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

undertake; that he was in Favor Of the

undertake; that he was in favor OF the
proposition, but deferred his answer until
he had consulted his government at Rich
mond; that he was then only WaitinS
their approval. -
He thought 1t would be blessing to
the people, both North aud South, to have
them (the tyrants) killed. In the sum
mer of 1864, repeated what Mr.. Thomp-
son first told me to G. G. Clay, who
said that he was really devoted to our
cause, and ready to go any lengths to do
anything under the sun to save it. l
have seen Payne, the prisoner, number
of times in Canada, about the falls, in the
summer of 1864, and also at the Queens
Hotel, at Toronto, Canada, West, where |
conversed with him.
| had au interview with Mr., Thompson,
several others had sought an interview
while was closeted, and had been re-
fused On leaving Thompson,s room, L
saw Payne in the passage way near the
floor, with Clement y Clay talking to
him; Mr.. Clay stopped me, and finished
his conversation with this man in an un-,
dertone. When he left me he said,
''wait for me; | will return" He soon
came back and bade me good--by, and
asked where he could see me after atlme,
| told him, and appointed meeting.
| spoke to this man Payne in Clay's
absence and asked him who he was.
He said, ''I'm a Canadian (which was
to say, don't want you to ask me any
thing more. | mentioned him to Clay
when met him after time. Clay ask
ed, "what did he say?" | told him, and
Clay answered, "That's so; he is Cana
dian" and laughed. He added, "we
trust him" canadian" is an expression
for their friends, and his conduct was an
indication that their intercourse was ofa
very confidential nature.
| have been in Canada since the assas-
snation; few days after met Reverdy
Tucker at Montreal. He said, "Mr.
Lincoln deserved his death long ago."
that "t was pity he did not die
long ago :" and that sit was too bad the
boys had not been allowed to go when
they wanted to-" He referred to the
men who were to assassinate him.
had conversation with William G.
Cleary, and told him what Mr.. Thomp-
son said in January. He said that Booth
f was one the parties to whom Thompson
had referred; he said also that it was too
bad, that the wholework had not been
done, referring to the assassination. Clea-
ry, who was confident of Mr.. Thompson
told me so. Thomps,n n said Cleary was a
, very close-mouthed man.
Cleary also said that "they had better
look out, we have not done yet He
remarked that they would never give up.
) He also said that Booth had visited
! Thompson in the winter and in the sum-
mer These parties knew they were sus-
pected of the assassination "A few days
, after, were estroyinga great many papers;
50 they .old me-
, | acted as government detective in
, Canada, and assumed the name of James
] Thompson, though | never registered it,,
t but always some other name; my whole
object was to serve the government; l
saw this cipher found among Booths
effects) in Mr. Clay's house, at St Cath
arine's in the summer Of 1864 | carried
dispatches from Canada to Gordonsville,
and received reply which carried back.
f | came through Washington each time
and delivered the dispatches to the Uni
ted States Government; received the
dispatch at Gordonsville from a man in
the Rebel State Department, from their
Secretary of State carried this paper
to Thompson. All these persons, named
Thompson, Clay Cleary, etc., represent
ell themselves in the service Of the Con-
federate Government Received this
ceived this dispatch in October last.
, Clay claimed to represent the War De
| partment; they approved the burning OF
our Northern cities, and they represented
themselves as having full powers from
the Rebel Government to act, without
referring their project to Richmond ;
Thompson and Clay both said So; the
attempt to burn New York City know
they were engaged in, and went to WASH
ington three days before it happened to
communicate it; they approved, also OF
the ST. Adams raid in regard to raiding
Mr.. Clay had the funds; he said he had
always plenty of money to pay for any
thing that was worth paying for; |
know they deposited in different banks;
Clay said not to tell Sanders what they
intrusted to me he said that he was 0
very good man to do their dirty work ;
that he associated with men that they
could not associate with that he was very
useful in that way inferred from Bev-
erly fuckers words that they had delay
ed the assassination, waiting the approval
from Richmond, ~ /.
->s--<Dr~<
HAND OF GoDIN GREAT
EVENTS. Boston Post, in an ed