Butte record., 1855-02-24

present time; but, Of late, could not
ind steady employment, which had
caused much pecuniary embarrassment
with him; that he had been generally
temperate IN his habits, using ardent
spirits moderately when at work but,
for the last three or four weeks, had not
taken any that he had never gambled,
and, in other respects, had led a regular
and sober life.
Upon being interrogated as to tAe
circumstances connected with the assas-
sination, he said that he had been delibera-
ting on it for some time past, and that
he had called at the Presidents apart
ment with the porter, found him in con-
versaton with member of Congress,
whom he believed to be Mr.. Sutherland,
Of Pennsylvania that he stated to the
President that he wanted money to take
him to England, and that he must give
him check on the bank, and the Presi.
dent remarked that he was too much en-
gagged to attend to him-he must call
another time, for Mr.. Dibble was in
waiting for an interview.
" When asked about the pistols he
had used, he stated that his father left
him a pair, but not being alike, about
four years since he exchhnged one for
another, which exactly matched the best
Of the pair these were both fiat locks,
which he had recently had altered to
percussion locks by Mr.. Boteler; that
he had been frequently in the habit of
loading and firing the pistols at marks,
and that he had never known them to
fail on any other occasion, and that at
the distance Of ten yards the ball always
passed through an inch plank. He also
stated that he hae loaded those pistols
three or four days previous with ordinary
care, for the purpose attempted but
that he used pencil instead of q ram
rod, and that during that period they
were at all times carried in his pocket :;
and when asked why they failed to ex-
plode, he replied he knew no cause
When asked why he went to the Capito
on that day, he replied he expected that
the President would be there. He also
stated that he was in the rotunda when
the President arrived, and on being ask
ed why he did then attempt to shoot him,
he replied that he did not wish to inter
ferc with the funeral ceremony, and
therefore waited till it was over. He
also observed that he did not enter the
hall, but looked through window from
Q lobby, and saw the President seated
with members of Congress, and he then
returned TO the rotunda and waited until
the President again entered it, and then
passed through and took his position in
the east Portico, about two yards from
the door, drew his pistols from his inside
coat pocket, cooked them and held one
in each hand, concealed by his coat,
lest he should alarm the spectators and
states, that as soon as the one in the
right hand missed fire. he medately
dropped or exchanged-it, and attempted
to fire the second, before he was seized
he further stated that be had aimed
each pistol al the Presidents heart, and
intended, if the first pistol had gone off,
and the. President had fal.en, TO have
defended himself with the second if de-
fence hrd been Necessary.
" On being asked if he did not expect
to have been killed on the spot if he had
Killed the President, he replied no did
not and that he had no doubt but that
he would have been protected by the
spectators. He was frequently question
ed whether he had any friends present
from whom he expected protection To
this he replied that he had never men,
toned his intention to any one, and that
no one in particular knew his design
but that he presumed it was generally
known that he intended to put the Pres
dent out of the way. He further sta
ted, that when the President arrived at
the door, near which he stood, finding
him supported on the left by Mr.. Wood
bury, and observing many persons in his
rear, and being himself rather to the
right of the President, in order to avoid
wounding Mr.. Woodbury. and those in
the rear, he stepped little to his own
right, so that should the ball pass through
the body of the President, it would be
received by the door frame or stone wall.
On being asked if he felt no trepidation
during the attempt, he replied, not TIE