American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-06-14

Il
mediately afterwards that Surratt was
suspected, was pursued, and had decamp-
ed had knowledge that jeff Davis
was the head of the so-called Confeder-
ate States, and was called its President
and had control ofits civil administration.
General Carroll was present when Surratt
brought the dispatches from Richmond,
and when they were read by Thompson.
| believe there were one or two Others
General Carroll of Tennessee then said he
was more anxious that Mr.. johnson should
be killed than any one else; he said =
If the damned prick-louse was not kill
ed by somebody" he would kill him HIM
self; he referred to Vice President John
son; his expression was word of con-
tempt for a tailor; it means a tailors' louise;
Booth was known in Canada by the nick
name of 'Het;" have heard Thompson
so name him, certainly Cleary; Kenne-
dy, who fired the city of New York, ana
was executed, was spoken of as having
performed that deed by authority of the
rebel Government under the direction of
Thompson this was communicated to me
by Thompson himself, or in conversation
in his presence; Thompson said Kenne-
dy deserved to be hanged, and he was
deveish glad ne was hanged, for he was
a stupid fellow, and had managed things
very badly.
James B. Merritt testified II am a
physician, and have been in Canada
about year in October and November
last was in Toronto met George Young
there, Rebel from Kentucky also
Col Steele, from Kentucky, Young said
to me, eve have something of much
more Importance than any raids he told
me it was determined that "Old Abe"
should never be inaugurated that they
I had plenty of friends in Washington, aud
called Mr. Lincoln a damned old tyrant'
! afterwards saw George N. Sanders and
Col Steele together; Col Steele said
"The damned old tyrant never will serve
another term, if he is elected J" Sanders
said at the time, "IIe would keep nigh
ty close if he did serve another term y
in Montreal, in February last, | heard
Sanders name number of persons ready
and willing to remove the Pres ident, Vice
President, Cabinet, and some of the lead
ing Generals of the United States; and
he added that there was any amount oi
money to accomplish this purpose mean
ing assassination of these persons he then
read letter, which he said he had re-
ceived from the President of the Confed
eracy, meaning Jefferson Davis, and
which letter justified him in making my
arrangements that he could, to accomplish
such object there was a meeting at tha
time Of these Rebels, and letter wa,
read to them, the substance of which wa:
that if the Southerners in the Canada,
and the States were willing to be govern
by such tyront as Lincoln, he Davis
did not wish to recognize them as friend,
and that he approved of the proposition
to assassinate him /; Col. Steele read tht
letter, also Captain Scott, George Young
and Hill, all rebels this meeting wa,
about the middle Of last February a
the meeting Sanders named some of the
persons who were to accomplish the as
sassination, and among them he pameC
j, w. Booth, whom | had seen in Mon
treal in October; he also named George
Harper, Charles Caldwell, Randall and
Harrison Harold went by the name Of
Harrison | heard Surratts name alsc
mentioned, and Harold's; there was .
person named whom they called "Plug
Tobacco :" | saw Harold in Toronto
Sanders said Booth was heart and sou
in this matter he was a cousin to Beale
who was hanged in New York he ad
ded that if they could dispose of Mr.
Lincoln it would be an easy matter tc
dispose of Nh. johnson in some of hi,
drunken reveries if they could dispose
Of the President, Vice President, and
Cabinet, and thatif Lincoln could be dspo
sed Of it would satisfy the people North
and that peace could be obtained thai
they had endeavored to bring about wal
with England but Mr. Seward through
his energy and sagacity, had thwarted
their efforts, and for that reason they wan.
ted to get rid of him.
On the 9th or 9th of April last | met
Harper, who said that they were going
to the States to kick up the d---dest
row such as had never been heard of
he added that if | did not hear of the
death of Old Abe, the =, ice President
and of General Dix, in lessthan ten days
/ might put him down as a d---d fool
that was on the 9th April he mention,
the name of Booth as one of their friends
there ; said they had plenty of friend:
in Washington, and that fifteen or. TWEEN.
ty were going. He had started to 90 tc
Washington as early as the 8th together
with others | communicated this fact on
the 10th of April to Justice of the Peace
named Davidson, vino after the assassi
nation, communicated it to the Govern
ment ; Harper returned to Canada afte'
the assassination | had conversation
with g. c. Clay in Toronto in February
last; he spoke Of the letter of Davis
which Sanders had exhibited he seem
to understand the character Of the letter
perfectly, and said he thought the end
would justify the means; Surratt was
pointed out to me in Toronto last Febru
airy, think l saw Booth there two OIL
three times, and sat at the table with
him once, at the St Lawrence, with San.
GERS, Scott and Steele they were cOnver-
| e;,c, NTH Rooth and Dir; N in,r Uina xui L