Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-07-14
The Ohio UnionTicket.
THE ooNsPIRAT0Rs.

The conspirators in the assassination enter
Prise. have been brought TO a sudden and sure
punishment. Their trials.befo the Military
Commission terminated some two weeks ago,
and two days afterward the Commission return
ed to President johnson their verdicts. On
Tuesday of last week the President approved
the findings of the Court, which were as follows:
That David T. Harold, George A. Atzerott,
Lewis Payne and Mary E. Surratt, be hung by
their necks on Friday, July 9TH, until they
were dead; that Michael o'Laughlin, Samuel
Arnold and Samuel A Mudd be incarcerated
IN the Penitentiary at Albany at hard labor
during their natural lives, and that Edward
Spsngler be incarcerated in the same Peniten-
sisry at hard labor for the term of six years.
General Hancock was charged with the exc
rution of the sentences of the four first named
rulprits, and at about half past one o'clock Of
she day specified, the unhappy wretches were
launched INTO eternity. Neither of the three
men denied their guilt, but Mrs. Surratt said
very ingeniously that she ~had no hand in the
death of the President" which statement be-
sng interpreted literally was true for it was
not her hand that held the pistol to Mr. Lin
coins head; but she would not, and did not de-
nv that she knew ali about the plot, and as
sisted in carrying il into effect. The evidence
against all the prisoners was conclusive, and
against none more so than Mrs. Surratt.
Reporters for the press, officers of the Gov
eminent, and others, we're present at the exc
ecutions Nothing transpired at the gallows
unusual to such occasions. Tbeprisoners were
LED on the scaffold platform; the ministers pray
ed with them; the ropes were adjusted about
their necks; the caps were drawn down over
their faces; the great beams were darted against
the props simultaneously; the two traps fell
with slam and the four assassins hung in 9
row. Mrs. Surrstt neck was broken imme-
diately, and she died scarcely breathing one
breath. Payne died horrible death, the knot
slipped to the back of his neck, and bent his
head forward on his breast, SO that he strangled
as he drew his deep chest almost TO his chin,
and the knees contracted till they almost seem
ed to touch his body. The veins in his great
wrists were like whip cords, expanded to twice
their natural dimensions. and the huge neck
grew almost black with the dark blood that
rushed in flood to the circling rope. long
while he swayed and twisted and struggled,
till at last nature ceased her rebellion and life
went out unwillingly. Harold also passed
through some struggles. The perspiration
dripped from his feet, and it was some moments
before life ceased. Atzerott died easily.
In about twenty minutes ali were pronounced
dead, the bodies taken down and placed in pine
collins and temporarily buried in the prison
ysrd, where they await the orders of their
friends.
The other assassins were taken to Albany on
Monday last, and they have now commenced
their life in the Penitentiary, where they viii
have ample time TO brood over their crimes, and
mediate upon the unproftableness of treason
and murder.
Thus is the death of President Lincoln in
some measure avenged, but how inadequate
The lives of ten thousand such puny wretchei
would not atone for that of the noble and emf
uent patriOut whom the country has lost. And
when we mediate upon the fact that the rea
instigators of this great crime, the men who
rossessed the brains and the ability to use thest
simple creatures as their instruments, still live
we are almost led to regret that justice has had
its course with those in our hands. But the
day of retribution may yet come for them.