The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-07-13
To the Associated Press.


for writ of habeas corpus, commanding
Major-Gen. Hancock to produce the body
of Mrs. Surratt before the Court. The
writ was returnable at 10 o'clock but
nearly two hours after that time Gen
Hancock entered the court accompanied
by Acknowledgement Speed, who apollo
gized for the apparent delay in making
return on the part of the General, as il
was unavoidable. He then proceeded to
read the return, in which Gen. Hancock
said the body of Mrs. Surratt was in his
possession under and By virtue of an or
der from President johnson for the pur.
pose expressed, &c, which order is as fol
lows:
Executive OFFICE, July 7, 1865.
To Maj.-Gen. w. S. HANCOCK, Com
manding, &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 specially suspend this writ, and
direct that you proceed to execute the or
der heretofore given upon the judgment
of the Military Commission and you
will give this order in return to this writ.
ANDREW JOHNSON, President
The Court remarked that no further
steps would be taken in the matter. At
torney Gen. Speed briefly rejoined. com,
menting upon the distinction between
the civil and military jurisdiction, show
ing the utter impossibility of fighting
battles, carrying On war, maintaing the
Government in times of war, &c, by pro-
cess Of law.
Early to-day guards were placed all
around the arsenal grounds to prevent
the intrusion of persons to the scene of
execution, none being admitted excepting
those previously supplied with tickets by
Major Gen. Hancock.
The relatives of Mrs. Surratt and Har-
rold spent several hours with them during
the forenoon, and they were also attend
ed by their spiritual advisers, as were al
so Payne and Atzerodt.
A few minutes after l o'clock the out
er prison door was opened, and Mrs. Sur
ratt was supported on her way to the gal
lows by two military officers. Next fol
lowed Atzerodt, Harold and Payne, ac-
companied by guard and their respec-
tive ministers Of the gospel. Front seats
were provided for them on the platform
in the following order: Mrs. Surratt.
Payne, Harold and Atzerodt. The off
GERS intrusted with the execution and the
ministers occupied intermediate positions
Major General Hartranft, who has been
from the commencement, in charge ofI
the prisoners, came forward and read an
order from the War Department, already
published, approving the sentences and
ordering the penalty of the law to be in
ficted
A heavy guard was stationed on the
walls surrounding the grounds, while be-
low soldiers were formed on two sides of
a square. Perhaps several hundred civ.
lllans were present anxious spectators of
The solemn scene
One of the priests attendant on Mrs
ourratt repeated short prayer, to which
Payne, who was seated next to her, atten-
lively listened.
The minister who had been aminister-
ng to Payne, expressed in the name of
he latter his sincere thanks to General
dartranft, and the officers and soldiers
Vho had charge of him, for their perso-
lal Kindness. They had not uttered an
lnkind word, nor given an unpleas
mt look or gesture, but seemed to COM
'asslonate his misfortune.
The minister then uttered a brief pray
r, asking for Payne the forgiveness of
IL his sins, and passage out of this
7orld into the joys of heaven. q
The minister who attended Harold al
0 returned thanks for the kind treat.
lent of the prisoners, and offered pray
that God would receive his soul.
Harold was affected to tears.
The minister who attended Atzerodt 0
so returned for him thanks to General P
Iartranft and other officers for kind at b
'ntlons, and then invoked the mercy of II
cd upon the prisoner. Il
The condemned were then required to P
Sc from their seats, when the chairs #
ere removed. They were now all on
e drops. Their hands were fastened
'hind them, their legs bandaged both y