could have been spared this revelation; but because it is bitter, I do not thank you the less for having made it.

Very respectfully

Your obt. servt,

J. Holt

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