Countdown to July 7

[BettyO]

(07-05-2012 09:49 AM)rjnorton Wrote:  Indeed, Betty! The day after the hangings, July 8, 1865, ol' Ned was taken outside to exercise in the same yard where the executions took place. The scaffold was still standing. Ned said to Rath, "Captain, I have been in hell for 24 hours. I heard the condemned pass my cell. Then my heart stopped beating, for I expected to be called next. I heard the drop fall and my agony was terrible. I had no relief till supper-time when I couldn't eat, and this hurt me worse than anything else." (Gray, John A. "The Fate of the Lincoln Conspirators: The Account of the Hanging, Given by Lieutenant-Colonel Christian Rath, the Executioner." McClure's Magazine 37 (October 1911)

It must have been horrible for ALL concerned, but especially for those (Spangler, O'Laughlen, Arnold, Mudd, et. al.) who did NOT know yet just what their fate was....
Bad enough for the condemned four, two of whom were extremely young, as well as for Mrs. Surratt and poor Atzerodt. I honestly believe that Mrs. Surratt did NOT think that she would hang.....

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(07-05-2012 10:20 AM)BettyO Wrote:  

(07-05-2012 09:49 AM)rjnorton Wrote:  Indeed, Betty! The day after the hangings, July 8, 1865, ol' Ned was taken outside to exercise in the same yard where the executions took place. The scaffold was still standing. Ned said to Rath, "Captain, I have been in hell for 24 hours. I heard the condemned pass my cell. Then my heart stopped beating, for I expected to be called next. I heard the drop fall and my agony was terrible. I had no relief till supper-time when I couldn't eat, and this hurt me worse than anything else." (Gray, John A. "The Fate of the Lincoln Conspirators: The Account of the Hanging, Given by Lieutenant-Colonel Christian Rath, the Executioner." McClure's Magazine 37 (October 1911)

It must have been horrible for ALL concerned, but especially for those (Spangler, O'Laughlen, Arnold, Mudd, et. al.) who did NOT know yet just what their fate was....
Bad enough for the condemned four, two of whom were extremely young, as well as for Mrs. Surratt and poor Atzerodt. I honestly believe that Mrs. Surratt did NOT think that she would hang.....

When those conspirators who were condemned were read their sentences, there was mixed reaction. This according to the Baltimore National Aegis for July 8, 1865:

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There are some errors in this report inasmuch as Powell requested the services of Reverend Augustus P. Stryker - an Episcopal Minister, but also wanted a Baptist minister as well. Eckert, who came to see the condemned youth, suggested the Reverend Dr. Abram Dunn Gillette, whom Powell stated he had heard preach once and was impressed with his sermon.