White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-07-20
meaning. evidently. take

warnen "-m meaning. evidently. take
warning.
The white cap Was then drawn over
his head. As was lone with the othe,s'
and it was supposed no more wonid oe
heard from the prisoners; but Just before
tha drop fell. A'zero,h was again heard
in mnifi-l accents saying, "Good-hye.
gentlemen who are before me now may
we all meet in the other world God
help me now-oh oh !! oh y and as
the last broken exrlamation was on his
lips the drop fell. and the -fonr criminals
hung quivering in the air. At twenty
six minutes past one O'Clock, the signal
was given by wave of the hand. The
large blocks supporting the uprights.
were knocked ont. the drops fell with
heavy slam, and the four bodies hung
suspended.
Payne's limbs were drawn up several
times, and for moment or two his whole
frame quivered violently. but within FIVE
minutes all was still Harold struggled
some, and some emissions of water took
place from the body, such as is frequently
the case with persons dying a. violent
death. There was no perceptible move
ment of the body of Atzeroth, and he
apparently died easy. There was only a
slight movement Of the limbs OF Mrs.
Surratt.
There was a breathless stiffness for
several minutes after the drop fell, but in
short time persons commenced to move.
and almost all had left the yard in thirty
minutes. The bodies were cut down.
placed in their coffins, and buried in the
yard near the scaffold, where graves were
previously dug. The bodies of all but
Payne, were claimed by their relatives,
and will be duly delivered to them,
About two hundred spectators witnessed
the execution.
Mudd. Spangler. O'Laughlin and Ar
mold are to be removed Immediately to
Albany Penitentiary, to serve out their
sentence.
Efforts were made. during all of last
night, by counsel and friends to secure a
reprieve for Mrs. Surratt. but the Presi-
dent declined to interfere. About three
o'clock Miss Surratt, accompanied by a
fem ale friend, visited the White House,
having been there last evening, for the
purpose of obtaining an interview with
President johnson, who had given orders
that he would receive no one. to-day.
The door-keeper stopped Miss Snrratt at
the foot of the steps leading mp to the
Presidents office, and would not permit
her to proceed further. She then asked
permission to see Gen. Mursey, the Pres
ideDt's Military Secretary, who promptly
answered the summons, and came down
stairs where Miss Surratt was standing.
As soon as the General made his appear
ance Mss S. threw herself on her knees
before him, and. catching him by the
coat, with loud sobs and screaming cries,
implored him to assist her in obtaining a
hearing with the President. Gen. Muir.
sey, in as tender a manner as possible,
informed Miss S. he conld not comply
with her request. as the Presidents orders
were imperative, he would receive no one
Upon Gen. Mursey's returning to his of.
fee, Miss S. threw herself upon the stair
steps, where she remained considerable
length of time, sobbing aloud in the
greatest anguish. protesting her mother
innocence. and imploring every one who
came near her, to intercede in her moth
er's behalf. While thus weeping, she
declared her mother was too good and
kind to be guilty of the enormous crime
of which she was convicted, AMI said il
her mother was put to death, she wished.
also, to die. The scene was heart rending,
and many who witnessed it, including a
number of hardy soldiers, were moved to
tears. Miss S., having become quieted.
gave vent to her feelings in quiet tears,
and was persuaded to take seat in the
east room, where she rem aimed for several
hours, jumping up from her seat each
time the front door of the Mansion was
opened, evidently in hopes of seeing some
one enter who could be of service to her
in obtaining the desired interview with
the President, or that they were the bear
er of good news to her.
Two of the Harold sisters, dressed in
full mourning, heavily veiled, made their
appearance at the White House shortly
after Miss S., to plead with the President
in behalf of their brother. Failing to
sect he President, they addressed note to
Mrs. johnson, and expressed hope that
she would not turn deaf ear to their
pleadings. Mrs. johnson being quite
sick, it was deemed expedient by the
ushers not to deliver the note, when, as
last expedient, the ladies asked permis-
sion to forward note to Mrs. Patterson,
the Presidents daughter. which privilege
was not granted, as Mrs. P. is also quite
indisposei to-day. The Misses Harold.
although feeling greatly concerned for
their doomed brother. showed but little
outward signs of grief. which was deep
and silent. 1t was Impossible to tell the
anguish going on within their hearts.
1t is said that Payne made a written
statement this morning. in which he de-
clares that Mrs. Surratt was in nowise
engaged in the plot to assassina,e the
President. This was delivered to Judge
Advocate Gen. Holt. So far as known,
Mrs. Surratt claimed to the last, to her
spiritual advisers, that she was an inuo-
cent woman.
There was but one elevated place where
outsiders could see the execution, and
that was cupols of one house, which
contained about forty people. There were
but few or no people on the outside OF
the prison walls. Over one Thousand
persons applied this morning to General