The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-06-09
rne Ccmpliclsy 81 Jesf. Davis II ~
Assnssfuaslom Plot

Another batch of the suppressed evi- ~
deuce has been published By permission =
If the Government, and it leaves no room :,
10 doubt that the assassination of Presi- Y
den, Lincoln was effected under the au. tt
thor ty Of JEFF. Davis and his Canada : :
Con missioners.
Sauford Conover was conscrips in the =
Confederate army. but has been residing A
in Canada since October last; was init q
ma,ely acquainted with Sanders, Thomp. :
son, Clay, Cleary and Tucker, and fire.
quently saw DR.. Blackburn, Booth and
Surratt 10 their company. II
He also testi6es Thompson told him
that everybody engaged in the assassina.
ton would be commissioned by the Con-
federate Government, and then If they es-
capped to Canada they would not be de-
livered up under the extradition treaty.
Saw some of these commissions in blank
in Thompson's hands, signed by the rebel
Secretary of War.
Net Surratt about the 9th or 7th Of
April. with Thompson, Saunders and
Booth. At that time he delivered to
Thompson, 10 his room, in my presence,
dispatches from Richmond, to Thompson,
from Benjamin, and from Jefferson Davis;
the latter either cipher dispatch or let
ter. Benjamin was secretary Of state Of
the confederscy Previous to this,
Thompson conversed with me upon the
subject Of plot to assassinate President
Lincoln and bis Cabinet, of which | gave
notice, before the assassination, in the
New York Tribune, the paper for which !
corre-pended. / had been invited by
MIR. Thompson TO participate in that en-
terprise. When Surratt delivered these
dispatches from Davis, Thompson laid bis
hand upon the pal ers aud said, referring
to the assassination and to the assent Of
the rebel authorities, This makes the
thing all right The dispatches spoke of
the persons to be assassinated: Mr.. Lin
coin, Mr., johnson. the Secretary Of War,
the Secretary of State, Judge Chase and
General Grant. Mr. Thompson said on
that occasion, or on the day before that
interview, that the assassination proposed
would leave the government OF tn, United
States entirely without head; that there
was no provision in the constitution Of
the United States by which they could
elect smother President.
I communicated TO the Tribune the in
tended raid on ST. Adams, and the pro-
posed assassination of the President; bu,
they refused to publish the letter. did
this in March last, as to the President
assassination; also, in February, | think
certainly before the 4th of March. Sur
raft delivered the dispatches in Thomp
sons room four or FIVE days before the as
sassination. The whole conversation
showed that Surratt was one of the con
spirators to take the Presidents life
That was the substance of the converse
ton. It was also understood that there
was plenty Of money, when there wal
anything to be done. The conversation
indicated that Surratt had, q very few
days before, left Richmond; that he wa
F'just from Richmond
Thompson said if the men who wer,
engaged in this enterprise were detected
ard executed, the Confederate govern
ment would retalata; that it was no muir
der. only killing. think Booth was spe
cially commissioned for this purpose.
saw Booth in Canada in the latter part o
October, with Saunders, at Mr.. Thomp
sons, at the ST Lawrence ball, where h
was strut,iug about, dissipating and play
ing billiards. / have heard these me-
talk of the burning of New York, an,
other enterprises which they have unde
consideration now.
/ saw DR.. Stewart Robinson, docto
of divinity, residing in Toronto; he edi
ted paper in Kentucky. / have see
him with Thompson and Blackburn, an
schemes were discussed; be approves
them. He said anything that could b
done under heaven would Justify then
under the circumstances. He appeare'
on very intimate terms with Blackburn
and Thompson. Three or four days afte
the assassination of the President. say
John H. Surratt in Canada, with Porter
fell. a southern rebel, now declared
British subject, by the Canadian parlia
ment. ! learned Immediately afterwar,
that Surratt was suspected. was pursued
and had decamped had a knowlede
that Jeff Davis was the head of the 80
called Confederate States. was called it
President, and had control of its civil ad
ministrstiou. General Carroll was pres
ent when Surratt brought the dispatche
from Richmond. and when they were rea,
BY Thompson, believe there were ou
or two others. General Carroll, OF Ten
nessee. then said he was more anxiou
that Mr.. johnson should be killed thai
any one else. He said: eff the dame,
prick louise was not killed BY somebody
be would kill him himself He referre
to Vice President Johnson His EXPIRE.
sion was word of contempt for tailor
1t means tailor's louise.
James B. Mer lit testified am
physician, and have been in Canada sbou
year in October or November last: va
in Toronto; met George Young there.
rebel from Kentucky; also Col. Steele
H.