Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
Albumen Photograh, 9” x 6-3/4,” (sight) matted and presented in a modern frame. Somewhat light, still an exceptionally scarce photograph. The image shows the preparation of the four conspirators. for the hanging of Mary Surratt (who kept a boarding house where the conspirators met), George Atzerodt (charged with the attempted assassination of Vice President Johnson), David Herold (who assisted Booth on his flight from Washington), and Lewis Payne (who attempted to assassinate Secretary of War Stanton). White cloth was used to bind their arms to their sides, and their ankles and thighs together. A white bag was placed over the head of each prisoner after the noose was put in place. Shortly after the afternoon of July 7, 1865, the four condemned conspirators were forced to climb the hastily built gallows that they had heard being tested the night before from their prison cells. More than 1,000 people—including government officials, members of the U.S. armed forces, friends and family of the accused, official witnesses, and reporters—had come with their exclusive tickets to see this execution. Nooses were placed around the accused’s necks and hoods placed over their heads. Ever since the sentences had been handed down a week ago, Surratt’s lawyers and her daughter Anna had been fighting and pleading for her death sentence to be changed. In fact, many in attendance thought that Surratt would be saved from the gallows at the last-minute. It was not to be.
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