Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1885-03-12
LINCOLN'S ASSASSINS,

zetts of the LIST instant, Col. Will
liam Wood gives "the true story
of the hanging of Mrs. Surratt
and the Others who suffered death
on the same scaffold.' We give
the following extracts from his ar
tIcle:
To aid in the suppression of the
rebellion, Washington city, during
the early progress of the war, had
been placed under martial law"
and it was in force Mt the time of
the assassination of President Lin
coin. AS matter of fact the
District judiciary was in as full
operation then as at the present
writing. This latter was the proper
and legal tribunal Lefore whom the
assassination conspirators should
have been tried.
Those in authority were de-
termined, however, on a more
summary method. Mrs. Surratt
was to be sacrificed A military
commission" was therefore desig
mated to convict the assassination
conspirators.
The military commission did not
long delay matters, and Mrs. Mary
T.. Surratt, Lewis Payne (alias
PowelD, George A. Azerodt and
David Il. Harold were sentenced
to be hanged. After the promul-
CATION of the military commits
sion's" verdict the condemned
were allowed but two days to
make their preparations for death.
The execution took place July
Z, 1865. The day was oppressive
ly hot. Mrs. Surratt wore black
alpaca dress, black bonnet and
veil. Her face appeared to be
"tinged with wan light from the
lack of Sleep" but she walked
firmly as she led the procession
from the cells, and was the first
condemned to ascend the scalfold.
Payne stepped boldly, showing no
emotion whatever other than de-
fiance. He wore u blue shirt and
pantaloons and a light straw hat.
Harold and Atzerodt appeared to
be greatly detected. just before
the drop fell Mrs. Surratt's lips
moved in prayer. Payne stood
unmoyed, looking boldly at the
spectators with an air Of defiance.
Harold was downcast and silent.
Atzerodt mumbled few words of
admonition to the spectators in
broken English. Then the drop
fell, and life was soon extinct in
the suspended bodies.
The hanging Of the condemned
took place in a walled enclosure,
then part of the Washington
Penitentiary. The building has
long since been demolished, and
the place it then occupied is now
part Of the arsenal enclosure.
The hanging Of an estimable
lady, whose whole life prior to our
civil war was as pure as the noblest
Of her sex, has made an unenviable
record for those then in authority.
IL was disgraceful and vindic-
tive exhibition of cruelty, as well
as piece Of military despotism.
The hanging occurred immedi-
ately after the close of fratrici.
dial strife, in which the vanquish-
ed displayed a heroism worthy of
a race whose language, faith and
aspirations were at least co.equal
with the victors. 1t was time
when tenderness or mercy should
have been shown to the unfortu-
nate lady. 1t is one Of the most
satisfactory recollections Of the
writer that nothing in his power
was left undone which would tend
to save Mrs. Surratt from an igno-
minious death, he believing and
still believing that unfortunate
lady to have been innocent Of u
plot, plan or connection with the
assassination of President Lincoln.
That President Lincoln often
times assured the representatives
of Maryland that the slaves of that
State would never be freed by any
executive action until satisfactory
arrangements should be made to
compensate their owners, is a fact
which cannot be successfully con
troverted. The despair Of being
wronged without redress, and the
little faith entertained by promi-
5es coming from "Old Abe" were,
in my opinion, the prime cause
which led to the scheme for his
abduction.
The plan Of abducting President
Lincoln originated with j. Wilkes
Booth. 1t was one Of those daring
undertakings which, if successful,
would have won him a personal
notoriety, which is generally the
highest aspiration OF professional
play actors.
That Booth was the master spir-
it Of the undertaking | firmly be-
lieye. That he made a convent.
ence of Mrs. Surratt's residence TO
lay his plans and to keep up cor
resp0ndence with friends in the
Confederate capital / am equally
positive. That Mrs. Surratt, her
son and her daughter were ardent
sympathizerrs with the Confeder-
ate cause is well established fact.
But that a religious and respecta
Bile lady should be charged with
being the central figure III the plot
of assassination is simply idiotic.