Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-10
Writ of Hnbeas Corpus issued
GEN. HANCOCK DIsREGARDs IT.
The Confession Of Atzn Odt
THE FINAL SCENE.
From the National intelligence of last Friday


From the National tntelligsncer of last Friday
morning.
To day Lewis Payne, David f. Herold, George
A. Atzer0dt and Mary r. Surratt convicted OF
conspiring with John Wilkes Booth and others
tor the murder Cf the late President Of the uni
ted States and members OF his Cabinet will pay
the peualty for their terrible crime. The orders
for the execution were directed TO Major General
W. > Hancock and yesterday he proceeded 10
the prison, and in company with Gen. hartranit,
visited the cells of the condemned prisoners and
communicated 10 them the fact that they were TO
suffer the extreme penalty Of the law. The der
TOR the execution was read to each pr,sonor.-
PAYNE received the information with stoiid in-
difference, and took the sentence rather as mat
ter Of course. Indeed, daI NJ the progress OF ms
rial, he was fully convinced that tie desth'pen
atty would be meed cut 10 lin. lie mace no
other request than that The Rev NJ. Strackler
Baptist minister of Baltimore shOuli be sent Tor.
AtZerott was next informed Ot his fIte. AT
frst be assumed an i-dIlrrent 10 X, but AFTER
wards his feelings Overcame him and he evinced
much emotion, and requested th clergyman
should be sent u him, but AIMED no one. He
thinks the time given hun 20 prepare for eternit
too short, and eviGced the fact thar, up 70 the
mnment Of being Informed OF the Judgment Of the
curt he did not expect 10 suffer death.
Herold was lken completely by surprise, and
The habitual smile upol has face eft il in mo-
ment, and look VI sOlemuity at once overspread
MS cOuntenlDce. BE has taOught all along that
his punishment at IN 81 would be long term OF
Imprisonment lie ind Gated No pre'eGtnce for
any particular clergyman, but said he supposed
ais family would send HIM a spiritual adviser
He expressed a desire 90 see ma sisters, and his
wlsaes WI be grained Indeed Il sisters have
teen allowed 10 see hin very frequently since the
tcSs have commenced. he seemed to realize
b IA position fully after bIiei ref clion.
Whan Mrs kurrHtt N Informed OF the late
awaiting her she did no appear - be much
loved at first, but moments thought revealed
70 her the pos ton in vi tch she siOo and she
plead earnestly for N re tins q prepare Tor eter'
nity, and asked III e Father Walter and Father
iget sh suld be called 20 give her splrtu u ad.
vice and consol ton. The officers who informed
b. OF the order for the execution cOu not, ~
course, promise her any extension OF time, and
sre WAS advised TO max all the use she could OF
the ME yet accorded her. Mrs. Surratt has sui.
cred mu h IRON her Imprisonment and she looks
pale and thin. indeed the in pr,sonment b IS told
UPON / in confinement The cergymen request
ed have been 20 1ch prisoner, and their friends
were advised of the fate a saitlng the condemned.
The scafold was erected last night in tie en-
closure adjoining the penitentisry building, and
inside Of the wall which Is twenty-five feet high.
The scIOld is so erected that ali OF the condemn
ed will be executed at the same zine. The ropes
70 be used will be OF the ties; manila, and great
care was had % make the scahod secure and
strong. The cotins burial clothes &c for the
condemned are being prepared in the Arsenal
AL immediate ARA gements for the execution
will be under charge OF General HaTtranft, the
Efficient provost marshal OF the Military Commits
SION. The 9Th Michigan volun GERS, on duty at
the Pentenuary, Will act as guards upon the
solemn occasion.
Owing 10 the smsllness Of the enclosure where
the execution will take place, no one will be sd-
mitted except such as have passes signed by
rlav ha Eanprala
fee was besieged by persons desiring passes, and
A large number were given TO members II the
pres. Nearly every prominent paper IN the coun-
iry Eill be represented at the execution to-day.
