Evening star., 1928-02-08

terest me In the courtroom. Testimony
began May II. 1868. and ended June
IA. After arguments of counsel tho
commission deliberated on June 80. the
trial lasting seven weeks President
johnson gave his approval of the
sentences on July S. eight being con-
vcted. four of whom we're hanged
on July T.
Four Hanged Together.
Mrs Mary Surratt, Lewis Payne
George Atzcroldt and David E. Herold
were all hanged at one time. standing
in a row on two trap doors Arnold.
O'Loughlin, DR. Mudd and Spanglcr
the other four ConspiratOrs. were sent
to prison in a fort on the Dry Tor
ida AtZcroldt. it was learned later.
Johnson. but bungled the Job.
Il was standing in front of the scaf-
fold at the execution and shortly before
Atzer0ldt dropped through the trap, l
heard him humble III gutteral, broken
English. 'Shtelmen's take ware
when the four bodies were cut down
it dcvolved upon me to place hermetic-
ally sealed small glass vials had pre-
pared. containing the name of each. in
the proper collins. Several years later
when relatives obtained the bodies. I
read an account that identification was
mad possible through the discovery of
thes, walls
Annie Surratt came 10 the prison
and after bidding her mother farewell.
was taken to my room on the third
floor, just outside the prison door and
lay sobbine on my bed Had she looked
out the window OF my room she could
have plainly seen the execution Oc-
casionally some one speaks of hanging
an innocent woman. but those on the
spot had no doubt of Mrs Surratt's
guilt.
Her house was proved TO have been
the meeting place of the conspirators
led by John wilkes Booth and her son
John H. Surratt Payne. in hiding for
three days after stabbing Secretary
Seward. was captured while entering
this house. without knowing 1t to be
In the hands OF Federal officers Payne
was disguished as laborer with a pick
slung across his shoulder. and when
questioned. said that Mrs Surratt had
sent for him TO see about digging out
gutter.
Went to Surra .tsvii!c.
1T was disclosed at the trial." con-
tinued MIR Gibson. that ffrs Surratt
went 10 tavern in Surrattsvillc. Md.
IL miles south of Washington. owned
and formerly conducted by her bu,
leased In 1854 to John III Lloyd. and
left Booths field glasses on the after
noon OF the murder She told Lloyd to
have ready that night some whisky and
two carbines that had been left there
on previous occasion by her son John
and Atzeroldt.
Booth and HeroId while escaping on
horseback after the shooting OF Lin
coin. called that night at the tavern
and received the field glasses. whisky
and weapons from Lloyd. It was also
shown at the trial that Booth furnished
the money to hire the horse and buggy
that Mrs Surratt used that afternoon
John II. Surratt co-master of cerc-
monies with Booth. gave directions to
the conspirators on Good Friday and
fled that night for Canada.
In June. 1866. Surratt was found as
a member OF the Papal Zouaves IN
Rome He later escaped from the
United States authorities and was later
located In Egypt. He was brought back
placed on trial. June 10. 1857 in civil
court In Washington. but after a trial
lasting two months, a jury could not
agree, and he was released June %.
1868. This was a civil action The
military tribunal that tried his mother
and the other conspirators had no such
trouble in reaching a decision"