Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-07-14
from the .caffOld v.re four new made graves and

| ! Buhrus on the walls lncredseC until etOO'
IN close order, elbow to elbow. Every precau
tion Was taken TO make the execution sure an
quiet. At one O'Clock four chairs were place,
upon the scaffod for the four oonspirators. Al
the preparations approached completion th'
spectators became more anxious, and every on
was on tp.toe to zee or hear any thing pertaining
TO the execution.
At little past o'clock the regiment was
drawn up, INSIDE the ysrd) forming two
square and about five minutes before the pris-
oaers were led 10 the scafiold, double line Of
guards was placed between the prison door and
the gallows which vas about two rods distant.
Ibis part Of the prograne completed, the
! rretched criminals we're conducted 10 the scaf-
fold
Mrs. Surratt came out leaning on the arms OF
Col. Mccall and q private soldier ut the head Of
the melancholy procession. She was followed
by her spiritual advisers. As soon as her eyes
cIught sight OF the galloWs she partially tainted,
but was upheld by the strong arms OF her at
tendants. she soon recovered herself. however,
aud although weak from illness, assembled the
/ the scatfold with apparently firm step.
She was not 50 pale that the clearness Of her
/ complexion could not be seen, and the bright
! ness Of the sun made her vail quite trans
| Aren't. Her eyes were seen 10 be OF soft gray
I her brown hair lay smoothly upon full, square
I forehead the contour Of her face was cOmey,
| but her teeth hal the imperfeciness OF those Of
mtst southern women, being few and irregular.
Until the lips were opened she did not reveal
tLen. Her figure was not quite full enough TO
be dtnominated buxom. yet had all the promise
OF venerable old age, had nature been permitted
its due course. She vas ofthe medium height,
and modes,--as what woman would not be
under such searching survey She wore robe
Of dark WoOlen, no colr aud common shoes
OF black listing. Her general expression was
that Of acute suffering, vanishing At times as #
by the COT iuration Of her pride, and again re-
turning IA A parozysm q she looked AZ tine
dreadful rope dangling before her.
Payne. escorted on each eide by a. ofticer. fol-
lowed. lis gait was erect and his demeanor
did not exhibit the slightest evidence OF fear.
lie loUhtd on the instrument Of death with
steady eye, aud without the slightest tremor
visible IN his athletic frame. lie appeared TO
regard the scene with the utmost Indifference
until he reached the platform. when his manner
changed aud be momeniarly gave way 10 his
feelings, but soon recovered hil-self, and. until
the cap was drawn over MS eyes, maintained
stoical indifference lis spiritual aiyiser de-
hNeicd the last pIrycr for him, which seemei
10 ailtct him more than anything else. and his
eyes were moist with tears, which he yaiuiy
stoye 10 suppress.
Arlerott came upon the scaiiold the picture Of
despair. llarod's appearance Was that Of silly
lear the latter walked somewhat more
frm. and was more composed than the other
lis lips constantly moving in prayer, following
the whispered words of his clergy ymau. Atzs-
rott occasionally did the same but when un-
occupied for a.mJment, sons Ioasuess oi p0s.-
tiou appeared ON the asIen face and qulveriug,
fallen Jaw, which showed how terrible death
appeared 10 ms craven soul
Mrs. SurrAt was attended by Fathers Walter
and Niget, Catholic priests. The others we're
each attended hy ministers Of their oUn choice.
All being seated Gen. Hartrsnt proceeded 20
read the findings of the Court-hrst that Harold,
second OF Atzeroti, third Of Payne, and lastly
that OF Ms. Surratt who held cross IN her
hands and was IN very close communion with her
spiritual attendants The prisoners seemed NUT
tering their prayers during the reading Of their
sentences. One OF the priests then administered
the last rites Of the church 10 Mrs. Surra't.
Payne's adviser stepped forward and said that
the prisoner. Louis Payne, requested him TO say
that he payne desired U thank all the officers
aud soldiers who had ch ,r-e Of him; that be had
not received an unkind word or look from any
one Of them ALL He spiritual attendant then
offered prayer in his behalf asking that his sins
might be forgiven him. and that an easy passage
out Of this world might be granted him. Similar
prayers we're then offered Tor each Of the other
prisoners.
These solemn ceremonies being over. all of the
prisoners stood up and were bound. AtEerott
WAS first bound at the wrists with his arms be
hind him. and at his knees and ankles. Mrs
Surratt and the others were also bound in the
same WAY. Owing 10 her dress II took several
minutes TO bind Mrs Surratt, who was held up
e H.rH
cotton cloth we're used instead Of ropes The fatal
noo ses now were opened TO admit the heads OF
the criminals, and the moose, as usual. was sd
justei under the In ear. Payne worked hs
neck in his moose. as il dissatisfied with the al
iustment and the noose Was widened a little 20
suit his ample neck. Mrs. Surratt seemed 10
6ni il difficult to stand. and said 10 those near
her: please don't let me fall This was Just
before the drop fell
Atz,rott. who seemed 10 grow excited as his
lls, moments approached, and just before the
white cap Was placed over hrs head. attempted,
in a gasp,ns manner, 10 address the spectators.
lis ptrch 4 lips woald not obey the will, aud
II was distressing 10 see him convuIsiyely eudeav
cring TO make himself ineligible At last he
managed & get cut the words. Gentlemen, ;aAe
war''-mcaniug evidently 10 take warning The
white cap WIS drawn over his head, As was done
with the others snl, i was supposed no more
would be hcarl from the prisoner, but just he
fore the drop fell. Atzerott's voice was again
heard N muiied accents, saying, good bye
cert!tmcn. who are before me now, may We all
meet in the other world. God help me now, oh,
Oh. On 90 ana rs the last broken exclamatiOns
were on his lips the drop icll and the four Grim
inals hung quivering in the AR. At twenty-six
minutes Ia,t one O'Clock, the signal was gwen
bv wave ofthe hand. the large blocks support
ing the uprigh's we're Knocked out, the drops
fell with 81 heavy slam aud the four bOiies hung
suspended
Mrs. Surratt's neck was broken Immediately;
she scarcely drew one breath. Her short wo-
mau's figure, with the skirts looped clcsey about,
merely dai gled by he vibration Of her swift lie
scent. and the knot holding true under the ear,
her head leaned sideway and her piuiJucd arms
seemed content with their confinement
Payne died horrible death, the knot slipped
/ TO the back OF his neck, and bent his head for
l ward on his breast, so that he stranged rs he
( drew his deep ekest almost 10 his chin, and the
knees contracted till they almost seemed to touch
/ his abdomen. The veins 10 his great wrists were
{ like whip cord- expanded TO twice their natural
/ dimensions. and the huge neck grew almost
/ black, but within five minutes all was still.
Harold struggled some and some emissions Of
! water took place from the body such as is fire.
quently the case with persons dying a violent
/ death
There was no perceptible movement Of the
body of At1ero,t, and he apparently died easy.
There was bresthless silence for several min
ute. after the drop fel. but in short time the
persons commenced to move, aud most all len
the yard in thirty minutes. The bodies were
cut down, placed in collins and buried in the
yard near the scaffold, where graves were pre-
viously dug. The bodies OF all but Payne were
claimed by their relatives. aud will be duly de-
livered TO them.
Nudd, spangler o 'Larghlin aud Arnold, are
to be removed immediately TO the Albany Peni-
t1uiisi
The New York Nails aud the Railroads
We nublishei the other day a cOmmuui