Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-05-13


pidity have all in turn murdered women
Never before was hero called in the bright
open day to see such deed done. Hancock
was He obeyed the call and saw that the
hangmen were protected, that the assassina-
ton was not interrupted. How his spirit re-
belled at the task that was written on bis
broad face. The writer saw il there as in
book.
TIE SCENE OF THE MURDER.
It was in the old arsenal penitentiary yard,
in Washington, in the inner yard, that they
s,rangled this woman. The arsenal and peni-
tentiary face and terminate at Four half
street, which stretches TO It from the City
Hall. They have erected there since then
statue of Lincoln. Were il the man himself
he might see the site of the murder committed
in his name from tue palry pedestal on which
it is, raistd The outer gate Of the arsenal
faces that statue at the other end of the long
wide street exactly. From the gate OF the old
penitentiary, where the mockery of the trial
was played, runs broad gravelled path. This
path turned arornl the penitentiary walls,
and led to the gate Of the yard where stood
the scafold. The walls Of the Penitcntiary
formed two sides Of the yard, and the other
two were walls built to enclose the yard, and
these S; TODD some fifteen feet high. Upon
these wd lis sentres were placed.
Fronting the wall that ran at right angles
with the end Of the penitentiary, stood
strange. wierd-looking structure. The one
end if Il had ladder that reached to the
ground beyond that end, some twenty yards,
was a mall iron door that opened into the
peuiteutiary-iu one of whose l0vrr tier Of
cells, beneath raised and replaced flag were
ro,ting the remains of John Wilkes Booth.
This wooden structure was the scaifold 1t
consisted Of a platform resting on square
wooden posts. The front part of tho plat
form was attached to the back part by hinges,
and this front rested on posts which its weigh;
held 10 place. Along The back aud solid part
Of tie platform were four chairs.
Around this yard lounged the corrcspon-
dents, were ranged some soldiers, and right 10
the middle Of the yard, when the writer enter
ed it. stood the tall and ample form cf Han
cock, 10 full uniform.
General, may 80 in once more and see
the prisoners ?"
"No, sir. One moment, orderly"
"Yes, sir
"Mount your horse, go TO the outer gate OF
the arsenal. Don't dismouut, but keep your
eye along Four-and-a-half street. Should
you sec mounted soldier riding this way,
then ride here and tell ine. Stay there till
you are relieved by the sight Of that soldier,
or by my order"
Z "Yes, sir"
The orderly sped away.
No, sir, cannot permit it. They are
with ministers and priests; have but few
minutes to live. | have refused every other
correspondent.
DO you expect a rcpric7e, General ?"
al expect nothing. That woman however,
shall not lose chance Of life, il can help
it. That's why sont that orderly to the
gate"
He did expect a repTleve, and his face show
cd he did
TIE PROCESSION.
The eyes Of most were now fastened on the
iron door tba, led into the pehi,eutiary. 1t
looked like postern in a fortress, heavy sui
len and pi,iless. Ny eyes wandered back to
/ .ho soafr,II tho, ,o,iceJ far the frs. time