Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-06-09

Castlemein and Gen. Carroll were present
they had arms concealed and a large number
OF men concealed in Chicago--some 500
for the purpose Of releasing the rebel PRISON.
ers there about the same time DR.. Black
burn proposed to poison the reservoirs, and
made calculation Of the amount Of poison
Gus matter it would require to impregnate
the water so as to make an ordinary draught
poisonous and deadly Thompson feared il
would be impossible to collect so large
quantity Of poisonous matter without suspi
eion and leading to detection; Thompson APP
probated the enterprise and discussed II free
ly Clesry did the same three or four days
after the ASSASSINATION ! saw j. II. Surratt in
CaLada with Porterfield, a Southern rebel,
now declared a British subject by the Cana
dian Parliament | learned Immediately af-
terward that Surratt was suspected, was pur-
sued, and had decamped Gen. Carroll of
Tennessee then said he was more anxious
that johnson should be killed than any one
else he said If the prick louise was not
killed by somebody he would kill him him
self Booth was known in Canada by the
nickname Of pet = think have heard
Thompson 80 name him--certanly Cleary
Kennel y, who fred the city Of New York
and was executed, was spoken Of as having
performed that deed by the authority Of the
rebel government, under the direction of
Thompson this was Communicated to me by
Thompson himself, or in a conversation in his
presence
James B. Merritt testified Am a physician
and been in Canada about year in October
and November last was in Toronto met Geo.
Young there, rebel from Kentucky,a also Col.
Steele from Kentucky Young said to me,
We have something Of much more import
ance than any raids he told me it was de-
termined that old Abe should never be inaug-
urated, that they had party Of friends in
Washington, and called Mr.. Lincoln id
old tyran' | afterward saw George n. San
ders and Steele together Steele said, The
id old tyrant will serve another term If he
is elected Sanders said at the same time,
He would have TO keep himself close II be
did serve another term" in Montreal in Feb
last | heard Sanders name a number Of per-
sons ready and willing TO remove the Presi-
dent, Vice President and Cabinet and some
leading generals Of the United States, and he
added that there was any amount Of money
to accomplish this purpose, meaning the as
sassinnation OF these persons. He then read
a letter he said he had received from tn
President of the Confederacy, meaning jeff
Davis, which justified him in making any ar
raugements he could TO accomplish such an
object There was meeting at this time Of
these rebels and letter was read to them,
the substance of which was, that, il the South
etnsrs in Canada and the States wee willing
e. be governed by such a tyrant as Lincoln,
he (Davis) did not wish to recognize them as
! friends, and that he approved VI the PROPOSE
/ ton to assassinate him AT the meeting San
ders named some persons who were 20 accom-
| plish the assassination, and among them J. w.
/ Booth, whom had seen in Montreal in Oct.
| He also named g. Harper, C. Caldwell, Ran
dali and Harrison Harold; there was a per-
son named whom they called Plug Tobacco /;
saw Harold in Toronto; Sanders said
Booth was heart and soul in the matter that
he was cousin to Bea who was hanged in
New York on the 5th OF 9th Of April | met
\ Harper who said they were going to the States
to kick up the d-dest row, such as had new
er been heard OF, and added that if did not
hear of the death of old Abe, tho Vice Presi-
dent and Gen. Dix in LEES than ten days,
might set him down as id fool that was
on the 9th of April he mentioned the name
of Booth as one Of their friends, and then be
said they had plenty of friends in ashngton,
and fifteen or twenty we're going he had
Sth, together with others | communicated
this fact on the 8 h of April to Justice OF
the Peace named Davidson, who, after the as
ssssinstOn, communicated it to the Govern
ment: Harper returned to Canada after the
assassination had a conversation with Clay
in Toronto in February be spoke OF the let
ter Of Davis which Sanders had exhibited he
said the end would justify the means Sur.
| ] tod Let
February | saw Booth there two or three
times, and sat at the table once with him Al
the st. Lawrence, with Sanders, Scott and
Steele they were converting with Booth anc
drinking wine with him at Sanders expense
| saw Harold in Canada in February.
Richard Montgomery testified | knew ]
Thompson and Clay, whom l have met II
Canada number Of times, also G. N. Sanders
J. b. Holcomb, b. Tucker, w. Cleary Har-
rington Hicks and others under ictitiou:
names Thompson had several names, one
was Caron; Clay was Holt and Lacy and
Tracy j, Thompson said he had friends Of
the Confederaey all tho Northern States
willing to go any lengths, and he could a
any time have the tyrant Lincoln and any o
his advisers put out Of the way; that hii
friends would not consider it crime, anc
that it would be done for the cause of the
Confederacy. In January, Thompson said al
Montreal that proposition had been made
to him to rid the world of the tyrants, Lin
coin, Stanton, Grant and others that he knew
the men who made it were bold, daring men
able to execute anything they would under
take that he was in favor of the proposition
but deferred his answer until he had consult
ed his government at Richmond, and that ht
was then only waiting for their approval.
have seen Payne THE prisoner) number o
times in Canada; about the Falls in 1864
and also at the Queens Hotel in Toronto
where l conversed with him. had an inter
view with Thompson several others haC
sought an interview while was closeted with
him and been refused in leaving thompson
room saw Payne in the passage way, nea
the door, with Clay talking to him CLAY
stopped me and finished his conversation with
this man in an undertone when he left mt
he said, swat for me, / will return;" h,
soon came back and bAde me good bye ant
asked me where he could see me after time
l told him and appointed meeting | spok,
I In pavne in Claw ahsence and aakad him