Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-07

pleted The President was, however, still suf-
fering from indisposition, and was compelled
to maintain his seelusion seeing no visitors on
business, either Wednesday or yesterday. AS
soon as the order for the execution had been
issued, Gen. Hancock proceeded to the peni-
Tertiary and the sentences were read to the
prisoners by Gen. Hantranft, commanding the
troops guarding the prison and adjacent
grounds.
The first iatimation given to the public Of the
approval of the findings, was received by
members Of the press at the White House, yes
| terday morning, where they were directed to
call at the War Department Up to this time
there were but two copies Of the findings and
order for the execution-one for the Depart.
ment, the other in the possession Of General
Hancock-and the excited movements of the
various newspaper correspondents in the city
| to get access to one of these would have been
laughable but for the serious character Of the
| occasion Scouts were sent in all directions
for the General, and his headquarters, The
various bureaus of the War Department, and
Willards' Hotel closely watched by ANXIOUS
newsgatherers, while some parties posted
themselves at points on the avenue where his
carriage would be most likely to pass, deter
mined to obtain a glance of the documents,
regardless of difficulties. at the War Depart.
ment every facility was extended to members
of the press, and all who made application for
the findings were provided for in ample time
for their respective journals.
The announcement of the sentences was
rather more sudden than was expected, and
occasioned some surprise, though every one
approved the dispatch with which the subject
had been disposed of.
THE READING OF THE SENTENCES.
The sentences of those to be executed were
made known to them about IL O'Clock yester-
day, Maj Gen. Hartranft performing the duty
imposed upon him in as delicate and humane
manner as possible, Maj. Gen. Hancock &C.
companied Gen. Hartranft, and they first of all
visited the cell of Lewis Powell Payne, which
is No 1876, on the north side of the second tier.
Payne showed no perturbation, and took the
| announcement as if he fully expected it. He
spoke to Gems. Hancock and Hartranft, stating
that he had been much better II tied than he
had eXpected-better, he thought, than he
would if he had been in the custody OF the
civil authorities. He also stated that he had
thought much over the conspiracy plot, and
that although he at first believed that he was
doing nothing but his duty, he was now salts
fled that he had done wrong, and expressed his
sorrow. He was actuated in the part he took
by motives of revenge for the wrongs he
IQOugnt AaQ been cOmmltteu upon COnfeQ-
crates falling into our hands.
The cell Of George A. Atzerodt, which is No.
161, on the south side of the same tier, was mex
visited, and on the sentence being announced
he showed great nervousness, his face turning,
an ashy hue and his lips and hands quivering
He Immediately expressed desire to see some
of his friends. Only one visitor beside Marshal
McPhail had seen him since he was in prison,
and that one his brother. He asked for min
lister.
David E. Herold, whose cell was on the
third tier, was next informed Of his doom,
when he trembled like leaf He acknowledged
that he was in the plot to abduct the President,
having got into it through John Sarratt. He
attended meeting of the party, at which
Booth said he was going TO assassinate the
President, with which he (Herold) said he
would have nothing to do, out would help
him to get away, and Booth hired a horse for
him to accompany him. He (Herold) begged
that all the members of his family be sent for.
He also stated that his sympatlries had been
with the South, head and heart.
Mrs. Surratt was next visited, her cell being
No 900, on the north side of the third tier, and
OH the terrible news being broken to iler
she burst in violent parOxysm of grief. As
soon as she recovered, she asked that Rev
Father Walter, of St. Patricks, Rev. Father
Wiget, President Of Gonzaga College, and MI.
John p Brophy, of the ST. Aloysius Schools,
with her daughter, Miss Anna Surratt, be sent
for.
During the afternoon the four condemned
persons were moved TO cells on the ground tier
fronting south, the others-Spangler, Mudd,
Arnold, and O'Laughlin,-being left in their
old cells, not having yet been made aware OF
their sentence.
PETITIONS FOR CLEMENCY.
Immediately upon the announceme mt of the
sentences a rush was made for the executive
Mansion by friends and relatives of the con-
spirators to plead for a brief respite Among
the applicants were the counsel of Mrs. Sur
ratt, sister of Herold, the wife of DIR. Mudd,
and the spiritual advisers of the condemned
and number of parties whose sympathes got
the better of their judgment and afforded the
only apology for their o1iciousness. All ap-
phcants We're referred to Judge Advocate
General Holt, but he, like the President, was
memorable. At night the throng of applicants
increased, and the entreaties were most impor-
tanate. Many expressed the belief that in con-
SHERATON OF her sex, the sentence of Mrs
Surratt might be DOMINATED to imprisonment
for life, and her case was the most strongly
urged. Even down to the hour for the execu-
ton the hope of clemency was entertained by
some, and not few were sanguine to the last.
PASSES.
Gen. Hancock, assisted by Major Anderson,
of his staff, gave passes to such parties as were
privileged to witness the execution. These
were limited TO the regular members OF the
press, the necessary witnesses, and few off,
GERS. The pass was as follows:
Headquarters Middle Military Dirisio,,,
Washington, d. c., July 9TH, 1865
Major General j. r. Hartranft, Military Gorer.
nor Military Prison Admit to the Mill.
tary Prison this day.
WIND S. HANCOCK,
Major General Volunteers, Commanding.
On the reverse was written, "Between 10
a. m. and 2 p. m"
Each pass was registered with the rank and
station Of the officer, and the paper TO which
representatives of the press belonged
At the Metropolitan Hotel, where Gen. Han.
cock stops, great crowd assembled, in hopes
of meeting him and nrocu ring nassas To