White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-07-20

same to Port Tobacco. Maryland. to get
him. with boat, to take the President
across the Potomac, after be was alb
Quoted.
This morning Atkeroth conversed freely
with two ministers. and before going to
the gallows be made the following state
ment He said be took room at the
House. on Thursday. April
Is, in order to get . pass from Vice
President johnson. to 20 to Richmond.
Booth was to lease the Richmond theatre,
and the President was to be invited to
attend it when visiting Richmond, and
there.
Harold brought the pistol and knife
to the room about half past two O'Clock
on Friday. He (Atzsroth had said he
would not have anything to do with the
murder of johnson, when Booth said that
Harold had more courage than Atzeroth,
and he wanted Atzeroth to be with Har-
rold. to urge him TO do it. There was
meeting at restaurant about the middle
of March, at which John Surratt,
O'Laughlin, Booth, Arnold, Payne, Har-
rold and himself were present. when
plan to capture the President was discuss
ed. They had heard the President was
to visit camp. and they proposed to
capture him, coach and all, drive through
Langold Fields to T. B., ten miles in
Maryland, where the coach was to be
left, and fresh horses were to be got. and
the party would proceed to the river to
take bost Harold took buggy to
T. B., in anticipation that Mr.. Lincoln
would be captured. and he was to go
with the party to the river. Slavery had
put him on the side of the South. He
bad heard it preached in church that the
curse of God was upon the slaves. for
they were turned black. He always hated
the negro, and he felt that they (the ne
groes) should be kept in ignorance. He
had not received any money from Booth.
although he had been promised that if
they were successful, they should never
want; that they would be honore1
throughout the South. and that they could
secure an exchange Of prisoners, and the
recognition of the Confe1eracy.
Atseroth's brother has occasionally
visited him, and this morning his aged
mother arrived in town and proceeded to
his cell. ....... -s. .r
At twelve o'clock the preparations for
the execution were completed. The scaf-
fold had been finished an hour before.
The privileged persons were admitted to
the yard where it was erected. Some sat
on the platform. almost Frustrated by the
heat. Gen. Hancock. who had charge
of the execution. did not arrive till half
past twelve, having been detained in
court, in making return to the writ of
habeas corpus in Mrs. Su,ratt'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 final
preparations for death. One of the Cath
olic priests administered the sacrament to
Mrs. Surratt A few minutes before one
O'Clock all Of Harrold's sisters haG babe
him farewell, and were borne fainting
from the room. Atzeroth's relations left
him about the same time.
1t was now after one o'clock. Some
of the spectators thought the delay meant
d reprieve for Mrs. Surrstt, but in five
minutes the prison door near the scaffofd
opened and the prisoners appeared. with
a guard of soldiers, headed by General
Harisuff
Each prisoner was msnacled, and Mrs.
Surratt headed the procession. She was
so physically prostrated that she had to
be lifted on the steps to The scaffold. In
addition to this. her limbs were so heavi-
" manacled that her steps were impeded.
She was accompanied by two officers and
two Catholic clergymen. Once on the
platform, sha was placed on the northern
end. and seated in a chair. She seemed
at this moment to be in faintiug condi-
ton, leaning on her left arm. and looking
sorrowfully rpward. A soldier held an
umbrella to protect her from the sun.
She was attired in plain, black dress
and black bonnet. As she sat, and be-
fore the moose was adjusted, one of rhe
Catholic priests administered 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 saddened from weeping, but his face
had much color. He seemed very much
collected. He was clad in shirt and pan
falcons of blue, and wore o sailors straw
hat.
Over the next drop Harold and Atze-
roth were seated. Harold looked SLOW
enly-his hair was uncombed, his clothes
were soiled. and he appeared in his stock
ing feet. He wore an old sloucbed bat,
with brim turned down all around. At
zeroth was also in his stocking feet. and
dressed in common gray. He was un-
demonstrative at first, but soon showed
signs of fear. Payne looked at the spec
tators. kept his head erect, and maintain
ed half defiant air.
Thus arranged, the death warrants
were read. and the closing religious ex-
ercises took place.
At the request Of Harold, Payne, and
Atzeroth, it was stated tha: the prisoners
desired to thank the officers who had at
tended them. A prayer was offered for
each one. in which the condemned visibly
Joined. Dr.. Gillette first prayed for
Payne, whose eyes, 1t the moment. filed
with tears. The priest repeated Latin
prayer for Mrs. Surratt::
These solemn services being over, all
the prisoners then stood up and were
bound. Atzer0th was FIRST bound at the
nm .isfs NTH hia- a.sna hohind him and