The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-17
ssHxeonsion Of the .oonspIato:,ElsI.

sMessrs. Aiken, and Cfampitt, Judge Wylie,
of the Supreme Court Of this district.
directed an issue Of the writ of ha6eas
corpus to Gen. Hancock, anding him
to pruduce in court, at 10 o'clock this
morning, the I tody of Mary E Surratt,
with the cause and day of her detention.
The writ was served on Gen. HANCOCK at
the Metropolitan Hotel, ats o'clock This
morning, by United States Marshal Good
ing. He Immediately consulted with the
Attorney General and the Secretary Of
War. At half past 10, 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 the
power to enforce thewrit.
Early to-day, guards were placed all
round the 'senal grounds to prevent the
intrusion Q, persons to the scene of exc
cution, none being admitted excepting
those previously supplied with tickets by
Maj. Gen. Hancock.
The relatives of Mrs. Surratt aud Ia.
rold spent several hours with them during
the forenoon, and they were also attended
by their spiritual advisers; as were also
Payne and Abzerodt.
A few minutes after l o'clock, the outer
prison door was opened, and Mrs. Surratt
was supported on her way to the gallows
by two military officers. Next followed
Abzerodt, Harold and Payne, accompanied
by guard and their respective ministers
of the Gospel. Front seats we're provided
for them on the platform in the following
order: Mrs. Surra,t, Payne Harold and
Abzerodt the officers entrusted with the
execution, and the ministers occupied in
tern1ediate positions Maj. Gen, Hartrault,
who has been from the commencement in
charge of the prisoners, came Onward and
read the order of the War Department,
already published, approving the SEN
tences, and ordering the penalty of death
to be inflicted.
heavy guard was stationed on the
walls surrounding The grounds, wule be-
low soldiers were formed on two sid des of a
square. Perhaps several bundled civilians
We're present, anxious spectators of the
scene. One of the priests, attendant on
Mrs. Surratt, repeated short prayer, to
which Payne, who was seated next to her,
attentively listened. The minister who
had been administering to Payne ex
pressed. in the name of the latter his
sincere thanks to Gen. Hartrault and the
officers and soldiers who had charge of
iAilt AVA UiSAA PSiooAdl hIIlOItCSS. luCS UHu
not uttered an unkind word, nor given an
unpleasant look or gesture, but seemed TO
compassionate his misfortune. The minis.
ter then uttered a brief prayer asking for
Payne the forgiveness 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 prisoner, and offered prayer that
God would receive his soul Harold was
affected to tears.
The minister who attended Abzarodt
also returned for him thanks to Gen. Ear
trault and other officers for kind atten.
tions, anb then invoked the mercy of God
upon the prisoner.
The condemned were then required to
rise from their seats, when the ch airs were
removed. They were nov all on the.
drops. Their hands were fastened behind
them, and their legs bandagcd both below
and above the knees, and white caps placed
over their heads.
Abzerodt, while being prepared for the
execution, exclaimed:
"Gentlemcn, farewell! Take care!" and
"Good-bye, gentlemen now before me!''
One of the clergymen standing near
exclaimed:
May we all meet in the other world"
as soon as tho moose was placed around
each neck, Mrs: Surratt's being the last one
adjusted. the section of the platform on
which they had been standing suddenly
fell. and the culprits were hanging several
feet from the ground. Mrs. Surratt and
Payne scarcely moved a muscle; Abzerodt
exhibited some twitchinrs, but Harold
showed more nervous sersibility than anv
of the others. The bodies hung 1ntil life
was extinct, and were afterward given
over for burial, the rough cofins being
already at hand for that purpose.
1t is said Payne last night made state.
ment lin behalf of Mrs. Surratt, exonerat-
ing her from completely, and that an other
subscribed to an affidavit imneachinc the