Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-07-11

which will exoulpate their client. The Presidel
was too i'll to give them an audience and referre
them to Judge Holt Tho latter, after hearin
Miss Surratt, promised to present the subject
the President, but as yet nothing further
known to have transpired in the matter. Th
sisters of Harold, Eve in number, called also /
body at the Executive Mansion to ask for
communication, and they, too, were referred I
Judge Holt.
Mas. SuRRArT's CAsE-THE WRIT OF HABRA
CORPUS.
WAsHIsoToN, July This morning, Judg
Wyle granted on application Of the counsel 0
Mrs. SuTratt, writ Of habeas corpus. command
ing Major General Hancock to produce tn
body OF Mrs Surratt before the court. The wri
was returnable at 10 O'Clock, but nearly iw,
hours after that time General Hancock entered
tue court, accompanied by Attorney Genera
Speed, who apologized for the apparent delay
in making return by the General, which was
unavoidable. He then proceeded to read the
return in which General Hancock said the body
OF Mrs. Surratt was in his possession under and
by virtue Of an order of President johnson fol
the purpose expressed, and which order is az
follows:
ExEourIvE OFFICE, July 7, 1865.-To Major
deneral Hancock, Commanding, &c.-I, Andrew
johnson, President Of the United States, do
hereby declare that the writ Of habeas corpus
has been heretofore suspended in such cases as
this, and do hereby especially suspend this
writ, and direct that you proceed to execute the
order heretofore given upon the judgment of the
Military Commission; and you will give this
order as return to this writ
A. JOHNSON,
President of the United States
The Court remarked that no further steps
would be taken in the matter
hria Az nad
marking upon the distinction between the civil
and military jurisdiction, and showing the utter
impossibility of fighting battles carrying on
war, and maintaining the government in time of
war, by process Of law.
THE soLEMN PROCESSION
Marched down the steps Of the back door down
into the yard, in the following order The
condemned, Mrs. Surratt, supported by Lieut..
Col. Mccall, 200th Pennsylvania Regiment, on
her left side, and Sergeant W. r. Kenney, Co.
A, 18th Vet. Reserve Corps; Fathers Walker
and Neigel walking together. Harold, accom-
panied by Sergeant Thomas, Co. B, 18Th Vet.
Reserve Corps, and an officer attached to Col.
Bakers Detective force. Payne, accompanied
by Sergt. Grover, Co. D, 18th Vet. Reserve
Corps, and one Of Col. Bakers detectives.
Atzeroth, attended by sergt White, 18th Vet
Reserve Corps, and one Of Bakers detectives
Mrs Surratt, on emerging from the back door,
cast her eyes upward upon the sosffold for a
few moments with q look Of curiosity, combined
with dread. One glimpse, and her eyes fell to
the ground and she walked along mechanically,
her head dropping, and if she had not been
supported would have fallen.
APPEARANCE AND DEMBAEoR OF MRS. suRRATr.
She ascended the scaffold, and was led to an
arm chair, in which che was seated. An um-
brella was held over her by the two holy
fathers, to protect her from the sun, whose rays
shot down like the blasts from fiery furnace.
She was attired in black bombazine dress,
black alpaca bonnet, with black veil, which she
wore over her face till she was seated on the
chair. During the reading Of the order for the
execution by Gen. Hartranft, the priests held
o small crucihx before her, which she kissed
fervently several times
She first looked around at the scene before
her, then closed her eyes and seemed engaged
nouncement Of the cergymen in behalf of the
other prisoners having been made, Col. Mccall,
assisted by the other officers, proceeded to
remove her bonnet pinion her elbows, and tie
strips Of cotton stuff around her dress below
the knees. This done, the rope was placed
around her neck and her face covered with a
white cap reaching down to the shoulders.
When they were pinioning her arms she
turned her head and made some remarks to the
officers in low tone, which could not be heard.
Ii appeared they had tied her elbows too tight,
for they slaokened the bsndage slightly, and
then awaited the final order. All the prisoners
were prepared thus at the same time, and the
preparations of each were completed at about
the same moment, 80 that when Mrs. Surratt
was thus pinioned she stood scare ely ten
seconds, supported by those standing ear her,
when General Ha rtranft gave
THR SIGNAL,
By clapping his hands twice for both drops to
fall. and as soon as the second and last signal
was given both fell, and Mrs. Surratt, with
jerk, fell to the full length of the rope. 1t was
done as quick as lightning. She was leaning
over when the drop fell, and this gave a swing
ing motion to her body, which lasted several
minutes before it assumed perpendicular po-
sition. Her death was instantaneous she
died without struggle. The only muscular
movement discernable was slight contraction
of the left arm, which she seemed to try to
disengage from behind her as the drop fell.
After being suspended thirty minutes, she
was cut down and placed in q square wooden
box or coffin, in the clothes in which she died,
and was inferred in the prison yard. The rope
made clean cut around her neck fully an inch
in diameter, which was black and discolored
with bruised blood. The cap was not taken off
her face, and she was laid in the coffin with it
on, and thus has passed away from the face of
The earth Mary f. Surratt. Her body, it is
understood, will be given to her family for
burial.
THE DROPS, &C.,
Two in number, on which the criminals stood.
At the moment Of execution these drops we're
connected with the main platform by means Of
large hinges four to each drop.
The drops were supported by post which
rested on q heavy piece Of timber placed on the
ground, and so arranged that two soldiers
stationed at the rear of the scaffold instantane-
ously detached the supports from their positions
by means Of pressing two poles, which occupied
q horizontal position, the action Of which dis
lodged the props Of the scatfold and permitted
the drops to fall.
The gsllows proper was divided into two parts
by means Of perpendicular piece of timber,
resting on the platform aud reaching up to the
cross-beam of the gallows. Two ropes hung on
either side Of the piece OF timber mentioned.
They were wound around the cross.beam, and
contained large knots and nooses at the lower
end. The platform was assembled by means Of o
flight of steps, thirteen in number, erected at
the rear Of the scaffold, and guarded on either
side by railing, which also extended around the
platform. The platform was sustained by nine
heavy uprghte, about which rose the two
heavy pieces Of timber which supported thu
cross beam and constituted the galiows. The
entire platform was capable Of holding con-
veniently about thirty people, and was abOal
half full at the time Of the execution.
HRART-RENDINo BORHR.
BY permission Of the authorities, the daughter
of Mrs. Surratt passed the night previous to the
execution with her mother, in her CELL The
entire interview was Of very affecting charac-
ter. The daughter remained with her mother
until short time before the execution, and