Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-07-29
WEEKLY TRINITY JOURNAL.
Execution OF consplrators at wa.hinston.

WASHINGTON, July 7th.-All the condemned
conspirators sentenced to be hanged to-day were
executed. On petition of Mary Surratt through
her counsel, Aiken and Clampitt Judge Wiley
OF the Supreme Court of this district directed
the issue of writ of hibeas corpus to General
Hancock, commanding him to produce in Court
at 10 o'clock this morning. the body of Mary E.
Surratt, with cause of death and detention. The
writ was served on General Hancock at o'clock
this morning, By Z. s. Marshal Goodloe Ham
cock Immediately consulted with the Attorney
General and Secretary of War. At 1890 the
General had not obeyed the writ This fact was
brought to the notice of the Court by her COIN
sci, but the Judge had no power to enforce the
writ. To day guards placed all around the
arsenal grounds to prevent the intrusion of per-
sons TO the scene of execution, none being adj
miited excepting those previously supplied with
tickets by General Hancock. The relations of
Mrs. Surratt and Harold spent several hours
with them. During the forenoon they were also
attended by their spiritual advisers, as were also
Atzerott and Payne. A few minutes after
o'clock the QUITE: prison door opened. Mrs.
Surratt WAS supported on her way to the galtows
by two military officers. Next followed Atzerott,
Harold and Payne, accompan sed by guard and
their respective ministers of the Gospel. Front
seats were reserved for them on the platform, in
the following order-Mrs. Surratt. Payne, Har-
rold and Atzerott The officers entrusted with
the execution and the ministers occupied an in
termedate position. General llartrauit, who
has been from the commencement in charge OF
the prisoners, came forward and read the order
of the War Department approving the sentences
and ordering the penalty of death to be inflicted.
heavy guard was stationed the wall
rounding the grounds, while below the soldiers
were formed on two sides of square. Perhaps
several hundred civilians were present as anxious
spectators of the solemn scene. The priest at
tending on Mrs. Surratt repeated a short prayer,
TO which Payne, who seated next to her,
nttentively listened. The minister who had been
attending PAYNE expressed, in the name of the
latter. his sincere thanks to General Hartrauft
and the officers snd soldiers who had charge of
him for their personal kindness. They had not
uttered an unkind word nor given an unpleasant
look or gesture, but seemed to compassionate
his misfortune. The minister then uttered
brief prayer, asking for Payne's forgiveness of
all, and his passage out of thus world into the
joys of heaven. The minister who attended
Harold returned thanks for the kind treatment
of the prisoner, and offered prayer that God
would receive his soul Harold was affected to
tears. The minister who attended Atzerntt also
returned thanks to General Hartrauft and other
officers for kind attention to them and invoked
the mercy of God on the prisoners. The con-
demned were then required to rise from their
seats, when the chairs were removed. They were
now all in the drops, their hands fastened behind
them aud their legs bandaged below and above
the knees, while the caps were placed over their
heads Atzerott, while being prepared for
cution, exclaimed Gentlemen, farewell-take
care Good bye, gentlemen, now before me.
One of the gentlemen standing near exclaimed
May We al! meet in the other world As soon
ms the moose was put around each head, Mrs.
Surratt's being the last one adjusted, the section
of the platform on which they had been standing
suddenly fell and the Gu prits were hanging sew
eraf feet from the ground. Mrs. Surratt and
Payne scarcely moved muscle. Atzerott exhib-
tied some twitching, but Harold showed more
nervous sensibility than any of the others. The
boiles hung until life extinct and were af-
forwards given over for burial, the collins being
already at hand for that purpose. The arrange
ments for the execution were perfect. General
Hancock was present throughout the proceedings
1t is said Payne last night made IL statement in
behalf of Mrs Surratt. exhonerating her from
completely, and that all the other prisoners sub
scribed to an affidavit impeaching the testimony
of important witnesses against her.