The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-07-19


had heard the President was to visit a
camp, and they proposed to capture him,
coach and all, drive through Langold
fields to I. b., ten miles in Maryland,
where the coach was to be left, and fresh
horses were to be got, and the party would
proceed to the river to take boat. Har-
rold took buggy to I. B., in 'anticipa-
tion that Mr.. Lincoln would be captured
and he was to 60 with the party to the
river. Slavery had put him on the side
of tie South. He had beard it preached
in church that the curse Of God was up
on the slaves, for they were turred black.
He always hated the negro, and he felt
that they (the negro) should be kept in
ignorance. He had not received any
money from Booth, although he had been
promised that if they were successful
they should never want that they would
be honored throughout the South, and
that they could secure an exchange Of
prisoners, and the recognition of the Con-
federacy.
Atzcrott's brother has occasionally Wis.
tied him, and this morning his aged
mother arrived in town and proceeded to
his cell.
At12 o'clock the preparations for the
execution were completed. The scaffold
had been finished an hour before. The
privileged persons were admitted to the
yard where it was erected. Some sat on
the platform almost rrostrated by the heat
Gen. Hancock, who had charge of the ex-
ecution, did not arrive till half-past II,
having been detained in Court, in making
a return to the writ of haJeas corpus in
Mrs Surratt's case, which he was direct
ed by the President to refuse to obey.
Within the prison walls at this hour
the condemned were making their final
preparations for death. One of the Cath.
olic priests administered the Sacrament
to Mrs. Surratt. A few minutes to one
o'clock all of Harrold's sisters had babe
him farewell, and were borne fainting
from the room. Atzerotts relations left
about the same time.
1t was now after one o'clock Some o.
the spectators thought the delay meant o
Iepreve for Mrs. Surratt, but in five min
utes the prison door near the scaffolt
opened ard the prisoners appeared, will
a guard Of soldiers headed by Gen. Hart
rauft.
Each prisoner was manacled, and Mrs
Suratt headed the procession. She was
so physically prostrated that she had tc
be lifted on the steps to The scaifold. In
addition to this, her limbs were SO heavi
ly manacled that her steps were impede
She was accompanied by twotoficers ant
two Catholic clergymen. Once on thC
platform, she was placed on the northern
end, and seated on a chair. She seemeC
Fat this moment to be in fainting cordi
ton, leaning on her left arm, and looking
sorrowfully upward. A soldier held al
umbrella to protect her from the SUM-
She was attired in pluin black dress anC
black bounot. As she sat, aud befor
the moose was adjusted, one of the Catho
lie priests administered the dying servic,
of that church, as Mrs. Surratt held tn
cross to her lips ~
Payne was placed next to Mrs. Surratt
and seated on the same drop His eye
were saddened from weeping, butIhis fac
had much color. He seemed very nue.
collected. Ilo was clad in shirt and pau
taloo1s of blue, and wore sailors stra'
hat.
Over the next drop. Harold and Al
zerott were seated. Harold looked slo'
eniy-his hair was uDcombed, his clothC
were soiled and he aTpeared in hisstocl
ing.feet. He wore an old slouched ha
with brim turned down all round. Atze
OFT was also in his stocking feet, an
dressed in common gray. He was und
monstrative at first, but soon showed sigr
of fear Paine looked at the spectator
kept his head erect, and maintained
half defiant air
Thus arranged, the death.warrants wei
read, and the closing religious exercise
took place.
At the request of Harold, Payne an
Atzerott, it was stated that tho prisone
desired to thank the officers who had a
tended them. a prayer was offered fl
each one, in which the condemned visib
Joined. DR.. Gillette first prayed fl
Payne, whose eyes, at the moment file
with tears. The priest repeated Lati
prayer for Mrs. Surratt.
These solemn services being over, o
the prisoners then stood up and wei
bound. Atzerott was first bound at Ii
wrists, with his arms behind him, au
his knees and ankles. Mrs. Surratt an
the others were bound in the same wa,
. Owing to her dress, it took several mil
utes to bind Mrs, Surratt, who was hel
up during the operation. Long strips
white cotton cloth were used instead
ropes. The fatal nooses were opened
admit the heads Of the criminals, and I'll
knots, as usual we're adjusted exactly vi
J der the left ear. Payne worked his nee
in his mouse, as il dissatisfied with Ii
adjustment, and tho moose was widenod
little to suit his ample neck. Mrs, Su
ratt seemed to fnd some difficulty, an
said 10 those near her: "Please don't |,
mo fall" This was Just before the dro
fell. Atzerott, who seemed to grow el
cited as his last moments approaches
just before the white cap was placed ovi
his head, attempting, in a grasping maj
ner, to address the spectators, His parcl
ed lips would not obey the helm, and
was distressing to sec him couvulsivel
. endeayoring TO make himself intelliribl