The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1854-10-21


"Jpon being interrogated as to TIE oir>
cumstsaccs connected with the attempted
assassination, he said that he had been
collaborating on il for acme time past, and
tina, he had called at the presdent's house
about a week previous to the attempt, and
being conducted to the Presidents apart
men, by the porter, found him in converse.
ton with n member OF Congress, whom he
believed to he Nh. Sutherland Of pennsyl>
wants; that he stated to the President, tina.
he wanted money to take him 10 England
and that he mus. give him check on the
bank, and the President remarked that he
was too much engaged to attend to him
he must call n. another time Tor Mr.. Dib.
Bile was IN waiting for an interview.
When asked about the pistols he had
used, he stated that his father had leii him
a pair. but not being alike. about four years
since he exchanged one for another, which
exactly matched the best of the pair, these
were both flint locks. which he had recent
" had altered to percussion looks By n Mr..
Boteler, that he had frequently been in the
hsbit of loading and firing those pistols At
marks. and that he had never known them
to fail going off on any other OCCASION
aud that a, the distance OF ten yards, the
bali always passed through an inch plank
He also stated tina. h. Fad loaded ,hese
pistols three or four DAYS previous with or>
binary care. for the purpose attempted !
bat that he used a pencil instead Of a ram
rod and that during ,ha, time they were
at all times carried in his pocket. aud when
asked why they failed to explode he res
Piled h. knew OF no cause. " hen asked
why he went to tn. Capitol on that day
he replied that he expected lhat the Pres
ideut would he there. Ne also stated that
b. VA. in III. rotunda when the President
ar ivrd aud on being asked VIII, he did
no, ,hen attempt t. shoot him. he replied
,hs, he dld not wish to Inter iere with TIA"
funeral ceremony. aud therefore waited TIL
il wss over u. also observed that he did
not enter the hall but looked through ~
window from the lobby. aud saw the PresL
dent seated with members OF Congress,
aud t- then returned to the fotunda aud
waited untIl the President again entered it,
aud then passed through and took his posi-
from the door, drew his pistols from his in
side coat pocket, cooked them and held
one ~ each hand. concealed by his coat,
lest he should alarm the spectators and
states, tina, Ms soon AS the one in the right
hand missed fire. he Immediately dropped
or exchanged it, aud attempted tn fire the
second before he was seized he further
IL L.. L. III
Presidents heart, and intended, II the FIRST
pistol had gone of, and the Presder, had
fallen, TO have defended himself with the
second, II defence had been necessary On
being asked il he did not expect 10 hsva
becn allied on the spO. q he iiaa Killed the
President he replied that be did not; ard
that he had no doub, but that he would
have been protected By the spectators. He
was frequently questioned whether he had
any friends present from whom he expects
ed protection To this lie replied that he
never had mentioned bis intention to any
Que. aud that no one In particular knew his
design bat that he presumed 1t was gene
rail-, known tina, he intended to put the
President out of the way. lie farther
stated. that when the President arrived at
the door, near which he stood, finding him
supported on the len by Mr., Woodbury.,
mud observing many persons in his rear,
ard being himself rather To the right Of the
President ~ order 10 avoid woundne Mr..
Woodbury. and these in the rear. he steps
ped a !ttle to his own right. 50 that should
the bail ,,rss through the hody OF .br Pres
Ideni. 1t weuld he received by the door,
frame or .tonc- wai
"pn being asked II he felt no irepidalon
during the attempt, lie replied. no, che
slightest, until he found the second pistol
had missed ire. Then observing that the
President was advancing upon HIM with an
up,.ted cane, Ii. feared that II contained -
sword which nigh, have been thrust through
him before he could have been protected
BY the crowd. And when iu,errogated rs
10 tn. motive which induced him 10 attempt
the assassination Of the President. he re-
piled. that he had been told that the Presi-
dent had caused his loss oi occupation, and
the consequent want Of money, and lie
believed that 10 PCT him out ot the WAY was
III. only remedy for this evil, but to the
ln,etfopaiory. Who told You this = he could
not identify any one, bol remarked that his
brother 10 law, Mr. Redeem. told him that
he would hav. no more business. because
he wss opposed to the President. aud he
believed NJ Redeem 10 be Ia league with
the President against him. Again, being
questioned whether he had often attended
the debates in Congress during the present
session, and whether they had influenced
hun IN making this attack on the person OF
the fr,s".u,, he replied that he had ire'
qu-ul;y attended the discussion IN bot''
b. anch-s ot Congress, but that they had
IN ho degree iut.aeuced his action.
pom being asked II he expected Ia
becom,. tn rre.d.n, OF he United Stat".
II General Jackson had fallen, hs replied
no
When a..-d whom he wished TO be
the President, hls answer wss. there were
msos persons in the noase OF Representa-
,,v-s. On h~'ng ASKED il there we're nc
persons IN the Senate. Yes several and II
wa. the Senate 10 which | alluded. who
in your opinion Of the Senate, would MAKE
good rres,denti lie answered Mr.. Clay
NJ. " ebs,er, Mr.. Calhoun. What do you
/ think OF Col. Benton. Mr. Van Buren,. OF
Judge White, for pr~sidenti iic thought
they would do well. On being asked il b.
knew any member Of either House OF Con
R,-ss, he replied that h. did not-and neve'
spoke TO one in bic life. nor they to him. u
J 49,. - ID ,pk.t hsnsAt ka axnsc led HIM.