The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-10
George q. Atsefott's Reported
Confession.
His History of the Plots to Capture and
10 Murder President Lincoln.
lie Acknowledges Completely in the Former,
but Denies thai lle Aided the Latter.
Provisions for the Conspirators Sent TO
Dr. Mudd's House by Booth,
L. ga
pALrrrnar. Lnlx O faG


p.rucoas, July 9 1866
me ADaroaa has received special report q con
fassou Of Atzofot, which was prepared by who has
known him since his arrest.
Thedelais tho plot 10 abdurt and murder the presi
dent which ARE SET forth below given the author
by Atzeroit but a short time before his death
George Andrew Atzcrott born in the Kingdom Of
Prussia in 1885 and came TO tins country with his pa
rents in 1874 He arrived Baltimore, in which place
ho resided with his family for about year. when,
with his parents, he moved to Westmoieand county,
Va His father farncd carried his business that
Of q blacksmith. at the Court House Atzerott wss
placed as apprentice TO the coachmaking business
at the Court House, where he learned the paint
ing branch. He remained at the Court House
until 1856 when he went Washington and worked for
Young, and also tor Mr.. Dermott, well known coach
makers In 1857 he joined his brother in the coachma
ing business at Port Tobacco This continued for four
years, when She firm dissolved After this he car
rid painting in Port Tobacco until fall when he
with John II. surratt and man named Herlinc
Sura. induced him to JOIN in the conspiracy abduct
ing the President Atzerott's knowledge OF men and
the country in the vicinity Of Port Tobacco and in
fact OF oil the counties bordering the Potomac gave
to the conspirators valuable assistant He well
acquainted with Harold, whom he was long ia find
ing out and who also engaged in the conspiracy
Surratt went several times to Port Tobacco, and
where he was known to many as well as in
Port Tobacco, and looked upon a very weak minded
main fact was regarded as very harmless and silly
fellow. Surratt introduced Atzerott to Booth feast
cd him and furnished him with horses the horses being
held in the name of Surrat who appeared to be the
principal in the absence of Booth The first meeting oc
all the consprators actually engaged al saloon
Pennsylvania avenue called Getecrs At this meet
ing OLaughlin Arnold, Booth Surratt Harold and
Atzerott present The first attempt to ntduct the
President to be the Seventh street road This
was to be about the middle of March, when they ex-
IN vic >
nold Payne, sunatt Booth and Atzerott were preent
Harold left with the buggy with the carbpes for r r.
TO Jump on the box as ne was considered the
best driver and make for T. B. by way
of Long ora Fields 10 the Potomac river
the vicinity OF Nargomey creek, where they had q
boat waiting with men to carry over the party The
boat was capable OF carrying fifteen men, and was a
large atb0t0ed battcau painted lead color which had
been bought for the purpose by Booth from two men
named Branner~0nd smoot
This plan failed the President not coming as they de-
sired Harold went next morning 10 Washington. III
things remained quiet for time after this Booh
went north Arnold and OIarghlin to Baltimore Payne
or Wood left also for New York.
man named Howell VIZ; aboat this time arrested
THIS alarmed Suratt, and he left with Mrs Sater for
the North This was about the first OF April The next
plan was 10 visit the theatre tho night tho Pcs dent
was expected to be there 1t arranged that surra
ana Booth were to go 10 the box Arnold, O'Iaughn
and Payne were to act some important part in cttrr
HIM out; Harold and Atzcrot were to have charge Of the
horses and an actor to be secured to put out the
gas
Booth represented that the best assistant bc had v,s
an actor In this plan buggics and horses were to be
used rope, which was prepared and be at Kcyd's
was TO DC stretched across the road impede the cya
ry In the pursuit. The this tms was tho same
as before except that they to the Eastern
Branch bridle.
This whole affair failed and Booth said H. is all nm
and spoke OF going to Richmond and opening theatre
ana promised Atzerott employment in it capacity
Atzcrott was waiting for Booth to arrange his 90.
ing To Richmond When tho affair was ronewcd
again he had taken room at the Kirkwood House
Harold called him left his knife pistol and coat
Hnnfi JLol
MN at the Hcrndon House, to which place he
repa cd in company with Harold This This was
must kill Johnson" Atzcrott dcmurrcd. when Booth
s onr rnos mas more COURAGE he will do III go
Atzerott and Harold went down Ninth street together
4Ierott said TO Harold ave must not disturb Mr.
johnson" Harold laughed, and wanted the koy of the
room II was rcfuscd by A'zcroit who EXPRESSED h m
scif o. fearful that harm would 10 done Mr. Johnson
Harold LETT TO 80 Sc Booth and went 10 the Oyster
Fay. Harold after him. and said Booth wan 81 10
sec hu, Aizerott did not return to- the Kirkwood
Housc that night
One OF Booths plans TO Obtain an entranca IN tho
secretary Of States house was an invention which II
successful, would have involved others in his foul ats
lie had made the acquaintance of a woman of strong
Southern ie nss living not far from the secrctary's
house, who was ~ make the acquaintance OF servant
who was t. be introduced to Booth and by this means he
would am something Of the location of the rooms &c
az far ny know H. IL failed
Booth WAS well acquainted with Mudd, and had had
letters of introduction 10 him. Booth told Atzerot,
provisions and liquor 10 Dr. Mudds house for the supply
OF the party ON their way to Richmond with the Prcsi
dent. ~
Michael OIaughlin has made regular confession as
lar as publicly known but lie has confessed To the
orig nal consl tracy He denied any knowledge of the
murder Of the President the attempt on Mr. Stewards
life
Booth told Azcroit that surratt was In the city, Azc
rott did not see Booth after leaving him at the Hcrndon
House. and he roaed about the streets nearly all night
and first heard OF the murder about ten o'clock
while passing up the The cavalry were rushing
by at the time In pursuit He threw away his knife that
ngnt ana parted with his pistol next morning q friend
IN Georgetown Azerot had nothing to saw at apy of
the former meetings He knew nothing about the
rope found with Spangler. He believed Spanplcr
innocent, az far as he knew. Booth when applied
to for money, would remark that he had money
In New York. and would get some At one time in the
spring or late in the winter Mrs Slater Mrs surratt
John Surratt and Major Barron formerly of the rebel
army, left Washington together They got horses from
howards Mrs. Surratt stopped ut SurrattsvilIe the
others went TO the Potomac. Major Barron returned
He did not think Barron had anything to do with the
conspiracy, although he formerly In the rebel
army.
There Is no doubt that he knew much of the whole
ansr Although abs tried TO be made out there
j. no doubt In the minds OF those who know all the cir
cumstances OF OLaughlin that he did visit Stanton's
house, as charged In the testimony before the Com