The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-07-15
The Executions n, Washington.

least three OF the four persons who were ex
ecuted at Washington on Friday of last week
for completely in the murder of Presideh
Lincoln. The proof against Harold. Payne
and Atzerodt was such as would doubles.
have secured their conviction in any court o
Justice. The proof against Mrs. Surratt
however, is admitted not to have been suci
as before ordinary jury would have placed
her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Th,
corspirato7s had boarded with her. met at he
household frequent consultations there
her sympathies were strong in favor of the
rebel cause, DC. But beyond circumstances
like these, affordins ground doubtless for
strong suspicion, there was really nothing
positively convincing. As to the other
four, who were sentenced TO imprisonment.
almost any jury think would have acquit'
ted Spangler and DR.. Mudd, aud would have
given less than iif;. Imprisonment to the
others. This is the view which has forced
itself upon Us, from, it IS true, Only general
reading of the testimony; but 1t is view in
which we find the moderate and judicious
among the papers of the country generally
concur, and which, we believe, VIII be the
Judgment of history.
And while history will thus fault some Of
The sentences as harsh, it will never excuse
the court by which the prisoners were tried.
There was no more reason fcr trying these
men by military commission than there would
have been 70 try SIgnor in Ottawa by Lynch
law. The arguments of Reyerdy Johnson
anG of Mr.. Ewing, against the Jurisdiction of
the court, were unanswerible. Nor was the
conduct of Judge Advocate Holt, and his as
sistant, Mr. Bingham, less free from criticism.
1t w;.s marked from first to last by an indie
cent zeal and an illiberalty that would haye
disgraced a common county court.
And finally, public opinion End history viii
ever condemn the indecent haste with which
the prisoners, after their guilt was pronounc-
ed, were executed. Surely few days IN
which to contemplate their awful fate and to
prepare for death, could in no manner have
compromised the government. \ little mercy
should always season justice.
The large Eastern daiies abound in /
lenGthenei and sickening details of the exc
cution if the four prisoners last Friday. We |
have no doubt, however, that our readers !
generally will be full satisfied with the short
telcgraphic account, as follows:
At au early hour the guards were placed
all around the Arsenal grounds to prevent
intrusI 2n-nO one bein1 admitted excep; those
personally supplied with tickets By MAJ Gen.
Hancock.
The relations Of Mrs Surratt and Herold
spent several hours with them during the
forenoon, and they were also attended By their
spiritual advisers, as ere also Payne and
Atzerott.
At few minutes af:er o'clock the outer
prison doors were opened, aud Mrs. Surrait
was supported on her way TO the gaiows bv
two military officers. Next came A;zerott
:iAu Harold and Payne, accompanied by Il
guard. and their respective ministers of The
Gospel. From: seats were provided for them
on the platform il the following order: Mrs
Surr:ttt. Payne, Heroid and Atzerolt. The |
officers intrus;cd with the execution and the /
ministers occupied the intermediate position.
Maj Gen Harstaif.. who had been from the
commencement in charge OF the pris 1ners,
came forward and read the order OF the War
Department, already published, approving the
sentences and ordering the penahy OF death
TO De inflicted.
y heavy guard was stationed on the walls
surrounding the grounds, while the other
soldiers were formed ON two sides of a square
Several hundred civilians were present, anx-
ious spectators of the solemn scene.
One of the priests in attendance on Mrs.
SLrr..tt repeated u sh-rt prayer, TO Inch
Payne, " no was seated next 10 her, attentive
ly listened. The minister who had been adj
10 Payne expressed in the name
Of the latter-hlS sincere thanks 10 General
Hartsulf and the officers and soldiers who
had charge of him Tor their PERSONAL kind
Ness. They had not uttered al. unkin word,
given All unpleasant look or gesture, but
seemed to co::imiserate his misfortune. The
minister then uttered brief PRAYER, asking
tor Payne the forgiveness of all his sins, and
3 passage out OF this world into the Joys of
heaven.
The minister who attend q! H,rold also re-
turned tlIauks for the kind treatment OF tac
prisoners, and ofer:i a PRAYER that God
would receive his SOU. iIi!oli was objected
to tears.
The minister who attended Atzerott also
returned thanks tt Gen. Hartsuti and other
officers for their kind attentions, and Their in
iOked the mercy Of God upor the prisoner.
The condemned were then required 20 rise
from their seats, when the chair were remov- ,
ell They were now all on the drop. Their
hands were fastened behind them, and their
limbs bandaged both below and above the !
knees. and white caps placed q. 81 sheir eyes i
Atzerott, while tesnS prepared for the ex
.cution exclaimed. .Gentleman, tarew n
take care and good by, gentlemen, now before
me- One Of the clergymen standing near
May We all N .et in the other
world; !
As soon LIS moose was placed arou..d
each neck, Mrs. Surratt'S being the last one
adjusted, tine section of the platform on which
theyhad been st;.n,lf-s suddenly fell and 1
the cu.prits were hanging several feet from .
ground.
Mrs. Surratt and Payne scarcely moved :.
muscle; Atzerott exhibited some twitching.
but Harold showed more nervous sensibility /
than any of the others i
The bodies hung until life was extinct and I
we're afterwards given over for burial the 3
rough collins being already at hand for ,ha.
purpose. ;
The arrangements for the execution were I
perfect. Maj. Gen. Haacork being present +
.lroughou; the proceedings.
1t Is said that Payne last night made a
statement in behalf of Mrs. Surratt, exoner- o
'iing her from completely. and that another "
person subscribed to an affidavit mpeaching l.
me testimony of an important witness against I,
her.
TEST OATu.-The last Congress adopted u
test oath. which 1t directed TO be taken by all
reasons appointed or elected to any Office 8
ahe:ever By authority Of the United States, s
"h.sh forerer prohibits any person havingin |
nny way sided or even copn.enanced or APP
proved the late rebellion, from holding office /
either in the civil, military or naval service o
n the L =