East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-07-12
of the Conspirators.

Execution of the Conspirators.
WAsHISaroS, July Z.
All the condemned conspirators SEN
fenced to be hanged to-day, were ex-
ecuted.
On petition of Mary 4. Surratt,
through her counsel, Messrs. Akin
and Clampitt, Judge Wylie, of the
Supreme Court of this District, direct
cd the issue Of writ of habeas cor
pus to General Hancock, commanding
him TO produce in court, at 10 o'clock
this morning, the body of Mary Il.
Su autt, with cause and day of deten-
ton. The writ was served on Gener-
n Hancock at the Metropolitan Hotel,
8 o'clock this morning, by u. s.
Daiarshal Gooding. He Immediately
consulted with the Attorney General
and Secretary Of War. At 1870 the
General had not obeyed the writ
This fact was brought TO the notice of
the Court by her counsel, but the
Judge said he had not power to en-
force the writ.
The relatives of Mrs. Surratt and
Harold spent several hours with them
during the forenoon, and they were
also attended by their spiritual advis-
ers, as were also Payne and Atzerott.
A few minutes after j o'clock the
outer prison door was opened, and
Mrs. Surratt was supported on her
way to the gallows by two military
officers. Next followed Atzerott, Har-
old and Payne, accompanied by a
guard aed their respective ministers
of the gospel. Front seats were pro-
vided for them on the platform in the
following order: Mrs. Surratt, Payne,
Harold and Atzerott. The officers in
trusted with the execution, and the
ministers, occupied intermediate posi-
tons. Maj. Gen. Hartraupt, who
has been from the commencement in
charge of the prisoners, came forward
and read the order of the War De-
partment, already published, approx
ing the sentences and ordering the
penalty Of death to be inflicted.
A heavy guard was stationed on
the walls surrounding the grounds,
while below soldiers were formed on
two sides Of square. Herhaps sew
eral hundred civilians were present,
anxious spectators Of the solemn scene.
One Of the priests attendant on Mrs.
Surratt repeated short prayer, to
which Payne, who was seated next to
her, attentively listened. The minis
tiers who had been administering to
Payne expressed, in the name Of the
latter, his sincere thanks to General
Hartraupt and the officers and sol
diers who had charge Of him, for their
personal kindness. The minister then
uttered brief prayer, asking for
Payne the forgiveness Of all his sins,
and passage out of this world into
the joys of heaven. The minister
who attended Harold also returned
thanks for tho kind treatment of the
prisoner, and offered prayer that
God would receive his soul. Harold
was affected to tears. The minister
who attended Atzerott also returned
thanks for him to Gen. Hartraupt,
and then invoked the mercy Of God
upon the prisoner.
The condemned were then required
to rise from their seats, when the
chairs were removed. They were now
all on the drops. Their hands were
fastened behind them, and their legs
Usnca5vu uUun Dvlvw uDu,v ,iIu
knees, and white caps were placed
over their heads.
Atzerott, while being prepared for
the execution, exclaimed: "Gentle-
men, farewell; take care, and good
bye, gentlemen now before me-" One
Of the clergymen standing near, ex-
claimed; "May we all meet in the
other world! AS soon as the moose
was placed around each neck, Mrs.
Surratt's being the last adjusted, the
section of the platform on which they
had been standing, suddenly fell, and
the culprits were left hanging several
feet from the ground.
Mrs. Surratt and Payne scarcely
moved muscle. Atzerott exh;h:.ca;,
somo twitch;GSS, but Harold sta,,ved
more nervous sensibility than any of
the others. Tho bodies hung until
life was extinct, and were afterwards
given over for burial, the rough collins
being already at hand for the pur-
pose.
The arrangements for the execution
were perfect. Major General Han
cock was present throughout the pro-
ceedings.
1t is said that Payne, last night,
made a statement on behalf Of Mrs.
Surratt, exhonorating her from com
plicity, and that another person sub
scribed to an affidavit, impeaching the
testimony of an important witness
against her.
The New York Posts Washington
special says; Strong efforts were made
this morning to induce the President
to reprieve Mrs. Surratt, by counsel
and the Roman Catholic clergymen,
who have acted as her spiritual advis-
ers, but to no purpose. The Presi-
dent was firm in his decision, and,
while hearing the arguments, courte-
ously refused to alter or modify the
woman's sentence. 1t is reported
that Mrs. Surratt has written a state
ment or confession, which has been
handed to her spiritual advisers.