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

chain oscilated at the touch OF bis nervous
fingers. usually as calm as is the hand OF
heavy Emphatic man, for Hancock was both.
Mary f. surra,t, was praying to the cruc'-
sx held before her by Father Walter. Zach
of the others was listening to the minister
At length Father Walter prayed aloud, snd ],
reporting the prayer, for the time forgot the
orderly. The prayer over looked gatewards
again. No sign IIancock's eyes were rivet-
ell on the gate. The arms Of each being were
pinioned. They were told to rise, and they all
four rose. Each hangman placed the moose
around each Of their necks. looked again
at the gate. No sign Hancock was look
ing at his watch. Turning again to the scaf-
fold saw the straw hat OF Payne blown BY
sudden. unexpected breeze of his head, as
if to make way for the white cap. Detective
Roberts, his haDgman, was cbout rulllnEt
over his face. turned to see her. She had
lost the power to stand They had to hold
her up while they pulled down the cap. Great
G. d can a thousht.be more horrible.
Still no one at the gate
They were told TO walk forward upon tie
front aud treacherous part of the platform.
There they stood. AtzerOt swaying with
fear; Payne erect and firm as the gladiator,
which he resembled when awaiting the fatal
fat; Harold, STILL She liieless 10 all appear
ance. The sen,rics had ceased pacing. You
could hear pin drop.
Good by, my friends, weIl meet again,
exclaimed Harold.
Atzerot said something could not bear.
Still no one at the gate
Hancock closed his watch.
The men who upheld the litcless woman
stepped back on the solid half Of the plat
form. She was falling. when suddenly the
supporting posts in front were knocked down
and all four dangled and swung-the most
ghas ly spectacle man eve' saw
She never perceptbly moved. Her petit
coats and dress had been gathered with
string about ber ankles. She hung a dead
weight of flesh, not less than two hundred
pounds
Payne writhed aud twisted FOR several min
| utes.
There was no shout. There was a shudder
went though all through soldier and
civilian-nothing more.
! Again | looked at Hancock. II ever he
wore that frightened look 90 the field, bis
soldier fame is o lie.
WHO WITHHELD THE REPHIEyE.
Who withheld the rcprieve?
! Holt saws Andrew johnson did. Johnson
/ said he was never asked for It. Holt admits
that an official application by tho murdorous
coDciavc OF troopers, called the court, was
made to Andy for reprieve. Andy said
/ Stanton withheld il. Each threw the blame
on the other; but whosoever was TO blame,
the deed was done, in face Of day, under the
shadow of the flag Of the United States, BY
the authority fits President, the acquiescenco
of his Cabinet. the signing Of the Secretary
Of War, ard under the actual supervision Of a
maior-general Of its armies.
OF all the more active participants in that
murder, Holt alone remains to face the strange
fites that have oyertaken bis associates therein
dubious and sudden death.
Stanton died quickly after lie died sud-
denly, and suspected Of the suicide Of rcmorse.
King drowned himself Aud men d. say
be drowned himself for inability to face the
constant memory Of bis unsolicited share in
that woman's murder
Andrew johnson, whose demise recalls the
whole Of that awful story to the mind again,
died suddenly. But not, we trust, because Of
this crime, Of which passing weakness alone
made him passive accomplicc.