The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-07-19
Especial to COmmcrcial.]
WASHINGTON, July 7.


WASHINGTON, July 7.
The last tragic chapter of the grent
conspiracy to assassinats tho President
and his Cabinet is finished. To-day at
half past o'clock, within the Peniten-
tiary walls, where they were tried and
convicted, Lewis PAYNE Powell, Mary
q Surratt, David Il. Harold and George
Atzarott, were hanged by the neck until
they were dead, In execution of the SEN
tence of the Military Commission duly
approved by the President, for the crimes
Of conspiracy, treason and murder. The
painful scene was unattended by any ex.
traordinary 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 their trends
and spiritual advisers were in their pres
ence. During the afternoon, the con-
demned were removed from the upper
row and placed in the ground floor cells.
Their companions in crime = Mudd,
Spangler, 0'Laughlin and Arnold-re.
mained in the third tier of cells, unaware
Of the sentences of their fellow. prisoners,
or Of their own. Mrs. Surratt was kept
in her old cell, attended by her daughter,
Anna Surratt, and two Catholic clergy.
men of this city. During the night, she
was very much oppressed, and suffered
from pains caused by nervous prostration.
A good deal of her time was spent in re
ligious exercise, AID she did not, there
fore, sleep any. Aside from her daugh,
ter, one or two friends were allowed to
see her, but each time in the presence Of
of an officer. During the night Mrs
Surratt conversed freely with the Datho-
lie priests on the crime for which she was
convicted, claiming that she was inno-
cent of any complicity-in the assassina-
tion of the President. Breakfast was
served to her at the usual hour this morn
ing, but she declined TO eat anything
Miss Anna Surratt, who visited the Pres
idents house this incoming, returned to
her mothers cell, and remained with her
to quarter before one, when she took
the last farewell in the most agOnized
state of mind.
Payne spent the, night and morning in
company with Rev. DR.. Gillette, Baptist
minister, with he held close converse, cx.
cept for three hours when he slept He
very freely conversed with Dr. Gillette on
religious topics during the morning, sit
ting as erect as he did in the Courtroom.
From his conversation it appears that he
was raised religious'y and belonged to the
Baptist Church until after the breaking
ont of the rebellion. He appeared to bo
sincerely repentant, and in his cell shed
tears freely. He gave his advisers sever
al commissions Of private character, and
stated that he was willing to meet his
God, asking all men to forgive, and for
giving all who had done ausht against
him. Col. Dosier, his counsel, also took
lelve Of him during the morning, as well
os Of Atzerott. Payne ate his breakfast
as usual. No friend or relctive appeared
to see him. During the conversation
Payne said, that in attempting TO kill Sc
cretary Seward, he claimed to bc con
iedcrate soldier. Aside from that, he ad
dcd that he believed it would give peace
TO the South. He thinks now it was all
wrong, and blamCs the rebel leaders fo
his death, though he feared not to die
Several times he expressed his thanks fol
the kindness which he had received from
the officers while in prison. He stated
that he was led into the conspiracy BY
Booth and Jchn Surratt.
Harold was visited by an Episcopa
minister, this morning, but he did not 70
main long. Five of his sisters spen
most all of the forenoon with him, hi
mother and two other sisters being too il
to visit him. sa IN
: Atzerott, during all of last night au'
to-day, seemed to bc!ray great fear; h
was nervous and excited, and declare'
that he was afrald.to die, and that he wa
not prepared. Two ministers attended
him, but he did not appear to be reli
giously comforted. Atzerot stated +
these gentlemen, last night, that Johl
Surratt induced him to join the conspira
cy to abduct the President, and that Sur
ratt came to Fort Tobacco, Maryland, t
get him, with boat, to take the Presi
dent across the Potomac, after he was alb
Quoted.
This morning Atzerott conyersed free
ly with two ministers, aud before going
to the gallows he made the following state
ment: He said he took a room at tn
Kilkwood House, on Thursday, April lS
in order to get pass from Vice Presi
dent johnson, to 90 to Richmond. Bootl
was to lease the Richmond Theator, ant
the President was to be invited to attenc
liz when visiting Richmond, and capture'
there.
Harold brought the pistol and knif
10 the room about half-past two o'cloel
on Friday, He (Atzerott) said he wOul'
not have anything to do with the murde
Of johnson, when Booth said that Har
rod had more courage than Atzerott snt
he wanted Atzerott to be with Harold
TO urge him to do il. There was meet