Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-07-13
COnspiratOrs! Their Execution,
Appearance Of the CuIprits.
Scene at the SCanOld,

WASHINGTON, July 7-All the con-
dcmned conspirators sentenced to be hanged
to-day were executed. On the petition of
Mary t. Surratt, through her counsel.
Messrs. Aiken and Clamfitt, Judge Wylie,
of the Supreme Court of this District,
directed an issue of write of habeas cerDus
to Gen. Hancock, commanding him to pro.
duce in court at ten o'clock this morning
the body of Mary K. Sarratt, with the cause
of detention.
The writ was served on General Hoover,
at the Metropolitan Hotel at y o'clock this
morning, by United States Marshal Gooding.
He Immediately consulted with the Attor-
ney General aud Secretary of War, and at
10: 30 the General had not obeyed the writ.
This fact was brought TO the notice of the
court by her counsel, but the judge said he
had not power to enforce the writ
Earl to-day guards were placed all
around the arsenal grounds; to prevent the
intrusion of persons to the scene of action
none being admitted excepting those pre-
viously supplied with passes by Maj. Gen.
Hancock
The relatives of Mrs ,,Surratt and Harold
spent several hours with them during the
forenoon, and they were also attended by
by their spiritual advisers as were also, Payne
and Atzerott.
A few minutes after one ceck the outer
prison door was opened, and Mrs. Surratt
was supported on her way to the gallows
by two military officers. Next followed
Atzerott, Harold and Payne, accompanied
by guard and their respective ministers of
the gospel.
Front seats were provided for them on the
platform in the following order: Mrs. Sur
ratt, Payne, Harold and Atzerott The of.
ficers entrusted with the execution and the
ministers occupied intermediate positions.
Maj Gen. Hartrauft, who has been from
the commencement in charge of the pris-
oners, came forward and read the order of
the War Department, already published,
approving the sentences and ordering the
penalty Of death to be inflicted.
A heavy guard was stationed around the
walls surrounding the grounds, while below
square. Perhaps several hundred civilians
were present, anxious spectators of the
| solemn scene.
One of the priests attended on Mrs Sur
raft and repeated short prayer, to which
Payne, who was seated next to her,
attentively listened. The minister who had
been administering to Payne expressed In
the name of the latter, his sincere thanks 10
Gen. Harrauft and the officers and soldiers
who have had charge of him for their ref-
ssnal kindness They had not uttered an
unkiRd word nor given an unpleasant look
or gesture, but seemed to compassionate
with him in his misforunes.
The minister then uttered Il brief prayer
asking for Payne the forgiveness of ali his
sins, ard passage out OF TIN. world into the
joys OF heaven
The minister who attended Harold also re
turned thanks for the kind treatment OF TIA
prisoner. aud offered prayer that Go,
j would receive his soul. Harold was affected
, to tears.
The minister who attended A zerott als
returned thanks for him to General Hart
raupt and other officers for kind attentions
and then invoked the mercy OF God apoi
the prisoners.
: The condemned were then required to ris
from their seats, when the chairs were re
e mnyed They were now all on the drops
!, their hands were fastened behind them IAN
their legs bandaged both below and abov
the knees, and the white caps placed owe
their heads.
+ Atzerott, while being prepared for tn
+: execution. exclaimed: 'Gentlemen, farewell
!; take care, and good bye. gentlemen, no
before Me- OHe OF the olergymen stant
!, ing near, exclaimed, "May we all meet
the other world" ..H
As soon as the moose was placed aroun
. each neck-Mrs. Surratt's being the la'
e one adjusted-the section Of, the platfori
on which they had been standing sudden
fell, and the culprits were hanging sever
e feet from the ground. Mrs. Surratt an
. Payae scarcely moved q muscle. Atzero
o exhibited seme twitohing, but Harrol
& showed more nervous sepsibility than any
the others.
Ii"'-s. kadies, after hanging SONS time aft.
r1s E as3. ---A afterwards given sVe
lac.