Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-07-15

The Washington correspondent OF The Circin
naa Commercial thus photographs Mrs.. srRRAT7
Ell PsYSr.
A-s Mary I Surratt was fotsy-fye ysars OF
age She d dark skin, masculine fgure. full
rourd face, broad forehead, broad nose and thin
nosiril, lsrgo aud firm mouth. strong and resolute
coin. her teeth we're, like those Of many
Southern women, vresehed 10 shape and quality
her eye was cold hard, steely. impcneirable aud
sleepless She wore her bonnet aud veil during
the trial. and bid her features behind palm Leaf
ian; but no word Of all the testimony escaped
her. snd her feline glance kert accurate photo
graph Of ali persons and motions within her
range OF vision. She was born of Catholic pa
rengsge. and vas in early lite designed for con-
vent. She grew up iervid in piety and strict in
the observance Of religious duty. She has borne
bsmeless life, but never made friends any
where. IL she VAS not cold epd repellAni, she
vas. at least. reserved aud not easily approached
Her tongue was cautious, and her ways were
crcnmspect As 4 maiden she vac attractive
and mpetous: as ~ifc. she was AZ The head Of
house, but was neither a scold nor orawler;
"a mother, she was psssionaiely De.
voted to her children, whom she brought
up In naughty seclusion and strict regard for
Catholicism; ~ n neighbor she had few intims
cie-, but gave readily 20 the poor and needy; ~
=
Of season. to her religious duties. could talk
auently and undets,Npdingly thereof. and said
her prayers with ierNi aud imprisoned feeling.
Lately she has lived much retired, and saw but
iew OF the inconsidefable number Of persons who
visited the house. She wholly sympithiyed With
the South. but never allowed herself or her
daughter 20 indulge In the usual hppancy of
Southern rebel women She ordered the ways
OF her household with vigor; was known by but
-. - h.. 80
aud was spoken of in Catholic and Southern
circles as good christian and most excellent
mstron. In prison .he made no complaint
spoke none but very civil words TO the guards
and officers On the scafiold she displayed no
bravado and no insolence-was al first touched
with faintness. but met her fate with calm
strength.
Lewis Thornton Powell. who. OF his own
choice, goes into the Hondrous history Of these
tines "a Lewis Payne. WAS worthy of better
fate than this he has met. Very strong men of
cool impulses, noble ambitions, and earnest con-
yictions OF duty are so numerous that the world
can we'll afford 10 lose them. This man was no
common. blood thirsty villain, hired for 4 price
aud only anxious 20 earn his money. 1t. through
tho deed Of that dread evening OF April IA. sos
the South had gained National Independence
as the Confederate States of Amerima, this
Lewis Thornton Powell, and nos ihat John
Wilkes Booth, would have been ice idol aud hero
he Was true child OF the South--simpe direct
frank, honest, passionate he was. moreover
reserved self composed, and very self inIospec
tive. he bad no religion, aud but crude con
ception OF God, but he was naturally religion
and believed that Providence ordered and sane.
toned the very deed be attempted at Mr. Sew
ards. lie affected 10 ooaoeament and no
uystegyi but his daily bearing wa y mystery,
aud his real life, however and wherever he
had lived, would have been mostly c0aceilOd
he was. IN very special selse, OF a dual ma
ture-vigorons in conception, strong in exc
cution, and every way itled loI leader; ret
given to inward musings. strange longine-. ana
all the pomp and paraphernslia OF morbid nagi
nation That The promise OF his life, and the
po--ibility o. his manhood were ruined by
slavery, l. tTue--sldy aud cTuelIy true; bu,
therein wfs 10 ground FOR bis excuse FOR murder
90 gIound iof q desire tia. he should be pstdoned
or rc.tifcl. There never was being who more
rchl, deserved bangng; he himself admitted
that there vas no punishment for his crime bu,
death Tho natural eIpression of his eve was
shdlY, The atOultl0p OF his voice vas pleasant
20 "a, eft he WAS courteous, but awkward
Re spoke readily and happily with his guards
aud attendants lie made no complaints. aud
gave 40 trouble. aud oiton thanked the OH GERS
tor their kindness Ito had TO braggadocis, and
did not even know such word as fear. lie had
no aggressive self assertion, but ho counted him.
sci the natural equal OF any man lie was one
of the best of tho thousands upon thousands Of
young men whom slavery has devoured
On the scafiold he manifested neither assumD-
ton nor indifference. Remembering his urime,
there was righteous JOY IN seeing him huug--sce.
ing his youth and possibilites-there was in.
creased aud intensified hate of that vhainy
whereby nave come war asd all our woes