The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-06-15

I';ncoln's apsassins at Washington - Of
startling interest, and throws much ad-
ditional light on tho nature and origin OF
the fendish plot.
Sanford Conover testifies - follows:
I am native Of New York; have re.
sided in Canada since October last was
copscriptsd into the Confederate army,
and detailed to service in the War De-
partment of the Confederacy, at Rich
moud. under James A. Seddon, Secretary
of War. While in Canada was intimate.
" acquainted with G.. N. Sanders, Jacob
Thompson, DR.. Blackburn, Tucker, VIM.
c. Cleary, Captain Castleman, Mr.. Cam
eron, Porterfeld, Capt. Magrpder, and
others. also knew Clement G. Clay
aud Gen. Carroll, Of Tennessee Iknew
Mr.. Surratt also, and j. W. Booth, and
visited these gentlemen in Canada, Saw
Surratt there on several occasions, last
April, in Mr.. Jacob Thompson's room !;
also 10 company with George N. Sanders
and other rebels in Canada: Al that
time he delivered to Thompson in his
room, in my presence, dispatches from
Richmond, TO Thompson, from Benjamin
and from Jefferson Davis; the. latter
either = cypher dispatch, Or q letter. Pro
yious to this. Thompson conversed with
me upon tho subject Of the plot to assas.-
sinato President Lincoln and his Cabi-
net, Of which I gave notice, before tho
assassination, in the New York Tribune,
the paper for which I corresponded. l
had been invited by Mr.. Thompson to
participate in that enterprise: When
Surratt delivered these dispatches from
Davis, Thompson laid his hand on the
papers and said, referring to the assassi.
nation and to tho assent of the rebel au-
tborities, "This makes the thing all
right" The dispatches spoke Of the
persons to be assassinated-Mr. Lincoln,
Mr.. johnson, the Secretary Of War, the
Secretary of State, Judge Chase and
Gen. Grant Mr.. Thompson said on that
occasion, or on the day before that inter.
view, that tho assassination proposed
would leave the Government. Of the Uni
ted States entirely without head; that
there was no provision in the Constitu-
tion of the United States by which they
could elect another President. Mr..
Welles was also named, but Mr.. Thomp.
son said il was not worth while to kill
him; be was of no consequence. My
first interview with Thompson on this
subject Of assassination was in the early
part Of last February, in Thompson's
room in St. Lawrence Hotel, Montreal.
He then spoke of raid on Ogdensburg,
N Y. It was abandoned; but that was
because the U. s. Government received
information Of it. Ho said he would
have to drop it for time, but added,
"We'll catch them asleep yet" and to
me he said, "There is better opportn-
nifty to immortslizs yourself AMI save
your copnixy. 1.meanins Aha l--.@csS.scy.
I told them I was ready to do anything
TO save the country, and asked him what
was to be done. He said: "Soms Of our
boys arc going to play grand joke on
Abe and Andy" which he said was to
kill them; his words were, "removc
them from Office" and he said that the
killing of tyrant was not murder; that
he had commissions for this work from
the rebel authorities, and conferred one
on Booth, or would confer one that
everybody engaged in this enterprise
would be commissioned, and if they es-
capped to Canada they could not be sue
cessfully claimed under the extradition
treaty. know that Thompson and the
others held these commissions in blank.
They commissioned Bennett Young, the
ST. Adams raider. 1t was blank com =
mission filed up and conferred by Mr..
Clay AS it came to them from Rich
mond it was only signed "James A.
Seldom, Secretary Of War" Thompson
called me to examine these blanks, so
that | might testify to the genuinen ess
of seddon's signature in the case Of
Bennett Young, before Judge Smith
The signature was genuine. In sub.
sequent conversation, after the frs,
referred to in February, Thompson told
me that Booth had been commissioned
and every man who would engage in i,
would DO. had a conversation will
VIM. G. Cleary on the day before, or thu
day before the assassination, at St. Law
renee. We were speaking of the rejoic
ing in the States over the surrender o
Lee and the capture Of Richmond
Cleary said they would have the laugh o.
the other side Of the mouth ia day o
two. ! think this was the day befor
the assassination. He knew | was j
the secret Of the conspiracy. II was
that lie referred The assassination vi
spoken of among US as commonly IS tn
weather.
Before that, Sanders asked me it
knew Booth very we'll, and expresse
= some apprehension that Booth woul
!, mako fzzle Of it; that he was despera
: :, and reckless, and he was afraid the who
thing would be failure. commun
Gated to the Tribune the intended raj
on St. Adams, and the proposed assasi
IS alton Of the President; but they refus'
Is to publish the latter. l did this