Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-07-15


from her, for he was in tears. Bronzed sol
diers, strangers and citizens who stood
around and looked upon the narrowing
scene were. moved as well, and it were
better the interview should cease. When
the last stay had broken Miss Suratt threw
herself upon the steps and gave herself to a
perfect abandon of woe. "Her kind, good
mother her good, good, sweet mother, was
going to die p oh, how terrible the thought,
and yet how true But at last she quieted
down considerably, and was taken into the
east room, where she remained several hours,
eagerly listening to the opening and shut
ting of the main door, believing all the
time that some one might come who might
aid her in her plant
The Misses Harold also called and failed
likewise. They were clad in deep mourn
ing, and closely veiled, but were not so
demonstrative as Miss Suratt.
THE MEETINGS AND THE PARTINGs. .7ii
Shortly before half-past twelve o'clock
the sisters of Harold, seven in number, we
believe, visited him, and we were told by
the clergyman officiating, Rev. Mr.. Olds, of
Christ (EplscopaD Church, that the farewell
was irexpressibly tender. Nobody came
to see Payne, nobody knew him, nobody
cared for him, only in so far as to gossip
about the mystery" surrounding him, about
his fine form, his game" as his eulogizers
vulgarly termed it, and his great physical
strength. He sat bolt upright, listening
carefully to the words of his adviser, Rev.
Df. Gillette, of the First Baptist Church of
this city, but without any visible emotion,
though undoubtedly with profit. Rev. DR..
Dutler was all day with Atzerctt. His
brnther had visited him the night before,
and his five sisters early in the morning.
His mother visited him about the same time
that the sister and daughter of Mrs. Suratt
visited her. The old mother knelt by her
sons bed, as be reclined in the position We
have already described, kissing him again
with all the yearning tenderness ofa sorrow
ing mothers love. In the first few minutes
of the meeting, she spoke no word, and
neither did her son. Her affection touched
him, and when ut last she caught him in
her arms and embraced him as ii she woul q
never let him go-never let him go out to
death, so early, so useful-he burst into tears.
and the bronzcd soldiers and officers whc
stood guard at the door, manfully as they
struggled against their rising emotions,
could not help minglng their tears with
those of the mother and the son. ......r ..s.
But, perhaps, the most affecting of all the
partings was that between Mrs. Suratt and
her sister and daughter The devotion of
the latter has been sketcbed, but she was
equalled in sisters love. Nothing could
be seen in the cell, hut the words were loud
and full of agony: "Oh! mother, can never
let you go!' was the wild cry of Miss Suratt
"Oh! sister, sister," was all the other could
say.
-.-s H TIE END "'.,-s ....ra1a
But this weeping and lamentation could
not last forever. The time came at last for
the punishment due to an enormous crime
The friends and relatives were separated,
after taking the last farewels, the arms of
each of the four were secured behind their
backs, and everything was nearly ready for
the journey to the scafiold
-.. SAD INTERIM
While these scenes were transpiring in the
prison, and after the gathering of five or
SIX hundred citizens, and soldiers had be-
come habituated to their moving within, n
rumor gained currency that Payne last
night haG made confession, which is very
important to Mrs. Surratt, and would at
least, result IN reprieve." We give below
what was called the confessions" t...
The Rev. DIR. a. Gillette had had a great
deal of conversation with Payne. He re-
vealed to him the fact that he was q son of
Rev. George c. Powell, Baptist clergyman
residing ut Live Oak Station. in Tallahassee
county, Florida He had two thers, both
OF whom he believes were killed III the Con-
iedcrate service, and several sisters. He says
he enlisted in the rebel service when he was
sixteen years old, and is now about twenty
years OF age. He was captured at the bat
tie OF Gettysburg and imprisoned at Balti-
more, where he succeeded in making his
"a fnI III
mors forces. but became dissatisfied and
deserted. He afterwards connected himself
with Mosebys band Of guerllas; and here,
he says, he found most desperate set of
fellows. He says he enlisted in the rebel
service from sense of duty, and with a
conscientious belief that he was performing
an obligation he owed to his Uhe Coniede-
rate) Government 1t should be here stated
that he says he entered the rebel service
ageinst the will of his parents He was in
duced to join the cavalry force under Moseby
on account of his inability to stand the
severe marches of the infantry and SAYS that
he frequently became faint, and fell to the
ground. To his connection with Mosebys
band he attributes his introduction to Booth
and the evils consequent thereto. He de-
sired the clergyman to lie: Mr.. Seward know
that "he had no malice against him, as be-
tween man and man" to use his own words,
but he had agreed to do his duty, and
could not as he then mistaking.y thought
back OUT" He said he was to have no re-
ward for it; no compensation had been
promised him. The only benefit he expect
ed to derive was the approval ofhis so-called
Government. He expected promotion if he
was successful, and he had always been led
to believe that the Confederacy would tri-
umph, either by the force of arms or the
recognition OF foreign Powers.
He says the first idea was to capture the
PRESIDENT, MIR. Seward and other prominent
characters. With that understanding he
was persuaded to lend his assistance. The
plan OF assassination was broached at the
very last moment lie requested Dr. Gillette
to write to his relatives and say that lie
repented and had his hopein Heaven He
impressed the clergyman as a person of
than ordinary intellect and possessed of
correct religious ideas. He had a few small
articles, knife, and Bible, which he de
sired the clergyman to send to his people.
lie has six sisters In the Bible were some
N In "A