The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-07-13

The last tragic chapter of the great
lconspiracy to assassinate the President
and Cabinet is finished. To day Al
half.past | O'clock, within the Peniten,
tiary. walls, where they were tried
and convicted, Lewis Payne Powell
Mary Il. Surratt, David Il. Harold
and George Atzeroth. were hanged by
the neck until they were dead, in ex
ecution of the sentence Of the Military
Commission duly approved by The
President, for the crimes of conspira
cy. treason and murder. The painful
scene was unattended by any cXtraor
binary accident or incident and was
conducted in the most solemn and
quiet manner.
At noon yesterday, the condemned
were notified of the sentence of death
and in short time thereafter theiI
friends and spiritual advisers wcro in
their presence, During The aftcrE oon
the condemned .wcro removed from
the upper row and placed in the ground
floor cells Their companions in crilnC
Mudd, Spangler, O'Laughlin and
Arnold-remaincd in the third tier Of
cells, unaware Of the sentences of theil
fellow prisoners, or of their own
Mrs Surratt was kept in her old cell
attended by her daughter, Anna Sur
ratt, and two Catholic clergymcn OF
this city. During the night, she was
very much oppressed, and suffered
from pains caused by nervous prostra
ton. A good deal of her time was
spent in religious exercise, and she did
not, therefore, sleep any. Aside from
her daughter, one or two friends were
allowed to sec her, but cash time in the
presence of an officer. During the
night Mrs. Suraatt convcrscd freely
with the Catholic priests on the crime
for which she was convicted, claiming
that she was innocent Of any compile
ity in the assassination of the Presi.
dent. Breakfast was served to her vt
the usual hour this morning, but she
declined to eat anything. Miss Anna
Surratt, who visited tue Presidents
house this morning, returned to her
mothers cell, and remained with her
to quarter before one, when she took
the last farewell in the most agonzcd
state of mind. -.t' 70
Payne spent the night and morning
in company with Rev. DR.. Gillette,
Of the Baptist church, with whom he
held close converse, except for three
hours, when he slept. ITo very free.
ly convcrscd with DR.. Gillette, on re-
ligious topics during the morning, sit
ting as erect rs he did in the Court
room. From his conversation it ap.
pears that he was raised religiously
and belonged to the Baptist church un-
til after tho breaking out of the rebel
lion. lie appeared to be snccrly re-
pentant, and in his cell shed tears
freely. Ho gave his advisors several
commissions OF n private character, and
stated that he was willing to meet his
God, asking all men to forgive, and
iorgiving all who had done aught
against him. Colonel Dostcr, his coun-
sci, also took leave of him during tho
morning, us well as OF Atzeroth. Payne
ate his breakfast as usual. No friend
or relative appeared to see him. Du.
ring the conversation, Payne said, that
in attempting to kill Secretary Seward
he claimed to be confederate soldier.
Aside from that, he added that he be.
loved it would give peace to the South,
llc thinks now that il was all wrong,
and bames the rebel leaders for his
death, though he did not fear to die.
Several times ho expressed his thanks
Tor tho kindness which he had received
from the officers Willie in prison. lie
stated that no was led into the con
spiracy by Booth and John Surratt
Harold was visited by an Episco.
pal minister, this morning, but he did
not- romain long Five of his sisters
spent most all of the forenoon with
him, his mother and two othor sisters
being too i'll 10 visit him.
Atzeroth, during all of last night
and to-day, seemed to betray great
fear he was nervous and excited, and
declared that he was afraid to die, and
that he was not prepared. Two min.
listers attended him, but he did not ap.
pear to be religiously comforted. At.
zeroth sNted to these gentlemen, last
night, that John Surratt induced HIM
to join tho conspiracy to abduct the
President, and that Surratt came to
Port Tobacco, Maryland, to got him,
with boat, TO take the President
across the PotoNac, aitor he was ab
ducted. .Ig' .I r.7H.
This morning Atzeroth convcrsed
freely with two ministers, and before
going to the gallows he made tho fol-
lowing statement: Ho said no took
u room u. the Kirkwood House, on
Thursday, April Il, in order to get n
pass from Vice President johnson, to
90 to Richmond. Booth was TO lease
the Richmond Theater, aud the Pres.
ident was TO be invited to attond il
when visiting Richmond, and captur,
ed there. rtIF-
Harold brought the pistol and knife
to the room about alf-past Two O'Clock
on Friday. He (Atzeroth) said he
would not have any thing to do with
tho murder of Johnson, when Booth
said that Harold had more courage
than Atzeroth, and he wanted AMe-
roth to DO with Harold, to urge him
to do it. There was q meeting at a
restaurant about the middle of March,
at which John Surratt, OLaughlin,
Booth, Arnold, Payne, Harold and
himsclf Maro nrnannt Mhnn q nlan 10