The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-07-08
execution Of the Censpiraters,

WAshISGToN, July 4
All the condemned conspirators, sentenced
to be hanged to-day, were executed.
On petition Of Mary E. Surratt, through
her counsel, Messrs. Aiken and Clampitt
Judge Wiley, of the Supreme Court Of this
District, directed an issue Of writ Of habeas
corpus to Gen. Hancock, commanding him
to produce in Court, at 10 o'clock this morn
ing, the body Of Mary E. Surratt, with cause
and day Of detention. The writ was served
on Gen. Hancock, at the National Hotel, at
5 O clock this l. NJ, by U. s. Marshal Good
ing. He Immediately consulted with the
Attorney General and Secretary of War. At
1890 the General had not obeyed the writ.
This fact was brought to the notice of the
Court by her counsel, but the Judge said he
mad no power to enforce the writ
Early to-day guards were placed all around
The arsenal grounds to prevent the intrusion
OF persons TO the scene of execution, none
being admitted excepting those previously
supplied with tickets by Maj. Gen Hancock
The relatives of Mrs. Surratt and Harold
spent several hours with them during the fore
noon, and they were also attended by their
spiritual advisers, as were also Payne and
Atzerodt.
A few minutes after 10 o'clock the outer
prison door was opened, and Mrs Surratt was
supported on her way te the gallows By two
military officers next followed Atzerodt.
Harold and Payne, accompanied by guard
nd their respective ministers of the gospel
Front seats were provided for them on the
platform. in the following order. Mrs. Sur
ratt, Payne, Harold snd Atzerodt. The
officers entrusted with the execution, and the
ministers, occupied intermediate positions
Maj. Gen. Hartraupt, who has been. from the
commencement, III charge of the prisoners,
came forward and read the order of the War
Department, already published, approving
the sentence and ordering the penalty OF
death 10 be inflicted
heavy guard was stationed on the walls
surrounding the grounds, while below soldiers
xere formed on two sides of the square. Per
haps several hundred civilians were present.
anxious spectators of the scene One OF
he priests, an attendant ON Mrs. Surratt. re-
peated short prayer. to which Payne. who
vas seated next to her. attentivelv listened
The minister who had been administering 10
Payne expressed, in the name of the latter.
his sincere thanks 10 Gen. Hartranpt and the
officers and soldiers who had charge of him.
lor their personal kindness. They had not
altered an unkind word, nor given him an
unpleasant look or gesture, but seemed TO
compassionate him in his misfortune
The minister then uttered brief PRAYER,
asking for PAYNE the forgiveness of all his
slns and passage out of this world into the
Joys of heaven. The minister who attended
Harold also returned thanks for the kind
treatment of the prisoner. and offered q
prayer that God would receive his sonI. Har.
fold was affected 10 tears The minister who
attended Atzerodt also returned thanks for
him TO Gen. Hartraupt and other officers f.,
Kind attention, and then invoked the mercy
of God upon the prisoner.
The condemned were then required to rise
| from their seats, when the chains were re
moved. They were now all on the drops, and
| heir hands were fastened behind them anG
| their legs bandaged both below and above the
| knees aud white caps placed over their heads
| Atzerodt. while being prepared for the exc
| eution. exclaimed. "GentIemen. farewell
| take care. and good bye gentlemen now be
fore me. One of the clergymen standing
near exclaimed, ave meet in the othel
| world. =
As soon as the moose was put around eaci
neck. Mrs. Surratt being the last one ad
justed. the section Of the platform on whicl
| they had been standing suddenly fell and tn,
culprits were hanging several feet from tn,
ground Mrs. Surrat, and Payne scarcel,
moved muscle. Azerodt exhibited som,
twitching. but Harold showed more nervous
senslb.hty than any of the others.
| The bodies hung until life was extinct, ans
were afterwards given over for burial. th,
rough cotfins being all ready at hand for tina
purpose.
| The arrangements for the execution wer,
perfect. Major Gen. Hancock was presen
throughout the proceedings.
1t is said Payne last night made statement
in behalf of Mrs. Surratt, exonerating he,
from completely, and that all the other pris
oners subscribed to an affidavit impeachin,
| the testimony of an important witness agains
| her