Payne's Statement?

[BettyO]

Some accounts state that Powell wrote a statement vindicating Mrs. Surratt - others that Annie visited him in the death cell and extracted a verbal statement from him.

According to the Boston Herald for July 8, 1865, "Payne wrote a statement in which he declares that Mrs. Surratt had no complicity in the assassination. A copy of this was furnished Judge Holt and another given to the friends of Mrs. Surratt."

If true, wonder what happened to this "handwritten statement?" It is not in the LAS papers as far as we know. It is known that Fathers Walter and Wiget went to Powell's cell, apparently with Annie and received the same verbal statements. Eckert also stated to Hartranft that Powell continued to plead for Mrs. Surratt.

I find these press reports of a handwritten statement intriguing and elusive....