The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-07-14
Sentence and Execution of the As
SUSSj1lS.

on Thursday, and their execution ordered
on Friday of last week. David E. Har.
rold, Lewis Payne, Mrs. Mary E. Sur.
raft and Geo, A. Atzerott were to be
hung. DIR. Mudd, Sam. Arnold and
OLaughlin are to be imprisoned for life.
Spanger is sentenced to six years impris-
onment and hard labor in the penitentiary
at Albany
The manner in which the prisoners re.
celved their sentence is thus described by
the Journal correspondent:
Major Generals Hancock and Hartsufl
visited the old penitentia,y to formally
read their sentences to the prisoners con-
vlcted by the military commission. The
orders were read to the condemned in their
separate cells, and their wishes consulted
in regard to the preparations they might
wish to make before meeting their doom
Payne was visited first He received
unmoved the notice of his doom. which
was read to him by Gen. Hartsuff He
simply asked that Rev. DIR. Strocker,
a Baptist minister of Baltimore, should be
sent for. AtzerOtt, who came next in Or
der, was much affected, turning deathly
pale and shedding tears. He wished for
some Lutheran minister, but designated no
particular one. Harold seemed to be pre-
pared for the death sentence. He wished
an interview with his family, and said
they would provide him with a clergyman.
Mrs. Surratt at first seemed hardly to re-
alize that she had but twenty-tour hours
to live, but AS the terrible truth dawned
upon her she fell into an intense paroxysm
of fear, and pleaded violently for little
more time. She implored for four addi-
tional days The officers. having no con-
troll of the matter. made no answer. She
desired the attendance of Father Walter
and Wiget of Baltimore
ATTEMPT TOIIiBEAS CORPUS Mrs. sURRATr
WASHINGTON, July AT an early
hour this morning Mr. Aiken. one of the
counsel for Mary F.. Surratt, applied to
Judge Wylie of the supreme court of this
District for writ of habeas corpus, to
stay her execution to-day 1t was grant
ed, and directed to Major General Ham
cock, to produce her i'll court at 10 A. NJ
to-day. Shortly after 10 the marshal
made return that General Hancock had re-
fused to obey the court, and at noon Gen
Hancock, accompanied by Attorney Cen
cral Speed, appeared in court, and the
case was taken up, the return read, &c
1t embraced Gen. Ilancock's reply in writ
ing, stating that the President had sus-
pended the power of writ in this case. as
he had done in several previous cases, by
virtue of the law OF Congress authorizing
him so to do, and directing him to make
no obedience to the order of the court.
Atzerott this morning is completely I'M
nerved, exhibiting a picture of the most
ahject fear. Mrs. Surratt also is in a dis
tres>ing condition, and has been faintins
at intervals during the morning. Her
daughter, Miss Anna Surratt, is excitedly
waiting about the door of the President
house. trying to obtain an interview with
him, teartully entreating every passing
stranger to help her save her mother
Harrold's two sisters are also at the White
House, exertinS every means to obtain a
mitigation of his sentence
Tho &c tbo 60, ,,,, 7 1
conspirators, Payne, Atzerott, Harold
and Mrs. Surratt, took place at precisely
twenty-five minutes past one o'clock in
the presence of about one thousand specta-
tors, all of whom with the exception OF
about two hundred and fifty or three hun
dreD were officers and soldiers.
AT little past ! o'clock the regiment
was drawn up, (inside the yardD forming
two sides OF a square and about five min
utes before the prisoners were led to the
scatfold, double line of guards was plac-
ed between the prison door and the gallows
which was about two rods distant This
part OF the programme completed, the
wretched criminals were conducted to the
scatfold
Mrs. Surratt came out leaning on the
arms of Col. Mccall and private soldier
at the head of the melancholy procession.
She was followed by her spiritual advisers.
{ AS soon as her eyes caught sight of the
gallows she partially tainted, but was up
!, held by the strong arms of her attendants.
She soon recovered herself, however, and
although weak from illness, assembled the
scaflold with apparently firm step.
Payne, escorted on each side by an Off
! Ger, followed. His gait was erect and his
demeanor did not exhibit the slightest ev-
idence of fear. He looked on the instru-
ment Of death with a steady eye, and
without the slightest tremor visible in his
athletic frame. He appeared to regard
the scene with the utmost Indifference un-
til he reached the platform, when his man.
ner changed and he momentaraily gave
way to his feelings, but soon recovered
himself, and, until the cap was drawn
over his eyes, maintained a stoical indif-
ference. His spiritual adviser delivered
E the last prayer for him, which seemed to
affect him more than anything else, and
. his eyes were moist with tears, which he
r valnly strove to suppress.
Atzerott came upon the scafold the
picture OF despair. Harrold's appearance
was that of silly fear. The latter walked
8 somewhat more firm, and was more COM
? posed than the other. His lips were con-
stantly moving in prayer, following the