American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-07-19
THE ASSASSINATION.
Hanging of Mrs. Surratt, Payne, Har-
roId and Atzerott.
They arc Executed Simultaneously.
LAST HOURS OF THE CONDEMNED
SCENES AT THE SGAFFOLD.
WASHINGTON. July I, 1865.


unfortunate victims of the arch assassin
Booth, have gone to their reward If
even the most charitable concede to the
authors of such heinous crimes the pardon
of forgiving Heaven.
General Hancock was badly besie ged
last night and this forenoon for cards Of
admission, but adhered to his purpose
to admit those who desired to be present
as a matter of business instead of curiOs-
ity. In consequence the assemblage in
side the walls Of the jail-yard was not
large, being composed Of detachment OF
the lst regiment of Hancock 5 Corps, Sc
lected to act as guard on the occasion,
representatives of the press and few
other citizens to whom the privilege of
beingpresent had been specially accorded,
For long time previous to the exccu
ton, sobs, means and cries were heard is
suing from the grated window fronting the
jail-yard to the south, which attracted
large group of the reportial corps, who
were assiduously engaged in noting down
every trifing circumstance coming under
their limited observation.
To the north Of the corridor in cell,
Atzerodt in conversation with his former
mistress, could be distinctly seen. lie
frequently used his handkerchief to re-
move the perspiration from his face, and
occasionally sobbed quietly, as she ad-
dressed him, apparently in feeling man
ner. None OF the other prisoners were
visible.
In the main hall or corridor slowly
strobe numberof military officers among
whom the fine figure of Gen. Hancock
appeared at intervals, going to and from
the cells of the condemned, OF giving
necessary instructions to his officers.
The cries issuing from the cells were
those of the sisters of Harold and the
daughter of Mrs. Surratt, whose grief was
naturally enough affecting and uncon-
trollable.
Thus passed the interval from 10 till
p. M, the sentries in the meantime slowly
pacing their beats in thoughtful mood,
as if they dreaded the awful scene soon
to be enacted and would feel relieved as
soon as it was over; the blue coats on the
walls looking down silently upon the scat
fold below and every one exhibiting the
greatest decorum and seeming to be duly
impressed with the overawlng Solemnity
of the occasion.
From the cupola of detached build.
ing large crowd looked down into the
jail7yard, while Gardiner, the photograph
ist, with his instruments posted in the old
shoeshop building, was industriously en-
gagged IN preparations for obtaining nu-
merous views of the group about to ap-
pear on the scaffold.
At ten minutes to l O'clock, Hancock
personally posted the sentries around the
scaffold, and the outer guard were ordered
to come to 'attention," preparatory to the
appearance of the prisoners.
At precisely o'clock, Gen. Hartranft
and Staff emerged from the Prison, and
in moment after were followed by the
condemned.
Mrs. Surrat came first, dressed in black
supported on either side by an officer,
and followed by her spiritual advisers,
Fathers Walter and Wiget of the Catho-
lie Church. She wore a black bonnet
and vail as on the trial, and had to be al
most ehtirely supported by the officers
attending her.
Next came Atzerodt, also necessarily
supported by a soldier on either side, and
dressed about as he was on the trial, and
bare-headed. He was attended by his
spiritual advisers, the Rev. Dr. Butler, of
the Lutheran Church, and the Rev Mr.
Winchester, Chaplain of Douglas Hospi-
tai.
Then camo Harold, dressed in his or
dinary prison clothes, with a slouoh cloth
hat on, the brim being turned down. He,
too, was much prostrated and had to be
supported by soldier on either side He
was followed by the Rev. DR.. Olds of
Christ Church, Navy Yard, and the Rev.
Mr.. Vaux, Chaplain United States Army.
Payne alone came bold and erect, with
out any support, guard walking on Ell
ther side of him. He was dressed in a
blue shirt and pants, with rather jaun.
ty straw hat on, and was followed BY his
spiritual advisers, the Rev. Dr. Gillette
OF the Thirteenth-st. Baptist Church,
and other attendants.
Payne aieae of the prisoners assembled
the scaffold without the support of his
attendants. Four wooden arQ chairs had
been placed there for the reception of the
prisoners, and they were seated as fol-
lsws. facing West: Mrs. Surratt, on the
North next to the, prison; Payne sat
next; Harold next, and Atzerodt next !;
Mrs. Surratt and Payne opposite one drop,
and Harrsld and Atzerodt opposite the
other, the fveseighths MANILA rope, with
its ominous moose, dangling before each
respectively, the nooses reaching to with
in an averaged of eighteen inches from the
floor
On the prisoners being seated, or rath-
er sinking into their chairs, the finding
and sentence of the Military Commis
sion, as approved by the President and
already published, was read, in clear
calm voice by Major General Hartranft,
standing in the middle of the platform.
The appearance of the prisoners as they
sat there in a row facing the West, and
tho crowd and Gardner's Photographic
instruments peering from the upper win
dows of an opposite building, and the
ropes swaying in the breeze Immediately