Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-07-13
THE AssASsINs EXECUTED.
THE ASSASSINS EAhUU IhI
Sketches Of the CulpTIts.
TIE EXECUTION
The Prisoners on the ScafOld.
Their Dress and Appearance
THEIR LAST WO X Dis.
THE DROP FALLS.
THE DROP FALLS.
Lincoln Avenged.
JUSTICE INDICATED.
Washington Correspondence.

ASHlSGTOS, Cui( , 'ooo'
Late in the afternoon of Wednesday. the
til inst, the President. lying on sick bed.
igni6ed his approval of the sentence which
he military commission had passed upon Ma
y T. Surratt, Lewis Payne David Il. !lerold,
md George a. Atzerodt. immediately there
fter the War Department, by order of the
President, directed Major-General Winfield
J. Hancock, commander of the Middle De-
,artment to cause the persons to be hung by
he neck until dead, on Friday, the 7th inst.
That order was obcyed, and that sentence was
carried into effect this afternoon within the
;ard of the Penitcntiary; and the
four bodies that hung there in the summer
sun, and held all eyes for half hour, hung
here blind to all the sweet sights of the fair
earth, and deaf to the signing of friends and
The rcproaches of enemies-hung there, hea-
Wy and inert and obtrusivc and repulslve, yet
pitifully asking human and divine compassion,
were hateful but eloquent witnesses that man
sin will finally find him out, that treason will
hcnccforth be held as the blacklist of cimes,
aud that the republic lives and will righteous
ly avenge the blood Of oil her muir iered chill
dren
Lewis Thornton Powell, who will 60 into
history as Lewis Payne, was the on y one OF
these men worth saving lie had character.
He was frank and generous, simple and hon
est and, under other influences and surround
ings than those his boyhood knew, would have
grown into worthy and commanding marhood.
While giving thanks that his crime has met
its Just punishment, give also pity that slave
~ wasted his young life, clothed his heatt with
garments of hate. and put into his hand the
assassins knife. When his sentence WAS read
to him yesterday he received it as he has re-
ceived every thing since the day of his arrest.
He thanked all the officers of the prison for
kindness shown to him. lie told one OF them
that on tie night of the attempted murder he
| was pursued by the cavalry while attempting
to leave the city that his horse stumbled and
partly fell upon him that he then abandoned
him and took to the fields; that he lay under
tree less than mile from the city limits
and slept till morning; that on Saturday he
went out two or three miles and laid lii the
woods that be remained there without food
till Tuesday night, and then came to town,
fixing his disguise and picking up his pack OF
the way; that he believed Mrs. Surrat knew
about the plot and would help through b"
was not sure sM would not give him up, tha
he was almost Indifferent to his fate and ha'
even confidently given himself up on the fol
lowing morning. and would not therefore hav
blamed Mrs. Surratt if she had caused him t
} be arrested. He never has either said tina
; she Was guilty or innocent, but has more thai
\ once said that the conversation of Booth AM
! John II. Surratt led him to believe that sh
knew in general terms What the plot was. ii
: condemned John II. Surratt in strong term
: for running away, and said he was sorry if an
$ act of lis had proved harmful to Mrs. Surrat
; He asked for Baptist ministers, and the Re,
I A. D. Gillette Of this city and Rev. Ii. l.
J Strvckcr of Baltimore we're sent for. Mr.. I'll
: lette was with him several hours last night, an
j the two we're with him from about seven TIL
0 morning till the execution. He slept sounc
i ly for about three hours between midnight an
i daylight, and took his breakfast in the usu;
S manner. When asked if he had any wish 6
to his body, he said that his friends wer" tc
0 far away to ask for it. and the authorize
+. could do what they pleased with it. He va
+ asked about his motive for the deed he had Il
tempted, and replied that lie had considered
his duty, that he had 10 i'll will toward NJ
c Seward personally. that he had believed &c
approved of his course but that within sho
time he had received enlightenment about Il
u matter, was convinced THAT the North had N
c heretofore meant what lie supposed they di'
n and now felt that he had done wrong, AT
$ that his punishment was just. He spoke in
frank manner, without any affectation or br
" vado. He held much religious conversati'
i this morning with his advisers. and begg
hem TO ask all good men to forgive him.
/, Mrs. Mary f. Surratt evidently had not b
leved she would be hung, and the commuu
cation to her of the sentence affected her s
. riously. AT eleven o'clock last night her .
+ ,endant physician pronounced her dangerou
1t ly Frustrated, and wine and other stimular
were administered to her frequently duril
the night She clearly and pointcdly said
~ had no hand in the murder Of the fresidci
. but was silent with respect to knowledge
IA the conspiracy. Her daughter Anna reach
a the prison soon after tie PRONUNCIATION OF t
ID sentence, and was with her mother for thr
IN hours. Thence she and one Of the Catho
priests nd her mothers counsel, went to
White House and endeavored to see the Pre-
u idcnt. He, by advice of his physicians, v
10 denied TO every one. Later in the event
~ Miss Surratt again advised with her moth'
70 and afterward with the counsel again called
the White House. Something was said abe
new evidence in Mrs. Surratt's behalf, and
parties were referred to Judge Holt who t.
at them he would see the President. The you
re lady spent the hight in the prison. though l
"a with her mother Mrs. Surratt did not sic
=, at all during the night, but spent her time
~ devotion. Fathers Wiggett and Walter,
r. this city, were with her most of the last TIVE
u ty-four hours of her life, and the sacram
ch was administered to her this morning. Thou
70 unsuccessful in two applications, Miss Surr
- went to the White House again at eight
~ clock this morning. The doors of the Pre-
dents room were still closed by positive orr
of his medical advisers, and of course
he was refused admission. Judge Holt had b
ties informed of what the counsel proposed to
i.o ard had FINAL interview with the Preside
" and it was announced to Miss Surratt betw
- eleven and twelve that no ful Their action wo
ow be had in the case, and she then left the WI
nal House and returned to the prison, where
XIV had a final interview Of half an hour with
mother, which was of sreh character as
affect even the guards to tears
:. Meantime during the morning other
l" most strenuous efforts were making TO- sec
re- -. . rosn;ta f,r Mrs. Surratt Her co