The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-07-14
Execution of the Conspirators.

EXECUTION Oh inc bOnspliaCVis'
WASHINGTON, July Gu accordance will
finding and sentence Of tho Military Com
mission. which President johnson approved
Yesterday, David Il. Harold, Lewis Payne
Mrs. Mary IL. Surratt and George Atzcroti
arc to DO hung tomorrow by tho proper
military authorities. DIR. Mudd, Samuel
Arnold and OLaughlin nre to be imprs,
oncd for life. Spangler is sentenced to six
years imprisonment at hard labor in the
Penitentiary at Albany.
WASHINGTON, July 7--All of tho con
demncd conspirators sentenced to be hanged
30 day, we're executed.
On petition of Mary r. Surrntt, through
her counsel, Mossrs. hikon and ClamRtt
Judge Wylie, of tho Supreme Court of this
District directed an issue Of a writ Of ba
beas corpus to Gonoral Hancock command
ing him to produce in Court at 10 O'Clock
this morning, the body Of Mary T. Surratt,
with cause and day of detention. Tho writ
was served on General Hancock at tho Mo.
tropolitan Hotel, at o'clock this morning,
by United States Marshal Ooodlng. ne i'm
mediatoly consulted with tho Attorney Gen.
oral and Secretary of War. AT 1890 the
General had not obc7cd ito writ, and this
fact was brought TO the notice of the Court
bv her counsel, but tho Judge said he had
no power to onforcc the writ.
Early to. day guards woro placed oil
around tho arsenal grounds, to prevent the
intrusion Of people to tho scene OF cxecu-
ton mono being admitted excepting thoso
previously supplied with tickets by Major
General Hancock.
The relatives of Mrs. Surratt and IIa-rold
spont several hours with thom during tho
forenoon, and thoy were also attended by
their spiritual advisors, as were also Payne
and Atzorott.
A few minutes before o'clock, the outer
prison door was opened, and Mrs. Surrati
was supported on her way to tho gallOws by
two military officers. Next followed Alto.
rott, Harold and Payne accompanied by a
guard aud thoir respective ministers of tho
gospel. Front seats were provided for them
on platform in the following order or:--Mrs.
Surrait, Payne, Harold and Atzorott. Of
floors entrusted with tho execution, and tho
ministers. occupied intermediate positions.
Major. General Hartruupt, who has beon
from tho commencement in charge of the
prisoners, came forward, and read tho ordor
of tho War Department. already published
approving tho sentences and ordering the
penalty Of death to be inflicted.
A heavy guard was stationed on the wills
surrounding tho grounds, whio below sold
icrs wero formed on two sides of square
Perhaps several hundred civilians wcro pros
ent, anxious spectators of tho solemn scene
Ono of tho priests attending on Mrs. Sur
ratt repeated a short pray er,tO which Payne
who was seated negt to hcr, ,attentiyely listen
cd. Tho minister who had been administering
TO Payne, expressed in tho name of tho lat
tor his sincere thanks to Con. Hartraupt and
officers md soldiers who had charge OF him,
for their personal kindness. Thoy had not
uttered on unkind word, nor given on un.
pleasant look or gesture, but seemed to
compassionate his misfortune. Tho minis
tor then uttered brief prayer, asking for
Payno tho forgiveness Of his sins, md n
passage out Of this world into tho joys of
Iloavon. The minister who attended IIar.
rold also returned thanks for tho kind treat
ment Of the prisoner, and offered prayer
that God would receive his soul. Harold
was affected to tears. Tho minister who at.
toudcd Atzorott also returned thanks for
him to Gen. Hartrauft and other officers for
thor kind attentions, and thon invoked tho
mercy OF God upon tho prisoner.
Tho condemned were then required to
riso from their seats, when tho chairs
were removed. Thoy woro now all on the
drops. Their hands were fastened behind
thom, and thoir legs bandagcd both below
and abovo their knees, and whita caps
placed over their heads. Atzerott, while
being prepared for the execution, exclaimed
Northumberland Tako care, and
good bye, gentlemen now .boforo me-"
Ono of tho clergymen standing near cx
claimed: MAY wo all meet In tho Other
world"
As soon as tho moose was adjusted around
oacE neck, Mrs. Surratt's being tho last oDc
adjusted, tho section of tho platform on
which lhoy had boon standing suddenly fell
and the CuIprts woro hanging several foot
from tho ground. Mrs. Surratt and Payne
scarcely moved muscle. A,zorott showed
como twitching, but Harold showed more
nervous sensibility than any o. the others
The bodies hung until life was extinct, ant
wcro afterwards given over for burial, rougi
coflips being already at hand for that pur
pose. Tho arrangements for tho execution
were perfect. Maj..Gon. Hancock was
prosont throughout tho proceedings.
1t is said that Payne last night nado
statement in behalf of Mrs. Surratt, OK
bonorating her from completely, and ,ha
another person subscribed to an affidavit
impeaching tho testimony of an importan
witnoss against her.
L., 7 ,