The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-05-18
From the North American and Reviev.
First Plot to Assassinste President Lin

The murder of Mr.. Lincoln, more
Than four y ears AFTER his induction into
the office of President of the United
States, is not the fulfilment of a recent
intention, nor is the guilt of it confined
to the actual murderer and his present
active accomplices- Soon after the cleo
ton of Mr.. Lincoln, plot was ID atured
for his assassination, which was vaguely
rumored at the time of its intended ex-
ecution, but was never exposed in any
formal manner, and hence never obtain
ed general credence. As we are in pos
session of some Of its outlines, and the
means by which it was defeated, the
mention OF the circumstances may now
be received with a degree of interest
which they could not heretofore have
excited. 1t isproper to say that we state
them substantially as they were reported
some time ago, by gentleman who was
chiefly instrumental in defeating the con-
spiracy. His communication was made
in the course Of a private conversation;
and, although without any injunction
of secrecy, yet as he is not at present in
this city, and his permission therefore
cannot at once be obtained to use his
own or other names in publication, we
make it in such guarded from as may in
In the month of January, 1861, gen
tleman holding a position in this city
which made him proper agent to act
on the information, was waited upon by
lady. who stated to him him her sus
picions or Neutrality-suspicious. derived
we are not able to say-of plot to as
sassinate Mr.. Lincoln when on his way
from his home in Illinois to Washington
to be inaugurated as President. The
active parties, or some of them, in the
business, were understood to be in Balti-
more. at all events, the gentleman
considered that the intelligence had
sufficient foundation to make it his duty
to satisfy himself whether it might be
correct. He accordingly employed
detective officer, man who had in his
profession become notable for his sa-
gacity and success, to 60 to Baltimore
and adopt his own course to detect the
parties and the plan Of the conspiracy.
The officer went to Baltimore and
opened an office as some sort of borker
or agent, under an assumed name, of
course. Being supplied with needful
funds, he made occasion to become &C
quainted with certain classes of seces-
sionists, and by degrees was on free and
easy terms with them. He took each
with some, gambled with others, treated
and seconded dissipation in more ways
than need be expressly stated, until he
had secured enough of their confidence
to be familiar with the particulars of
their scheme. Meanwhile it had been
ascertained that on the line of the Balt-
more Railroad there were men engaged
in military drilling. Several other de
tectives were employed by the chief to
discover the purpose of those organiza-
tons and disguised as laborers or farm
hands, they got themselves mustered in.
One of the military companies proved
to be loyal in its purpose; another. under
pretence of being prepared to guard one
or more of the bridges north of Balti-
more, was designed for quite an opposite
purpose.
It will be remembered that some time
before Mr. Lincoln set out from his home
for w Washington, his intended route thith-
er was published Part of the programme
was, that he should visit Harrisburg and
Philadelphia. We believe that Mr.. Lin
coin was not advised especially of any
personal danger until he was about to 60
to Harrisburg, and then at the instance
of the gentleman referred to he was urg
ed to proceed without delay to Washing
ton. He replied, however, that he had
promised the people of Harrisburg to
answer their invitation, and he would do
so at the cost of his life. He according
ly visited Harrisburg on the 22d of
February, 1861 1t was intended he
should rest there that evening. But
under the management of 1.-The gentle
man." another arrangement was effected,
The night train from Philadelphia to
Ill
half past ten o'clock in the evening 1t
was determined that Mr.. Lincoln should
go secretly by the train on the evening
of the 23d; and to enable him to do so,
special train was provided to bring
him secretly from Harrisburg TO Phila-
delphia. After dark, in the former city,
when it was presumed he had retired to
his hotel, he accordingly took this special
train, and came to Philadelphia. Mean
while, in anticipation of his coming,
''the gentleman" had insured the deten-
ton of the Philadelphia and Baltimore
train, under the pretence that parcel of
important documents for one of the de-
partments in Washington must be de-
spatched by it, but which might not be
ready until after the regular time of the
starting of that train. BY q similar re
presentation, the connecting train from
Baltimore 10 Washington was also de
tanned. Owing to the late hour at which
the train left Harrisburg with Mr. Lin
coin, it did not, as was anticipated, reach
this city until after the usual Philadel-
phia and Baltimore time. Mr.. Lincoln
was accompanied by the officer who had
been employed in Baltimore. A formi-
dable bundle of old railroad reports had
been made up in the office of the Phila-
delphia and Baltimore company, which
the officer duly instructed, had charge of
On the arrival of the Harrisburg train,
Mr.. Lincoln took carriage in waiting,
and with his escort was driven to the
depot at Broad and Prime Streets. The
officer made some ostentatious hustle,
arriving with his parcel for which the
train was detained, and passing through
the depot, entered the cars. Mr. Lincoln
in his company. As Mr.Lineoln passed
through the the gate, the man attending