The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-07-26

pcdCt W IIiO 5SOutL' tiO t'ii iA 7A AZ"
it was all wrong, and blames the,
Southernlcaders for his death, though I
he did not fear to die. Several tines
he expressed his thanks for the kind,
ness which he had received from
officers while in prison. He stated !
that he was led into tae conspiracy
by Booth and John Surratt.
Harold was visited by an Episco-|
pal 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
too i'll to visit him.
Atzerott, during all of last night
and to-day, seemed to be in very
great fear. He was nervous, excited,
and declared that he was afraid to)
die that he was not.prepared. Two
ministers attended him, but he did
not appear to be religiously COM
| forted. Atzerott stated to these gen
tlemen last night that John Surratt
induced him to join ihG conspiracy to
abduct the President, and that Sur
raft came to Port Tobacco, Nd, and
got him with boat to take the Pres
ident across the Potomac after. he
was abducted. This 4. NJ. AtzeEott.
conversed freely with two ministers,
and before going to the gallows he
made the following statement: He
said he took a room at the Kirkwood
House, on Thursday, April I3, in
order to get pass from Vice Presi,
dent johnson to so to Richmond
Booth was to Lease the Richmond
| Theatre, and the President was to be
invited to attend it when visiting
Richmond, and to be captured there
He (Atzerott1 said lie would not have
anything to do with the murder of
1 Johnson, when Booth. said that
| Harold had more courage than Atze-
rott, and he wanted Atzerott to. be
with Harold to urge him to do it.
There. was o meeting at a restaurant
about the middle of March, at which
/ Mrs. Snrratt, O'Langhlin,- Booth,
Arnold, Payne, Harold and himself
| were present, when plan to capture
| the President was, discussed They
had heard the President was to visit
a camp, and they proposed to capture
him, coach and all, drive, through
!. Langolfield5 to I. B., ten miles ii
i Maryland, where the coach was to be
left and fresh horses. were to besgot
) and the party swould proceed to tllt
: triver to take boat. Harold took {
buggy to T. B., in anticipation tina
j Mr.. Lincoln would be captured, ane
u he was to 50 with the. party to tiit
r river. Slavery had put him on th'
side of the South. He heard i
r preached in the church that the curse
. of God was upon the slaves, for the,
: were turned black. he always hate,
h the negro, and felt they. theme groes
n should be kept in igilS4 Bce. FL
had not received any money fror
: Booth, although he had been promise,
! that if they were successful the
r should never want /; that they woul
e be honored through the South, an
n that they could secrre an exchang
g of prisoners and the recognition {
d the Confederacy.
n Atzeroit's brother has OCCASIONAL
l. visited lin, and this morning hi
S aged mother, arrived in town and pr
# ceeded to his CELL
III At IL o'clock the preparations f
IS the execution were completed. I'll
is scaffold had been finished an hour b
:. fore. The privileged persons wei
le admitted in the yard when it We
ID erected. Some sat on the platfor
d almost FRUSTRATED by heat. Gener
N Hancock, who had charge of the e
st ecuEion, did not arrive till half-past
having been detained in court
,g makinA return to the writ of habe;
L cerpuyn Mrs. Surratt's case, whit
lie he was directed by the President
ee refuse to obey.
" Within the prison walls at tn
o. hour the CONDEMNED were making the
it. final preparations for death. One
m the Catholic priests administered Il
at sacrament to Mrs. Surratt.
,e- A few minutes to- o'clock all
I'll Harrold's sisters babe him, farewe
ell and were borne fainting from t
Nv room.
rs Atzerott's relatives left about t
ar the same time.
or, 1t was now after | o'clock. Sor
to of the spectators thought the del
to meant a reprieve for Mrs. surratt, b
ad in FIVE minutes the prison door ne
,el the seafold opened and the prisone
Of appeared with a guard Of soldie
of headed by Gen. Hartrauft. Ea
as prisoner was manacled. and Mrs, 81