EXECUTION OF HARROLD, PAYNE, ATZEROTT, AND MRS. SURRATT.

Evening Post, Issue 203, 2 October 1865, Page 3

EXECUTION OF HARROLD, PAYNE, ATZEROTT, AND MRS. SURRATT.

The assassins of the late President of the United States—namely, Harrold, the companion of Booth, the actual murderer ; Payne, who attempted the murder of Mr. Seward ; the German Atzerott, who sought to slay the then Vice-president of the United States, now the President, Mr. Johnson; and the worn m Surratt — were hanged at Washington. The others of the gang, viz., Arnold, O'Loughlin, and Modd (the medical man who "doctored" Booth, and provided him with crutches), have been condemned to be imprisoned fur life ; and the eighth, Spangler, the stage carpenter of the theatre in which Mr, Lincoln was so foully murdered, and who cleared the stage to facilitate the escape of Booth, has been sentenced to six years in the Penitentiary. Washington despatches give the following details of the execution : — Early to-day guards were placed all round the Arsenal grounds to prevent the intrusion of peisoiis to the scene of execution, none being udmitted excepting those previously supplied with tickets by Major General Uuncock. The relatives of Mrs. Surratt and Harrold spent several hours with them during the forenoon, and they were also attended by their spiritual advisers, as were also Payne and Atzerott. A few minutes after one o'clock the outer prison dour was opened, and Mrs. Surratt was supported on her way to the gallows by two military officers. Next followed Atzerott, Harrold, and Payne, accompanied by a guard and respective ministers of the Gospel. Front seats were provided for them on the platform in the following order : Mrs. Surratt, Payne, Harrold, and Atzerott. The officers entrusted with the execution and the ministers occupied intermediate positions. Major-General Hartranft, who has been since the commencement in charge of the prisoners, came forward, and read the order of the War Department, approving the sentences, and ordering the penalty of death to be inflicted. A heavy guard was stationed on the walls surrounding the grounds, while below soldiers were formed on two sides of a square. Several hundred civilians were present at the solemn scene. One of the priests attendant on Mrs. Surratt repeated a short prayer, to which Payne, who was seated next to her, attentively listened. The minister, who had been administering to Payne, expressed in the name of the latter, his sincere thanks to General Hartranft and the officers and soldiers who had charge of him for their personal kindness. They had not uttered an unkind word nor given an unpleasant look or gesture, but seemed to compassionate bis misfortune. The minister then uttered a brief prayer, asking for Payne the forgiveness of all his «ins, and a passage out of this world into the joys of Heaven. The minister

who attended Harrold also returned thanks for the kind treatment of the prisoner, and offered a prayer that* God would receive his soul. Harrold was affected to tears. The minister who attended Atzerott also returned for him thanks te General Hartranft and other officers for kind attentions, and then invoked the mercy of God upon the prisoner. The condemned were then required to rise from their seats, when the chains were removed. They were now all on the drops. Their hands were fastened behind them, and. their legs bandaged both below and above the knees, and white caps placed over their heads. Atzerott whilo being prepared for execution, exclaimed, " Gentlemen, farewell ! Take care I" and " Good-bye, gentlemen, now before me I" One of the clergymen, standing near, exclaimed, "May we all meet in the other world." As soon as; the noose was placed around each neck, Mrs. Surratt's being the last one adjusted, the section of the platform on which they had been Btanding suddenly fell, and the culprits were hanging several feet from the ground. Mrs. Surratt and Payne scarcely moved a muscle, Atzerott exhibited some twitchings, but] Harrold showed more nervous seusibility than any of the others. The bodies hung until life was extinct, and were afterwards given over for burial, the rough coffins being already at hand for that purpose. The arrangements for the execution were perfect. Major-Gen eral Hancock was present throughout the proceedings. It is said Payne made a statement in behalf of Mrs. Surratt, exonerating her from complicity, and that another person subscribed 10 an affidavit impeaching the testimony of an important witness against her.