The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-07-26
THE LAST OETHE CoNsPIR-
A1bRs.
How They Passed the Morning
Hours.
THEIR APPEARANCE ON THE
sCAFFOLD.
DETAILS OF THE SOLEMN SCENE.

The special Geographic correspcn-
dent Of the Chicago Times sends that
paper the suRjoiued thrilling details
of the execution of the conspirators
WAsuISGroN, June THE last
tragic chapter Of the conspiracy to
assassinate the President and Cabinet
is finished.
Today, at half-past ten o'clock,
within the Penitentiary walls, where
they were tried and convicted, Lewis
Payne, Powell, Mary E. Surratt,
David Harold and George A. Atze-
rott were hung by the neck until they
were dead, III execution of the sen
tence of the Military Commission,
duly approved by the President, for
the crime Of conspiracy, and treason,
and murder.
IA The painful scene was unattended
by other extraordinary accidents OF
Incidents: and was conducted in the
most solemn and quiet manner. AT
noon yesterday the condemned were
notified al the sentence Of death, and
from that time their friends and
spiritual advisers We're in their
presence. During the afternoon the
condemned men were removed from
the upper row and placed on the
ground floor of The cells. Their com
pahions in crime, Mudd, Spangler
O'Laughlin and Arnold, remained on
the ehird tier of cells, unaware Of the
sentence CT their fellow prisoners OF
of their own. Mrs. Surratt was kept
in her old cell, attended by bel
daughter, Miss Anna Surratt, and two
Catholic clergymen of the city. Dur
ing the night she was very much
oppressed and suffered from pair
caused by nervous prostration: 4
good deal of time was spent in relig
ious exercises, and she did not there
fore sleep any. Aside from be
daughter, one or two friends wert
allowed to visit her, but each time il
tie presence Of an officer. Durin{
the night Mrs. Surratt converseC
freely with the Catholic priests OF
the crime for which she was con
yicted, claiming all of the time it wa
understood that she was innocent 0
any completely in the assassination 0
President Lincoln. Breakfast wa
served to her at the usual hour thi
A, NJ, but she declined to eat anything
: Miss Anna Surratt, who visited til
Presidents house this Am, returne
to her. mothers cell and RENAME
with her to quarter before 10; whe
she took last farewell in a mos
agonized state Of mind.
Payne spent tho'night and mornin
in company with the Rev. DR., CT
lette, Baptist minister, with whom
held free converse, except for thre
hours, when he slept. Hevery freel
.conversed with DR.. Gillette on reli!
ious topics during the morning, 81
ting erect as he did at the courtroom
From his conversation itappears til;
he was raised 'religiously, and b
longed to. the Baptist church uni
after the breaking out of the rebt
lion. He appeared to be sincere
repentant, and in his cell she'd tea
freely, He gave his advisers sever
commissions of q private chafacte
and stated that he was willing
meet his God, asking all men
forgive, and forgiying all who HI
done aught against him. Colon
Doster, his counsel, also took leave
him during the A. NJ, as well as
Atzerott. Payne ate his breakfast
usual. No friendor relative appear
70 see him During conversati
with Payne he said that he was doll
right in attempting to kill Secreta
Seward, as he claimed to be a &c