The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-07-11
THE EXECUTIONS.
The Petitions for Clemency.
APPLICATION FOR HAstAs CORPUS
SCENES AT THE GALL0WS.
WASHINGTON, July Z
SCENES AT THE sURRATr HOUSE.

n
| Yesterday afterthe announcement of her
fate had become know, through the pub
| lie prints. In the evening but II single
dim light shown from one nf the rooms,
while within the house all was asqniet as
death her MP. Iarp Sss wss It has %h.en Ssen
in constant attendance upon her mother,
drove up to the door in a hack, acc0mpa-
MED by gentleman She appeared TO
be perfectly crushed with grief, and as
she alighted from the carriage ladies' who
were standing near were m'0ved t., tears
in sympathy with the unfortunate girl
whose every look and action betrayed
her anguish.
The house is large three-story and
attic brick, with the street front painted
Head color, and hAs two entrances OH ii
street. one being pn the lower story or
ground floor, and the pther on the second
| floor by means of high porch from the
pavement. Several beautiful shade trees
in front of the house (Which is of modern
build, of fine interior and exterior APP
pearance) completely hides it from the
view of passers-by on the opposite side of
the street. Since the arrest of Mrs. Sur
ratt this house has been the centre of in
terest in the northern part of the city,
and hundreds of persons who have passed
it, either Intentionally or un intentionally,
have stopped and gazed upon it with
curiosity, while those parties living in
the vicinity have been kept busy in an
sweTing the questions of persons from a
distanS Se eager tO.obtain all information
possible relative to Mrs. Surratt, her FAM
ily, and the house in which she resided.
INCIDENTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
About halfpast o'clock this morning,
Miss Snrratt, accompanied by female
friend, again visited the White House,
having been there last evening for the
purpose of obtaining an interview with
the President President Johnson hav-
ing given orders that he would see no
one to-day, the doorkeeper stopped Miss
Surratt at the foot of the steps leading
up to the Presidents Office, and would
not permit her to proceed further She
then asked permission tosee Gen. Muzzy,
the Presidents military secretary, who
promptly answered the summons, and
came down stairs where Miss Surratt was
standing. As sOun1Hs the General made
his appearance, Miss s. threw herself up
on her knees before him, and catching
him by the coat, with loud sobS and
streaming eyes, implored him to assist
her in obtaining hearing with the Pres
.ident. Gen. Muzzy, in as tender man
her as possible, informed Miss Surratt
that he could not comply with her re-
quest, as President Johnson's orders
were imperative, and he would receive
no one. <.
Upon Gen Muzzy returning to his of
fee, Miss S threw herself upon the stair
steps, where she remained a considerable
length of time, sobbing aloud i'll the
greatest anguish, protesting her. moth
ers innocence, and imploring every one
who came near her to intercede in her
mothers behalf While thus weeping,
she declared her mother was too good
and kind to be guilty of the enormous
crime of which she was convicted, and
asserted that if her mother was put to
death she wished to dio also
The scene was heart rendiHg, and
many of those who witnessed it, includ-
ing a number of hardy soldiers. were
moved to tears. Miss s., having become
auieted, gave Vent to her feelings III 81
lent tears, and was finally persuaded to
take seat in the East Room, where she
yemained for several hours, jumping up
from her seat each time the front door of
the mansion was opened. evidently in
hopes of seeing some one enter " no could
be of service to her in obtaining the de-
sired interview with the President, or
that they were bearers of good news to
her.
Two of Harrold's sisters, dressed in flri
mourning, and heavily yelled, mife
their appearance at the White House
shortly after Miss Snrratt, for the pur-
pose OF interceding with the President in
behalf of their brother. Failing to see
the President, they addressed note to
Mrs. johnson, and expressed a hope that
she would not turn deaf ear to their
pleadings Mrs. Johnson being quite
sick it was deemed eXpedient by the
ushers not to deliver the note, when, as
| a last eXpedient, the ladies asked permls-
sion to forward q note to Mrs. Patterson,
the Presidents daughter, which privilege
was not granted, as Mrs P. is also quite
ndisposed to-day The Misses Harold,
although feeling greatly concerned for
their doomed brother, showed but little
outward signs of grief, which was deep
and silent, and it was impossible to tell
the anguish going on within their hearts
PETITIONS FOR CLEMENCY.
Immediately upon the announcement
of the sentences rush was made for the
Executive Mansion by friends and rela-
tives of the conspirators to plead for a
brief respite.
All applicants were referred to Judge
Advocate General Holt. but he like the
President, was inexorable. At night the
thrOng of applicants increased. and the
entreaties were most importunate. Many
expressed the belief that in considera-
tion of her sex, the sentence of Mrs. Sur
ratt might be commuted to Imprisonment
| for life, and her case was the most strong
| ly urged Even down to the hour for
the execution the hope of clemency was
| entertained by some, aud not few were
sanguine to the last.
HABEAS CORPUS INVOKED.
Early in the day, Mr.. Aiken, one of the
counsel for Mrs. Surratt, applied to Judge
Wylie, of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict, for writ Of habeas curpus to stay
her execution. A writ was issued by the
Court and placed in the hands of the
Marshal, who returned it, certified that
it had been served at 81 O'Clock A. NJ.
Some discussion arose as to what the
Court should do in consequence OF the
military authorities refusal to obey the
| Id, v.-1: I'D ha nrf