Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-05-18
The Assassination Conspiracy.

1t is positively alleged that before
Booth began to operate decisively and
with definite plan in Washington, he
was in Canada, and there was closeted
with Thompson, Clay, Tucker, Sanders
and the other Confederate agents
whom at that time Canada harbored.
1t appears further that Booth, though |
he was encouraged to consider him
self the centre and soul of the band of
assassins who gathered about him, and
though his desire to shine as leader
and begetter of this plot was artfully
availed of, in reality was but one
among several selected instruments Of
murder. Eager as he was to assume
the most conspicuous part III the trag-
edy, and thoroughly as he identified
himself with the murderous spirit
which impelled the real conspirators,
Booth was after all but the tool OF
more cunning men than himself.
Associated with him were many 9TH
ers. OF the number who actually knew
that the plot was murder and who
were told the day and hour of the
deed, and whose assistance was relied
Oh for the doing of the murderous acts
or for Immediately assisting the es
cape of the assassins, we can form no
estimate but it is far easier to call
the roll of those who were to use pis-
tol and knife on that dreadful night
of the l4th of April There were five
victims and five murderers The Pre-
sident, the Vice President, the Secre-
tary of State, the Secretary of War,
and the Lieutenant General were TO
have fallen at the same instant by the
hands of Booth, of Abzerodt, of Payne,
of Arnold and of Mclaughlin. These
five assassins were men of similar
stamp to those who, instigated by the
same conspirators that maintained a
safe distance in Canada, engineered
the st. Adams raid, the plots for seiz-
ing the Lake steamers, for throwing
railway trains from the track, and for
firing the principal cities of the North.
They were assisted by scores of ac-
completes playing subordinate parts,
prominent among whom is Mrs. Sur
raft, whose house in SUrrattsvllle was
for the conspirators the house of assig-
nation before, and of refuge after, the
murder and who is entitled to a
place in the front rank OF the most ac-
tive and dangerous plotters. She is
in custody, as are Payne and Abze-
rodt, while the others named, together
with John, son to Mrs. Surratt, have
thus far eluded pursuit. The stage
carpenter at Ford's theatre has almost
the same right to be reckoned among
the leading actors in the tragedy. He
il was who bored the hole in the door
Of the stage box through which Booth
reconnoitered the party inside, and
who SO disposed the scenery and ma
chinery on the opposite side OF the
: stage as to secure to Booth an unim
, peded rush through passage usually
difficult to traverse. He also is in
custody. Perhaps less important
instrument than either was Harold
whose arrest in company with Booth
a has brought his name conspicuously
g before the public, but who was merely
an assistant and guide to him. But
: it is said that Harold also knew the
details of the plot, and has made {
full confession.
Links in the chain of evidence vii
: be supplied when the proceedings a
e the trials are published. As Presi
j. dent Johnson stands pledged by hi
proclamation to connect in some wa,
Davis and Thompson and Tucker ant
Clay and Sanders with the ASSASSIN
:, who struck the blow, we may presum,
e there will be no unreasonable delay il
l. giving the testimony to the world
~. T. Tribune.