The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1865-07-13
Atzeroth's relatives left about the same


! time.
1t was now after | o'clock. Some of the
spectators thought the delay meant re-
prieve for Mrs. Surratt, but in FIVE min.
utes the prison door near the scaffold
opened and the prisoners appeared with q
guard of soldiers, headed by Gen. Hart
rault. Each prisoner was manacled, and
Mrs. Surratt headed the procession. She
was so physically prostrated that she had
to be lifted Oh the steps leading 10 the
scafold. In addition to this her limbs
were so heavily manacled that her steps
were impeded. She was accompanied by
two officers and two clergymen. Once on
the platform, she was placed on the nor>
thern end, and seated in chair. She
seemed at is moment in fainting con-
dition, leaning on her left arm, aud look
ing sorrowfully upward. \ soldier held
an umbrella to protect her from the sun.
She was attired in Il plain black dress and
black bonnet. Before the moose was ad-
justed one Of the Catholic priests admin
istered the dying service Of that church,
as Mrs. Surratt held the cross to her lips.
Payne was placed next to Mrs. Surratt,
and seated on the same drop. His eyes
were REDEEMED from weeping, but his face
had much cOlored. He seemed very much
collected He was clad in shirt aad pan.
falcons, blue, and wore a sailors straw
hat
Harold and Atzeroth were seated next.
Harold looked slovenly. His hair was
uncombed, his clothes soiled, and lie ap-
peared in his stocking feet He wore a
slouched hat, with the brim turned down
all round. Atzeroth was also in his stock
ing feet. and dressed in coarse gray. lie
showed fear. Payne looked at the specta-
tors, kept his head erect, and maintained
half defiant air.
Thus arranged, the death warrants were
read, and the closing religious exercises
took place. All Of the elergymen, at the
request Of Harold, Payne and Atzeroth,
stated that the prisoners desired to thank
the officers who had tended them. Prayer
was offered for each one, in which the
con lemned visibly joined. d. S. Gillett
first prayed for Payne, whose eyes at the
moment filled with tears. The priests re-
peated a Latin prayer for Mrs. Slrratt
These solemn services being over, all of
the prisoners then stood up and were
bound. Atzeroth was first bound at the
wrists with his arms behind him, and his
knees and ankles Mrs. Surratt and the
others were bound in tic same way Ow-
inc to her dress it took several moments
to bind Mrs. Surratt, who was held up
during the operation. Long strips Of
white cotton cloth were used instead of
ropes. The fatal nooscs were opened to
admit the heads Of the criminals, and the
knots, as usual, were adjusted exactly
under the left ear Payne worked his
neck in his moose as if dissatisfied with the
adj ustment, and the moose was widencd a
little to suit his ample neck Mrs. Surratt
seemed to find some diff Guilty, and said to
those near her please don't let me fall. !"
This was just before the drop fell. Atze>
roth, who seemed to grow excited as his
moments approached, just before the
white cap was placed over his head, at
tempted, in gasping manner, 10 address
the spectators Ills parched lips would
not obey, and it was distressing to see him
convulsively endeayoring to make himself
ineligible. at last he managed to
get out the words: "Gentlemen, take
warnin nin'-meaning, evidently, take war,
ming. The white cap was drawn over his
head, as was done with the others, and il.
was supposed no more would be heard
from the prisoners; but just before the
drop, AtzerOth's voice was again heard II
muifled accents, saying: "Good-by, gen
tlemen, who are before me nov: may we
all meet in the other world. God help
me now. Oh. oh oh ~ and as the last
broken exclamations were on his lips the
drop fell, and the four criminals hung
quivering IN the air. At 20 minutes past
| O'Clock the signal was given by wave
of the hand; the large blocks supporting
the uprights were Knocked out, the drops
fell with "a heavy slam, and the four bod
les hung suspended. Payne's limbs were
drawn up several times, and for moment
or two his whole frame quivered violently,
but within five minutes all was still
Harold struggled some. There was no
perceptible movement OF the body of At
zeroth, and he apparently died easy
There was only slight movement of the
limbs of Mrs, Surratt.
There was breathess silence for several
minutes after The drop fell, but in a short
time persons commenced to move and
most all left the yard In thirty minutes
the bodies were cut down, placed in collins
and buried in the yard near the scafold,
where graves We're previously dug. The
bodies of all but Payne were claimed by
their relatives and will be duly delivered
to them.
Apout 200 spectators witnessed the ex-
ecution.
Mudd, Spangler, OIaughlin Arnold
are to be removed Immediately to the Al,
bauy penitentiary, to serve out their sent
ence.
Efforts were made during all of last
night by the counsel and friends to secure
a reprieve for Mrs Surratt, but the presi-
dent declined to interfere
About $3.50 o'clock this morning Miss
Surratt, accompanied by female friend
visited the White House, having been
tb boro last evening for the purpose of OBJ.
timing an interview. President Johnion
| ba,. "a, ,,;vop or1oro > h. I