Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-07-18
Particulars Concerning the Execution OF
the COnSpiratOrs.


We CLEAN from Washington dispatches
the following particulars relative to the
execution Of Mrs. surratt, Payne, Harold
and Atzerot:
WASHINGTON, July 7.--At an early hour
to-day guards were placed all round the
arsenal grounds to prevent intrusion~ no
one being admitted except those personally
supplied with tickets by Gen. Hancock.
Tho relatives of Mrs. Surratt and Harold
spent several hours with them during the
forenoon, and they were also attended by
their spiritual advisers, as wore also Payne
and Atzerot. .....
At few minutes after O'Clock the outer
prison doors were opened, and Mrs. Surratt
was supported on her way TO tho gallows
by two military officers. Next came Atze-
rot, Harold and Payne, accompanied by q
guard and their respective ministers ofthe
gospel. Front seats we're provided for them
on the platform in the following order :
Mrs. Surratt, Harold and Atzerot. The
officers entrusted with the execution and
the ministers occupied immediate positions.
Major General Hartsuff, who has been
from the commencement in charge Of the
prisoaers. came forward and read the order
ofthe War Department, already published,
approving the sentence, and ordering the
penalty and death TO be inflicted.
A heavy guard was stationed on the walls
surrounding the grounds, while the other
soldiers were formed on two sides Of q
square. Several hundred civilians were
present, anxious spectators of the solemn
scene. 81.
One of the priests attendant on MIRA.
SurrGtt repeated short prayer, to which
d. h.. Il E.
tentiyely listened. The minister who had
been administering to Payne, expressed, in
the name of the latter, his sincere thanks
to Gen. Hartsuf and the officers and SOL
diers who had charge of him, for their
personal kindness They had not uttered
an unkind word, given an unpleasant look
or gesture, but seemed TO commisserate his
misfortune. The minister then uttered
brief prayer, asking for Payne the for
giveness Of all his sins and passage out of
this world into the joys Of Heaven.
The minister who attended Harold also
returned thanks for the kind treatment Of
the prisoners, and offered prayer that God
would receive his soul. The prisoner was
affected to tears.
The minister who attended Atzerot also
returned thanks to Gen. Hartsuff and other
officers, Tor kind attentions, and then in
voked tho mercy Of God upon the prisoner.
The condemned were then required to
rise from their seats, whom the chairs were
removed. They were now all on the drop.
Their hands were fastened behind them
and their limbs bandaged both below and
above tho knees, the white cap placed over
their eyes.
Alzerott, while being prepared for the
execution, exclaimed: "Gentlemen, fare
well; take care, and good by, gentlemen,
now before mo-" One Of tho clergymen
standing near exclaimed "May we meet
in the other world"
As soon az the moose was placed around
each neck, Mrs. Surratt's beng the last
one adjusted, the section Of the platform
on which they had been standing sud
denly fell, and the culprits were hanging
several feet from the ground.
Mrs. Surratt and Payne scarcely moved
a muscle; Atzerott exhibited some twitch-
ing, but Harold showed more nervous
sensibllity than any of the others.
The bodies hung until life was extinct,
and were afterwards given over for burial,
the rough collins being already at hand
for that purpose.
The arrangements for the execution
were perfect. Major General Hancock was
present throughout the proceedings.
1t is said that Payne last night made a
statement in behalf OF Mrs. Surratt, ex-
onerating her from completely, and that
another person subscribed to an affidavit
impeaching the testimony of an important
witness against her.
The remaining conspirators were SEN
fenced to imprisonment and hard labor il
the Albany N. Y. penitentiary Michael
O'Laughlin, Samuel Arnold and Samuel
A. Mudd for life, and Edward Spangler for
six years.