Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-06-06

when ron mentioned TO him the letter frona
Jefhrsou Davis approving Of this plan OF ass
eassinatien be seemed 70 understand 10 perfect.
lyl a. Yes, sir; ne seemed TO understand it,
Surratt was pointed out to me once; it was
in February, and think In. Toronto; did not
zee him with any one he was walking on TIA
other side Of the street, and was pointed ont 70
me as being Surr$tt, and am inclined 20 think
was pointed out, Scott, Ford, and myself were
standing on the sidewalk; saw Booth there
TWO or three times. Q. With whom did you
not know that could tell I sat at the tsble
with hlm once at the st. Lawrence Sanders
was at tns same table, and Scott and Steele ana
! do not know that I did any more than at the
table; they were conversing with each other at
the'tabie; we all drank some wine at Mr.. Sau-i
ders' expense. q. Was not Booth recognized
by them all as their friend, and as fully COM
mitted to any enterprise they engaged In A.
l cannot answer that question, for I do not
Of Booth A. 1 know what was said IN the
meetings outside Of that did not hear any
persen speak particularly In relation TO Booth.
bis soSyn ySu nave any personal
him good many times on the stage, and knew
him very well by sight. q. What Is the full
name OF Harper Of whom you have spoken
Gross. examined by Mr.. Stone "a. Did you
see the man who was called Harrison, and
whom You now think is Herold, more than
once In CANADA A. think saw him two
or three times In February, about the middle
or some where about the 18th or Goth of the
Tonth; q How was he dressed then-do You
remember! A. do not Q. It is possible
that portion of hat letter has been misap-
prehended-1 would like to have you state
me ne, main m % points in It again A. Mr., Sanders
myself; l think stated that in the commence
ment the purport of the letter was that Mr.
Davis did not wish to recognize any persons
as his frien DIS who were willing to submit. to
be governed by Mr. Lincoln, conveying the
sentiment; the language might be varied a good
deal, and that the President and Vice Presi-
dent. and some of the Cabinet and leading
Generals could be disposed OF; it would sat-
isfyi the people of the North; that they tthe
rebels) had friends here. That was stated in
the, letter, think; that was the meaning OF the
letter, the phraseology 1, perhaps, do not ex-
actly remember.
The letter was read in February, aud went
on the 10th Of April to see the Justice of the
Peace. After the Justice OF the Peace re-.
fused to accede to my request I called upon g.
Judge of the Court Of Assizes made my state
ment to him, and he said 1 should have to 60
to the Grand Jury. After that did not do
anything. q. When did you first commune,
cate to the Government this Information that
You have detailed herel A. think it was two
weeks ago te.day. q. What was your object
in keeping this so long to yourselfl A. There
was no authority to communicate 1t to. q.
But as good citizen you were bound to COM
municate it, why did you not do II. A. In
the first place was not here where / could
communicate; am practicing physician IN
dred or six hundred miles from here. q.
There is post office at Dumfriesl A. Yes.
sir; there is one. q. There is one at Toronto
and one at Montreal! A. Yes, sir. q. Is that
the only reason that you have! A. No, sir; L p
cannot assign any particular reason why did
not communicate 1t to the Government though
1 was In possession Of the information with
out my communicating 1t l. understand. z.
was 1t not owing to the fact that you are q
Southerner in your feelings and affiliations, a
No, sir. By Mr.. Aiken: @. From what poinr
did You communicate this information to the
Government A. In the War Department
q Did You come directly herel A. Yes, sir;
i have in my pocket a letter from the Provost
Marshal General, stating that he had received
letter which proved to have been written by
Squire Dawson, giving information OF my
and Caldwell arrested, and when on receipt
of that letter they sent to Canada for me; the
WAR DEPARTMENT, Provost Marshal General
Bureau. Washington, u o.. April 20, '65-To
Or. ]. B. Merrill, Agent, Canada West:-Sir--
/ have been informed that you possess infor-
nation connected with plot to assassinate
the President OF the United States and other
prominent heads of the Government. The
You and to accompany you to this city, If YOU
will come. The Secretary of War authorizes
me to pledge You protection and security, ana
ney both ways, and In addition to promise a.
suitable reward if useful information is fur
nished. Independent OF these considerations,
it is hoped that the cause of humanity and
justice will induce you to act promptly in df-
vulglng anything you may know connected
with the recent tragedy. in this city, or with
bearer is instructed to pay all expenses con-
nected with your trip
I am, very respectfully, your obediedt ser
want, JAS. b. Fry,
Provost Marshal General.
i BY the Judge Advocate: @. It was under
that letter You came! A. Yes. Sir.
giving VIZ tn the % reason for for his his admission is to to
the meeting of the conspiIators in Canada.
said it was because he was good
Southern man, and then in giving a reason
for not communicating the information to the
Government, he said emphatically that he
was not good Southern man; how is that
discrepancy explained A. said they ad-
mitted me because 1 was good Southern
man, and said it in such way that thought
it would be understood that had made the
impression on their minds that was good
Southern man: God knows that / am not q
Southern man in sentiment, beca use / have
taken the oath of allegiance too often.
CRoss-RxAMINATION OF sANDFORD CoNNovER.
By Assistant Judge Advocate Bingham:-I
am Instructed TO make an inquiry OF you in
consequence of question asked you by the
court, what conversation, iIany, did you have
burning of New York city and other Northern
cities? A. There was proposition before their
council to destroy the Croton dam by which
and it was supposed it would not only damage
the manufacturers but distress the people gen.
orally very much, but Mr.. Thompson re-
mdrkeU tndt LDey Inusl udVe pleuLY OF HF6S
and the whole city would soon be destroyed by
general confiagration and without send
ing Kennedy or anybody else tsere; and
if they had thought of this scheme be-
fore they might have saved some necks.
Thompson, myself Mr.: Sanders, Mr.. Castle
man, ana Gen. Carroll were prasent at the
time. The plan was understood to be for the
release of the rebel prisoners at Camp Doug
lag. i think they said at Camp Chase. or
whatever campit was in which they were
confined. think they called it Camp Doug
las. saw associating with DIR. blackburn in
Canada Jacob Thompson, George N. Sanders,
Lewis Sanders, son of George N. Sanders,
x.Gov. Westcott, of Fla L. Castleman, VIM,
@. Cleary. heard Dr. Blackburn saythat about
q year before that time he had endea vored to
Introduce the yellow fever into N. Y. but fer
some reason, which do not remember, failed.
He went from Montreal about year ago last
January, to Bermuda, or some Of the West
India Islands, for the express purpose OF
attending cases of yellow fever, collecting in
fected clothing. and SO ON, and for warding it
failed. All these parties concurred In the en-