The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-22
JEFF. DAVIS AND TIE ASSAs.
sINATION.
A curious Etatement-intervieW Be-
tween JeR. Davis and BOOth-JeE.
DEsaPPrOVes of b Assassination.

1
,ous Etafemeut-fntervieW Be.
tueeu Jen. Davis and B6Ofh-JeE.
D1sapprOves of the Assassination.
- A man signing himself John B. Van
DEN writes from Fort Wayne, Indiana,
under date of July 18th, q very curious
letter to the Cincinnati Commercial, in
which he gives an account of an alleged
interview between Booth and JEFF. Davis
The thing looks very pueh like q canGTd
but if true is of the very greatest import
anee. Immediate measures should be
taken to discover the identity of the writer,
his credibility, and the extent to which
other facts s~ubstantiate his statement.
We subjOin the important part Of his
statement. After giving some incidents in
his early career, and explaining how he
came to be- clerk in the rebel War De-
psrtment he continues:
But 1 am still DEPRESSING. Ny duties in
the wsr department we're light thsy con-
sisting principally in indorsing, in red ink,
and filing in appropriate places, all papers
belonging to the confederate secret service.
And l must here state that no documents
were ever received, from parties in the
North, with reference to the assassination
of Mr.. Lincoln. Many were, however, re-
| ceived from parties in the South, offering
to capture or asssssinste Mr.. Lincoln, for
certain sums of money. Such propo-
silioas, however, never received the
least attention, but we're universally
passed over, without official notice and.
none of them we're ever replied to. And,
uUm d U0uTuTrav5vH OF pres
ent, which occurred in the war department
Office, between president Davis, secretary
Benjamin and Mr.. Breokinridge, IN the
one part, and two strangers together with
q man named and introduced rs Both, on
the other part, / am satisfied that neither
Davis nor Breckenridge were in favor of
the least personal injury being done to Mr..
Lincoln, but, on the contrary, ~streDUously
opposed any movement in hat direction.
The gentleman above referred to ss
being called Booth was brought into the
war Office in company with the other two
strangers, by president Davis and secre-
tary Benjamin. Mr.. Booth was introduced
to Mr. Breckenridge by Secretary Benjsmin.
The other two men were not introduced,
and took seats st the further esd OF the
room, without taking part in the eonver-
sstion that ensued, except that when they
retired, they said, 'Good- bye, gentlemen"
TO these who remained.
Booth commenced by saying that a plan
was formed, by parties in the Northern
States q d Csnsds, friends of the confed-
erscy, TO capture or ssssssinste Mr.. Lin
coin that he had q full list of the names,
and all they desired was an official recog-
milton on the part Of the confederate su'
thorities, sDd that then the project would
certainly be executed. He further stated
that they desired no pecunisry sssistsnc'
from the Government, as that wss already
secured that they were not after gain, bui
were actuated only by 3 desire to rendel
the c~oRfederscY 8 service, by removing thu
tyrsnt who was the cause of so much suf
fering to the country and the only obstacle
in the way of a speedy peace. These sr,
the words, IS near as l can now remember
Messrs. Davis and Breckenridge both ex
pressed their hearty condemnation of tn
blot and advised Booth TO think no NOR
of it. That they felt that their csus
was Just, and that God, in Hi
own good time, would give them the; vic
tory, without resorting to any thing bu
the most honorable warfare, and that the,
we're willing to leave lincoln's punish
ment, for his great crime, to the PROV
dence of 8 just God and sn outraged pee
pie. Benjamin said nothing. Booth re
tired, and the last words he uttered in th
room we're, ale must dier' After Boot
and his friends were gone, Davis saiC
These fellows came here merely 10 sc
she Richmond sights, and their a~ssassiDt
} tioR plot is mere iudge.'" Breckinridg
, and Benjsmin laughed, and the latter SSH
~ think So" The matter received n
mUre ztteutiUu and all agreed Win M
Davis, that the plot was mere "fudge"
am satisfied that mona of them ever eXpec
/ ed what hss since become 8 dread r%ealit!
In conclusion, let me say that l am wIllin
to be qualified to the above statement
facts. Truly, yours, s
4 - D w. nrnE-H