From the Washington Star OF last evening we
take the following report of the occurrences Of
yesterday connected with the execution:
INCIDENTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
About halfpast o'clock in the morning Miss
Surratt accompanied by a female friend, again
visited The White House, having been there on
Thursday evening for the purpose Of obtaining an
interview with the President. President johnson
having gwen orders thar he would receive no one
TODAY The dcor-keep stopped Miss Surait at the
foot Of the steps leading up 70 the Presidents
Office and would not permit her 70 proceed further.
She then asked permission 70 see General huZZy,
the Presidents Military Secretary, who psomOtly
answered the summons, and came down stairs
where Miss Surratt was standing. As soon as the
self upon her knees before him, and Coaching him
By the coat with loud sobs and streaming eyes,
impl5red HIM 70 assist her Ia obtaining hearing
with the President. General Auzzy, IN as tender
& manner as possible, informed Miss Surratt that
be could not comply with her request, as Presl.
dent JohnsOn's orders were imperative, and he
would receive no one
Upon Gen. MuZZy returning to his Office, Miss
&. threw herself upon the stair steps, where she
remain. q considerable length Of time, .obbing
aloud in the greatest anguish, protesting her
mothers innocence, aud implo ing every one who
came near her 70 intercede IN her mothers behalf.
While thus weeping she declared her mother was
too good and kiId 10 be guilty OF the enormous
crime Of which she was convicted, and asserted
that If her mother was put TO death abe wished
10 die also.
The scene was hsartrendng, and many Of
those who witnessed it, including a number OF
hardy soldiers, were moved 10 tears. Miss 5.
having become Quoted, gave vent TO her feelings
IN silent tears, and is finally persuaded % take
a seat in the East Room, where she remained for
several hours, jumping up from her seat each
time the mont door Of the mansion was opened,
evide tly in hopes Of seeing some one enter who
could Do of service to her in obtaining the desired
interview with the President, or that they were
bearers Of good news 70 her.
Two Of Herolds ers, dressed IN full mourn
ing and heavi y yelled, made their appearance at
the White House shortly after Mss Surratt, for
the purpose Of intsrceding with the President In
beh at Of their brother Failing 10 see the Pres
ideut, they add. essed note 70 Mrs J0hnso and
EXPRESSED a hope that she would not turn q ceaf
ear 70 their pseadings. Mrs. johnson being quite
sick, 10 was deemed expedient by the uskers not
70 deliver the no e, when, az last expedlent, the
ladies' asked permission to forward note TO Mrs.
Patterson, the Presidents dlughtsr which privi-
lsge was not granted, as Mrs. P. was also quite
irdlsDosed. The Misses Herold, although feeling
FIR thair brOth ar
showed but little outward sigma Of grief which
was deep aud silent, and IL was impossible to tell
toe anguish going on within their hearts.
TaE oALLows.
The gsllcws was erected in the south yard Of
the building aud the platform 10 reached by M
teen steds on the east side. There are nine heavy
uprights holding the door, above which rises GA
the West side tie uprights supporting the beam
from which hang he four ropes, each being oil
strong hemp the slip consisting OF nine twists
and knot.
A few iset south Of the scsffold, and near the
east wall, the four graves, each seven feet BY
three vide and four deep, wee dug, It being the
intention that they, the CONDEMNED, should be
buried there, In case their friends would not claim
the bJdi,s.
HOW THY sPLNr TIE MOTT.
Payne, during Thursday night, silent well for
about three hours, the Otner pIrtion OF the might
being O. ent in converse with Rev. Dr. Gillette Of
the FIrst Baptist Church, who offered his service;
as soon az he was informed Of the sentence
Payne, without showing any particular emotion
paid close attention TO tie advice OF DR.. Gillette
l p TO ten yesterday morning no relatives o.
friends had been 70 see Payne.
Atzerodt was very nervous Throughout thu
night and did not sleep any, although he made
seVera attempts. His brother was with him on
Thursday afternoon and again yesterday morn
ing; his aged mother, who arrived during
the night also being present. The meeting Of the
condemned man and his mothor w1s very affect
ing. Rev. DR. Butler, Of the Lutheran Church,
was sent for last night, and has been all night
ministering TO AtzeiodL
Hero d was visited on Thursday by Rev. Mr.
Olds, Of Christ ,EpiseopaD Churci, and i've Of his
sisters, and this morning the minister and the en-
tire family Of seven sisters were present with him