The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1865-07-13
EXECUTION OF TgzE ASSASSIN
AXIOM CONSTRUCTORS
Details Of The solemn Scene.


The last tragic chapter of the great con-
spiracy to aSsassinate the president and
cabinet is finished.
To-day at half past 10 clock within
the penitentiary walls where they were
tried and convicted, Lewis Payne,
Mary F.. Surratt, David Harold, and
Geo. A. Atzeroth were hung by the neck
until they were dead, in execution Of the
sentence of the military commission duly
approved by the president for the crime OF
conspiracy, and treason, and murder.
The painful scene was unattended by
other extraordinary accidents or incidents,
and was conducted in the most solemn
and quiet maner At noon yesterday the
condemned were notified Of the sentence
of death, and from that time their
friends and spiritual advisers were in their
presence. During the afternoon the con-
demned men were removed from the up.
per row and placed on the ground floor
of the cells. Their companions in crime,
Mudd, Spangler, O'Laughlin, and Arnold,
remained or the third tier of cells, una
ware Of the sentence Of their fellow pris>
oners or of their own. Mrs. Surratt was
kept in her old cell, attended by her
daughter, Miss Anna Surratt and two
Catholic clergymen of the city. During the
night she Was very much oppressed and
suffered from pain caused by nervous pros
tratiOn. A good deal of her time was
spent in religious exercises, and she did
not therefore sleep any. Aside from her
daughter, one or two friends were allowed
to her, but each time in the presence of
an officer. During the night Mrs. Surratt
conversed freely with the Catholic priests
on the crime for which she was convicted.
claiming all of the time it was understood
that she was innocent of any completely in
the assassination Of President Lincoln
Breakfast was served to her at the usual
hour this y. ~, but she declined to eat
anything. Miss Anna Surratt who visited
the presidents house this \. NJ, returned
to her mothcr's cell and remained with her
to a quarter before when she took 4 last
farewell in most agonized state Of mind.
Payne spent the night and morning in
company with the Rev. DR.. Gillette, Bap>
tist minister, with whom he held free con-
verse, except for three hours, when he
slept. lie very freely conversed with DIR.
Gillette on the religious topics during the
A. NJ. sitting erect as he did at the court
room. From his conversation it appears
that he was raised reiigiously, and belonged
to the Baptist church until after the
breaking out Of the rebellion. He ap-
peared to be sincerely repentant. and in
his cell shed tears freely. He gave his
advisors several commissions Of a private
character. and stated that he was willing
to meet his God, asking all men to for
give. and forgiying all who had done
ought against him. Col Doster, his coun-
sci, also took leave of him during the ~
", as well as with Atzeroth. Payne ate
his break fast as usual No friend or rel
ative appeared to see him. During con-
versation with Payne he said that he was
doing right in attempting to kill Secretary
Seward, as he claimed to still be confed-
crate soldier; aside from that, he added
that he believed it would give peace to
the south lie thinks now it was all
wrong, and biamcs the rebel leaders for
his death, though he did not fear to die
Several times he expressed his thanks for
the kindness which he had received from
officers while in prison. He stated that
he was led into the conspiracy by Booth
and John Surratt.
Harold was visited by an Episcopal
minister this noon, but he did not stay
long. Five Of his sisters spent most all OF
the day with him, his mother, and two
other sisters being to i'll to visit him
Atzeroth, during all Of last night and
to day seemed in very great fear. lie
was nervous, excited, and declared tina
he was afraid to die; that he was no
prepared. Two ministers attended him
but he bid not appear to be religiousl,
comforted.
Atzeroth's brother has OCCASIONAL,
visited him. and this morning his age'
mother arrived in town and proceeded T.
his cell.
! At II o'clock the preparations for tn
execution were completed. The scaffol
had been finished an hour before. Th
!, privileged persons were admitted in tn
yard when it was erected. Some sat o
the platform almost prostrated by heat
Gen. Hancock, who had charge of tn
, execution, did not arrive till halfpast
: having been detained in court in maxim
return to the writ of ho6eas corpus i
Mrs Suratt's case which he was directe
by the president to refuse to obey.
Within the prison walls at this hour tn
, condemned were making their final pref
, aratIons for death. One of the Cathol
priests administered the sacrament to Mr.
Surratt.
A few minutes to one, all of Harold
sisters babe him farewell, and were born
3 ytaainting from the room,