The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-07-08
THE CONSPIRACY,
Execution of the Prisoners.
Particulars of the Affair.
Payne, Harold, Atzerodt and Mrs.
Surrntt Hung in Wnshington City
Yesterday-Issue Of Writ OF Hnbeas
Corpus-The Writ Not Obeyed--P Par.
90 q, Execnsso,,
IPress Dispatch.i

lPress Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, July All the con-
demned cOnspirators sentenced to be
hanged to-day were executed.
On petition of Mary E. Surratt, through
her counsel, Messrs. Aiken and Clanpitt,
Judge Wylie, of the Supreme Court Of
of this District, directed an issue of a
writ of habeas corpus to Gen. Hancock,
commanding him to produce i'll court at
10 o'clock this morning, the body of Ma
ry E. Surratt, with cause and day Of de-
tentiOh. The writ was served Oh Gen.
Hancock at his hotel ut 8 o'clock this
morning, by United States Marshal Good
ing. He Immediately consulted with
the Attorney General and Secretary of
War. At 1890 the General had not
obeyed the writ. This fact was brought
to the notice of the court by her counsel,
but the Judge said he had not power to
enforce the writ.
Early to-day guards were placed all
round the arsenal grounds tG prevent
the entrance of persons to the scene OF
execution, none being admitted except
those previously suppned with tickets
by Mai. Gen Hancock. The relatives of
Mrs. Surratt and Harold spent several
hours with them during the forenoon
and they were also attended by their
spiritual advisers, as were also Payne
at AtzerOdt.
A few minutes after l0oclock the outer
prison door was opened and Mrs. Surratt
supported on her way to the gallows by
two military officers Next followed At
zerodt, Harold and Payne, accompanied
by guard and their respective minis
ters of the gospel Two front seats were
provided for them on the platform in the
following order: Mrs Surratt, Payne,
Harold, and Atzerodt. The officers Ell
trusted with the execution and the min
listers occupied intermediate positions.
Major Gen. Hartrauft, who has been
from the commencement i'll cb urge OF the
prisoners. came forward and read the or
der of the War Department already pub
lshed, approving the sentence and order
ing the penalty of death to the prisoners.
A heavy guard was stationed on the
walls surrounding the grounds, while be-
low soldiers were formed on two sides OF a
square.
Perhaps several hundred civilians were
present and anxious spectators of the
solemn scene. One of the priests atten
dant on Mrs. Surratt repeated short
prayer, to which Payne, who was seated
next to her, attentively listened The
minister who had Leen administering To
Payne expressed in the name of the lat
ter his sincere thanks to General Hart
rauft and the officers and soldiers who
had charge of him for their personal
kindness They had not uttered an nm
kind word nor given an unpleasant look
or gesture, but seemed to compassionate
his misfortune The minister then MT
tered a brief prayer, asking for Payne
the forgiveness of all his sins and apass-
age out of this world into the joys of
heaven.
The minister who attended Harold
also returned thanks for the kind tieat-
ment of the prisoner, and offered a pray
or that God would receive his soul. Har-
rold was affected to tears.
The minister who attended Atzerodt
also returned thanks for him to General
Hartrauft and other officers for kind at.
tentions, and then invoked the mercy of
God upon the prisoners.
The condemned were then required to
rise from their seats, when the chairs
were removed. They were now all on
the drops Their hands We're fastened
behind them, and their legs bandaged
both below and above the knees, and
white caps placed over their heads. Atze-
rodt, while being prepared for the execu-
ton, exclaimed: Gentlemen, farewell,
take care and goodbye, gentlemen now
before me-" One ofthe clergymen stand
ing near exclaimed: May We all meet
in the other world"
As soon as the moose was placed around
each neck, Mrs. Surratt's b,.1 the last
one adjusted, the section of the platform
on which they had been standing sud
denly fell, and the culprits We're hang
ing several feet from the ground. Mrs.
Surratt and Payne scarcely moved mus
Gle. Atzerodt exhibited some twtching
but Harold showed more nervous SenSi-
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