Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-07-14
The enecnlion of the A..n.,ins.

he Execution oil inc Assl>>ins.
The painful scene was unattended by either
extraordinary accident or incident, AM vas con-
Quoted in the most solemn and quiet manner -
During Thursday night, the clergymeu were
with the prisoners, some Of thlm having been
closetel with the condemned ali night. Nume-
rous sentries were seated in tn corridor, from
which. through the grated doors, gl.mpses OF
the inmaits of the cells could be lbainel
AiEerott gizei at the foor wiiha vacant stare,
and frequently shed tears lairoll's two sis
tiers were with him aud their sotb.nG could be
heard at intervals from without. Ia Mrs. sur
ratt 5 cell, besides her clergyman and other rel
atiyes, were two daughters, ten lul eighteen
years old, whose constant sobs, m lied occi-
sionally with agoniz.ng cries, wer distinctly au-
dlhle III the jail yard outside.
Efforts were made during all q the night by
counsel and friends 20 secure a rtpre,e for Mrs
Surratt. but President johnson declined 10 in-
teriere
About halfpast eight O'Clock Friday morning.
Miss Surratt. accompanied by a female friend
visited the White House. for the purpose Of Oh
tanning an interview with the President Presi-
dent johnson having given orders that he would
receive no one to-day, the doorkeeper stopped
Miss Surratt At the loot OF the steps She then
ldents Military Secretary, who promptly an
swertd the summons. A. soou a the General
made his appearance, Miss Surratt threw herself
upon her knees before him, and catching him by
the coat. with loud sobs ami streaming eyes. i'm
ploi ed hin TO sssis. her in obtaining a hearing
with the President Gen Muzzy IN a tender
manner informed Miss Surratt that he could not
comply with her request. a. President Johnson :
orders we're imperative that he should receive 10
one U9op Gen. MuzEY returning to his Office.
Miss 5. threw herself upon the stairs, where she
rtmrned a considerable length of time sobbing
aloud in the greatest anguish, protesting her
mothers innocence, and Imploring every one
who came near her, TO Intercsde Ia her mothers :
beLalf While thus weeping she declared her
mother was too good aud kind 10 be guilty Of the
enormous crime Of which she Was convicted. and
asserted that If her mother was put 20 death
she wished 10 die also. The scene was heart
rending, and many Of those who witnessed il.
including a number Of hardy soldiers. were nov
Ell 10 tears. Miss :. having become Qweiel
gave vent TO her feelings in silent tears aud was
tnally persuaded 10 take 4 seat 10 the East
Room, where she remained several hours. Jump
ing up from her seat each time the front door Of
the mansion was opened, evidently iu hopes cf
seeing some one enter who {. uld be Of service 10
her in Obtaining the desired interview with the
President, or that thev were bearers Of good
news 10 her
Two OF Harold SISTERS, dressed in full mourn
ing and heavily veiled. made their appearance at
the White House shortly after Miss Sur-att, for
the purpose Of interceding with the President
in behalf Of their brother Failing 10 see tic
President. they addressed a note 10 Mrs John
son, aud expressed a hope that she would not
81. I
son being quite sick, il was deemed expciient by
the ushers not to deliver the note.
Payne in conversation with his spiritual ad-
wiser, said that Mrs. Surratt was wholly inno-
cent. The impression seemed universal in the
crowd that she would be reprieved, but it was
not TO be.
Atzerott stated that John Surratt Induced him
to Join the conspira'ors TO abduct the President.
am that Surratt came 10 Port Tobacco, Md, to
get h,m with n boat 10 take the President acr, =
the Potomac after he WIS abducted. lie ssil be-
took a room 1t the kirkWoOd House, on Thurs
day, April 18th, in order 10 get a pass from Wire
President johnson to go 10 Richmond. Booth
was TO lease the Richmond TleItre, and the
President was 10 he inyitei 10 attend il when
visiting Richmond. and ;ipturei there Hirroll
brought the pistol aud knife TO the room about
two O'Clock on Friday he (Atzer0tt) said he
would not have anything to DO with the murder
Of johnson, when Booth sad that Harold had
more courage than Aizerott. and he wanted
Aizerott 10 he with IIlrruli 10 urge hun 10 do IT,
There was 4 mectin- NJ \ restaurant about the
middle OF March, ~ which John Surratt, o.
Lauehlin, Booth, Arnold, Payne, Harold and
himself were present, when 4 plan 10 capture
the President was discussed. They had heard
the President was to visit a camp and they pro-
pos.d to capture him, coach and all, and drive
through Long 0ldfelds 10 rB., 10 miles in Nd
where the coach was 10 be len and fresh horses
were to be got, and the party were TO proceed {,
the river 10 take 4 boat. Harold took buggy
TO T. B. in anticipation that Mr.. Lincoln would
be captured and he was to 20 with the party t,
the river. Slavery had put him on the side o
the South lie had heard it preached in churcl
/ that the curse of God was upon the slaves, fol
| they we're turned black. He always hated III,
negro, and ne felt that they, the negroes, SHOULD
be kept in ignorance He had not received an,
money from Booth, although he had been prom
/ ised that if they were successful they shoul,
never want; that they would be honored through
I out the South, and that they could secure al
exchange. of prisoners, and the recognition o
| the Confederacy.
AtIerott's brother has occasionally visited him
and this morning his aged mother arrived il
town and proceeded to his cell
PAYNE ate his breakfast as usual. No frien
or relative appeared to see him. During con
e-sltions, Payne said that he though
he was doing right in attempiin;' TO kill Secreta
ry Seward, as he still claimed TO be a eonfedersi
soldier: aside from that, he admitted that ne bt
leved it would give peace to the South. II
think. now that it was all wrong. and blame
rebel leaders for his death, though he did nc
fear 10 die. Several times he expressed h
thanks for the kind treatment which be had II
ceived from officers while in prison. lie state
that he was led into the conspiracy sy Booth an
John Surrait.
Harold was visited by an Episcopal miust,
FRIDAY. but he did not remain long. Fi-
ofhis sisters spent most all of the forenoon vii
him, his mother and two other sisters being {,
i'll to visit him.
At1erott, during all of last night sud to-da
seemed TO be;rAy great fear. lie sad he vi
afraid to die; that he was not prepared. Tv
ministers attended him, but he did not appea
to be religiously comiorted.
The execution took place at precisely tvent
two minutes past one o clock in the presence
about one thousand spectators, all OF whom (wi
the exception OF about two hundred and fifty
three hundred) we're Office IS and soldiers.
Four regiments of soldiers were in attendan
-one outside the arsenal grounds, two Just OF
side the yard, aud one in the prison yard and
the walls. At half-Iast eleven O'Clock Frid
morning large weights were put upon the SC
fold and the traps dropped TO try them. Th
we're found quite Efficient The scsffold wasoo
.tructed with two drops or traps-each one
two OF the conspirators condemned to be excel
ed. From beam above hung four ropes
. different lengths, according to the stature Of ,
I I crinfiuais-the longest being for Payae-
, drops had q fall of Eve feet. About two II