The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-07-26

her steps we're impeded. She was.
accompanied by two officers and two
clefgymen. Once on, the platform,
she was placed on the northern end,
and seated in a chair. She's seemed
in fainting condition, leaning
on her left arm, and looking sorrow-
fully upward. A soldier held an, nm
brella to protect her from the sun.
She was attired in aplain.b black. dress1
and black bonnet Before the. Moose
was adjusted one of the Catholic1
priests administered The dying ser.I
vice Of that church, as Mas. Surratl
held the cross 10 her lips.
Payne ives placed next to Mrs. Sur
raft, and seated on the same drop.
His eyes were REDEEMED from weep
| ing, but his face had much color. Hell
seemed very much collected. He
was clad in shirt and pantaloons, blue,
and wore a sailors straWhat.
Harold and AIzerot were seated
next. Harold looked sloEenly. His
hair was uncornbed, his clothes soiled,
and he appeared in his stocking feet.
He wore an old slouched hat, with
the brim turned down all round At
zerot was also in his stocking feet,
| and dressed in coarse gray. He was.
uhdemonstrative at first, bat soon
showed fear. Payne looked at the
spectators, kept his head erect, and
maintained half defiant air.
I THUS arranged, the death warrants
were read, and the closing religious
exercises took place. All Of the cler-
! gymen, at the: request Of Harold,
! Payne and Atzerott, stated that the
prisoners desired to thank the officers
who had attended them. Prayer was
offered for each one, in which the
condemned visfoly joined. D. S. Gil
lett first prayed for Payne, whose
eyes at the moment filled with tears
The priests repeated a Latin prayer
for Mrs. ,Surratt. The solemn servi.
I css being over, all of the prisoners
then stood up apd.were bound. At
zerott was first bound at the wrists
/ with his arms behind him, and his
, knees and ankles. Mrs Strait and
t the others were bound in the same
way. Owing to her dress it took Sc :
eral moments TO bind Mrs Surratt'
t who was held up during the opera
E ton. Long strips of white cotton
d cloth were used instead of ropes.
u The fatal nooses were opened to ad.
G nit the heads of the criminals, and
!, the knots, as usual, were adjusted
& exactly under the left ear. Payfe
a worked his neck in. his moose as il
t dissatisfied with the adjustment, and
d 1.-THE moose was widened a little to suit
E his ample neck. Mrs. Surratt seemed
e to find some difficulty, and said Il
It those near her 'fplease don't let me
e fall" This was just before the dro!
y fell. Atzerott, who seemed to grow
d excited as his moments approached
), just before the white cap was place.
e over his head, attempted, in gasp
n ing manner, to address the spectators
d His parched lips would not obey, ant
y it was distressing to see him convul
d si4ely endeavqring to make himsel
d ineligible. At last be madaged t
e get out the words: Gentlemen
IF take warnen' "--meaning evidently
take warning. The white cap wa
Iy drawn over his head, as was don
is with the others, and it was suppose
o. no more would be heard from Ii
prisoners; but just befofB The droI
or Atzerott's voice was again heard i
ne mufled. accents, saying: +" Good-b.
e. gentlemen, who are before NE nov
re may we all meet in the ether worl
as God help me now. Oh! oh! OH" an
m and as the last broken exclamation
al were on his lips the drop fell, and a
x the four criminals hung quivering j
l, the air. At &c minutes past o'cloc
in tie signal was given by wave
as the hand; the large blocks suppoftir
CHI the uprights were knocked out, Il
to drops fell with heavy slam, and q
four bodies hung suspended Payne
lis limbs were dram up 6.al Time
,ir and for a moment OF tMSpHs who
of frame quivered violently, but with
he five minutes all was still. Harro
struggled some. There was no pc
Of ceptibIe movement of the body
IL Atzerott, and he apparently died cas-
he There was only slight movement
the limbs of Mrs. Surratt.
he There was breathless silence t
several minutes after the drop fe
me but in a short time persons commenc
ay to move, and most all left the var
,ut LIN thirty minutes the bodies were {
Ear down, placed in collins and buried