The Shasta courier., 1865-07-22
Execution of the Conspirators at w Washing-
ton.
WASHINGTON. July 7th.

WAsHlNGrcN, July 1th.
All the condemned conspirators sentenced
to be hanged to day were executed. On pc
titien of Mary Surratt, through her c5unsels
Aiken and Clampitt. Judge Wiley of the
Supreme Court of this district, directed the
issue Of a writ of habeas corpus tc General
Hancock, commanding him to produce in
Court at 10 o'clock this morning, the body
of Mary E. Surratt, with cause of death and
detention. The writ was served on Gen.
Hancock at o'clock this morning, by Z. S.
Marshal Goodloe. Hancock Immediately
consulted with the Attorney General and
Secretary of War. At 1920 the Gereral
had not obeyed the writ. This fact was
brought to the notice of the Court by her
counsel. but the Judge had no power to
enforce the writ. Today guards were plac-
ed all around the arsenal grounds to prevent
the intrusion Of persons to the scene OF exc
cution. none being admitted excepting those
previously supplied with tickets by General
Hancock The relations of Mrs. Surra;t and
Harold spent several hours with them
During the forenoon they were also attended
by their spiritual advisers. as were also At
zerott and Payne. A few minutes after one
o'clock the outer prison door was opened
Mrs. Surratt was supported on her way to
the gallows by two military officers. Next
followed Atzerott Harold and Payne, &C.
companied by guard and their respective
ministers of the gospel. Front seats were
reserved for them on the platform, in the
following order Mrs. Surratt, Payne, IIar-
rold and Atzerott The officers intrusted
with the execution and the ministers occu
pied an intermediate position. General
Hartrauft, who has been from the commence
ment in charge of the prisoners, came for
ward and read the order of the War Depart
ment approving the sentences and ordering
the penalty OF death to be inflicted. 4 heavy
guard was stationed on the wall surrounding
the grounds, while below the soldiers were
formed on two sides of square. Perhaps
several hundred civilians were present as
anxious spectators of the solemn scene The
priest attending on Mrs. Surratt repeated a
short prayer, to which Payne. who was
seated next to her, attentively listened The
minister who had been attending PAYNE ex
pressed, in the name of the latter, his sincere
thanks to General Hartrauft and the officers
and soldiers who had charge of him for their
personal kindness. They had not uttered an
unkind word nor given an unpleasant look
or gesture, but seemed to compassionate his
misfortune. The minister then uttered 4
brief prayer, asking for Payne's forgiveness
of all, and his passage out of this world into
the joys of heaven. The minister who attend.
ed Harold returned thanks for the kind
treatment of the prisoner, and offered PRAYER
that God would receive his soul. Harold
was affected to tears. The minister who
attended Atzerott also returned thanks to
General IIartrauft and other officers for
kind attention to them, and invoked the mer.
cy OF God on the prisoners. The condemned
were then required to rise from their seats,
when the chairs were removed. They were
now all in the drops, Their hands fastened
behind them and their legs bandaged below
and above the knees, while the caps were
placed over their heads. Atzerott. while be-
ing prepared for execution, exclaimed -
" Gentlemen. farewell-take care! Good
bye, gentlemen, now before me.' One of
tho clcrgymen standing near exclaimed
" May we all meet in the other world As
soon as the moose was put around each head,
Mrs. Surratt's being the last one adjusted.
the section of the platform on which they had
been standing, suddenly fell and the cul-
prits were hanging several feet from the
ground. Mrs. Surratt and Payne scarcely
moved muscle. Atzerott exhibited some
twitchng, but Harold showed more nervous
sensibiity than any of the others. The
bodies hung until life was extinct and were
afterwards given over for burial, the coffins
being already at hand for that purpose
The arrangements for the execution were
perfect General Hancock was present
throughout the proceedings. 1t is said
Payne last night made a statement in behalf
of Mrs. Surratt, exonerating her from com,
plicity and that all the other prisoners sub
scribed to an affidavit impeaching the testi-
mony of important witnesses against her.