The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-07-19

black. He always hated the nigger, aud
felt that they should be kept in ignorance.
lie had not received any money from Booth,
he had been promised that II they
were successful they should mover want,
that they would DO honored throughout
the South aud that they could secure an
exchange Of prisoners aud the recognition
OF the Confederscy.
rHE LAST scESE OF ALL.
Duri"g tho forenoon an attempt was
made to stay the execution Of Mrs. Surratt
by the issue Of writ OF hobtuS corpus.
BY special order Of Presiden. johnson, the
writ swas suspended, aud the prisoner not
given up The counsel for Payne and At
Serodt also applied for writ of kdbeds
corpEs ia their cases, but were refused |
upon the ground that similar writ in Mrs. |
Surratts case had been disregarded.
Early in the morning numerous guards |
were stationed along Four-and a.half street,
from Pennsy lvania Avenue south, and
around tho Arsenal grounds. Tho 4th aud
lst Regiments of Hancock's Corps, and
large detachment of the 60th Ohio, were
marched to the prison, Tho lst (llancock's)
Regiment was stationed III the south yard,
tho A,h upon tie walls and at the doors,
and the Goth Ohio around the outside. Tho
gallows, which was erected by workmen
from the arsenal, was completed by Ii
o'clock in the morning; three uprlghts
holding the Goor above, which rises on the
west aide the up.ights supporting the
beam from which hung four ropes, each
being of strong hemp. Tho dimensions
were twenty feet long, ten feet high TO the
top, twenty feet to the beam and fifteen
feet wide to tho platform. The drops, oi
which there were four, were each four feet
by six, and directly beneath the beam, werN
held in thoir place 10y an upright, which
was Knocked from under by two pleces Of
scantling being swung against It. The drop
was six feet A few feet south Of tho scat
fold, near tho east wall, the four graves,
each seven feet by three wide and four
deep, were dug, it being the intention that
| the condemned should be buried there, in
case their friends did not claim them.
At IL o'clock tho preparations for the
execution were completed. TIE scalold
! had been finished an hour before. The
privileged persons were admitted to the
yard where it was erected. Some eat on
the platform almost prostruted by the hoat
General Hancock, who had charge of the
execution, did not arrive till halt-past IL,
having been detained in court in making u
return to the writ of hdbedS corpus in Mrs,
Surratt's case, which he was directed by
the President TO refuse to obey.
Within the prison walls at this hour the
condemned were making their hnal pre-
parations for death. One OF the Catholic
priests administered the sacrament to Mrs.
Surratt. A few minutes to ono o'clock oil
Of Harrold's sisters had badc him farewell
aud were borne fainting from tho room
Atzerodts relations left about the same time
1t was now after one o'clock. Some OF
the spectators thought the delay meant a
repreve for Mrs. Surratt, but i'll five
minutes the prison door near the scaifold
opened, and the prisoners appeared, with q
guard Of soldiers, headed by General Hart
rauft.
Each prisoner was manacled. and Mrs
Surratt headed the procession. She was S,
physically prostrated that she had to bt
, lifted on the steps of the scaifold. In adj
! dition to this, her limbs were 30 heavily
manacled that her steps were impedcd
I She was accompanied by two officers ant
, two Catholic clcrgymcn. Once on the plat
, form, she was placed on the northern end
and seated in chair. She seemed at thi
4 moment to be in iainting condition, lean
, ing on her left arm and looking sorrowiull!
upward A soldier held an umbrella to
' protect her from the sun. She was attired
r in plain black dross and black bonnet. At
she sat, and before the moose was adjusted
one of the Catholic priests administered TIN
dying service OF that church. as Mrs. Sur
. ratt held the CROSS to her lips.
Payne was placed next to Mrs. Surratt
and seated on the same drop, His eyes
were saddeped from weeping, bat his face
had much color. lie seemed very mucl
. collected He was clad in shirt and panta
4 ,f A., a all utr h.,i
Over the next drop, Harold and AtzerOd
y were seated Harold looked slovenly- hi
: hair was uncombed, his clothes were soiled
aud lac appeared in his stocSing.leet. II,
wore an old slouched hat, with the brin
. turned down all around.
Atzcrodt was also in his stocking feet
and dressed in his common gray. lilo wa
; undemonstrative at first, but soon showed
signs of fear. Payne looked at tho specta
D tors. kept his head erect, and maintained
hall. defiant air Thus arranged, the dealt
: warrants were read, and tic closing rC
ligious exercises took place.
: At the request of Harold, Payne am
: Atzerodt, il was stated that the prisoner
2 desired to thank the officers who had al
tended them.
IA prayer was offered for each one, i
!, which the condemned visibly join ed. Di
!. Gillette first prayed for Payne, whose ey 0
at the moment filed with tears. The prizes
4 repeated a Latin prayer fer Mrs, Surrntt
: These solemn services being over, all tn
= prisoners then stood up and were bound
" Atzerodt was first bound at the wrists, wit
i his arms behind him, and his knees an'
, ankles. Mrs. Surratt aud the others wer
4 bound in the same way. Owing to he
:, dress, il took several minutes to bind Mrs
4 Surratt, who was held up during tho ope
. ration. Long strips Of white cotton wer,
" used instead Of ropes. The fatal moose
were opened to admit tho heads OF tn
= criminals, and the knots, rs usn ], were ad
justed exactly under tho left ear. Payn
, worked his neck in his moose. rs il dissati'
- fed with the adjustment and tho noos
= was wideDed little to suit his ample necl
|, Mrs. Surratt seemed to find some difficulty
= and said TO those near her, Please don
!, let me fall This was just before the dro
fell. Atzerodt, who seemed TO grow eS
n cited as his last moments approached, jus
a before the white cap was placed over hi
!. head, attempted, in a gasping manner, I
a address the spectators. His parched lip
!, refused to obey the helm, and il was dis
:, tressing to see him convulsvely endeavoI
r ing to make himself intolligible. Atlast h
n managed to get out tho words" GentlS
i men, take warne" "--meaning, evidently
Il lake warning.
/. The white cap was drawn over his hea,
II as was done with the others, and il wa
.s supposed no more would be heard from III
Ia nrtanncrs hnt inst hefora tl,a dfo, fol