Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-22
MR. SEWARD AND HIS SONS.
LETTER. FRoM THURLow wEEp.
THE ASSASSIN CAPTURED AND
IDENTIFIED.

IUEJlN IT 4IDs
letter from Thurlow Weed, ESQ, TO the New Yo,k
Council Advertiser dated 18TH inst, giyesthe following
lucid and suconct account OF the attemptO -ssaiaa:s
Secretary Seward and his sons
When left Washington at eleven 4. II. yesterday.
Mr.. Seward had passed restless night occasioned, 10
supposed by the pain he had suffered from an ct
tempt TO adjust gutta percha support 70 his fractured
The fearful injuries inflicted by The assassin aggraya.
ting those by which he had previously been Frustrated
and acting together upon OveTHoTked constitution,
leaves US with fears strong hopes And yet,
though syyfye ysars old ne possesses wonderful ii
tality.
II occasions surprise that while four persons were in
the room with Mr.. Seward the assassin enabled to
escape The hall bell is usually answered by the but
ler but that occasion small colored boy went 10
the door, past whom the assassin rushed de encoun
tered Frederick az the door Of his fathers lodging roo
in the third story repeating the preence that he had
prescription to be delivered personally On being told
that he could not go in he struck Frederick two stun
ming blows upon the temple with very heavy revolver
Fredercks fall startled Augustus who ncountered the
asssi his way 20 the bed receiving three stahs
! from a large bowie knife, which instantly and
fercey applied 10 the throat and face of Mr. Seward.
Meantime soldier caught the rufian around tie
body and while he was thrustDs the knife backward az
the soldier Mr. Seward got of the bed when the assassin
left oYertahnC MI HanselL the messenger on his way
down stairs 20 give the alarm and stabbng MIN in the
hack He eft D Is revolver in Mr. Stewards apartment
and threw his bowie knife on the sidewalk II front o.
! the LOpse.
Fredercb's condition il not hopeless is most critical
II is feared that in removing the fragments Of his per
fo atd skull splinter was left pressing upon the
brain. The circumstances which inspires hope Il that
his repose has been quiet that OF sleeping infant
pulse natural and feet Yesterday morning early
there was brief interval of consciousness when he
Tic uated once feeby and shook his head being asked
j "' Wv NV w. TurR1ow WEED.
We published N yesterdays paper brief notice Of
the arrest of a in Washington who was believed TO
be the dsspeado who attempted to murder the Secretary
Of state. Additional developments have since been
made We copy the following from special Washing.
ton despatch to the New York Herald:
After the preliminary examination he taken, In
charge of officers Sampson and DevOe, TO Gen. AuguTs
HEADQUARTERS where upon further examination, he
rave an account OF himself quite different from the
previously given Il was evident that he was in dis.
guise and had been completely taken by surprise in
ndng the officers at the house where he expected
And a welcome and refuge. The facts disclosed in the
exam nation induced the belief that he the blood
thirsty villain who had attempted the life of Secretary
seward on Friday night. lie placed in 8 room with
two other strangers. The light was made dim, a.
nearly possible in imitation OF the condition OF the
HeLt in NJ rewards on that eyentful night and
the domestics of Mr.. Seward were sent for. Upon
entering the room the porter colored boy, alb n
Sc, enteen years Of age, threw up his hands with an
exclamation Of horror and pointing to the man. said,
.Tfet is the man ! DONE want 10 him; ne did
il. know him by that lip The servant had already
previously described peculiarly about tie upper
lin Of the man whom he had admitted 20 commit
tie foul and murder0us deed. He was subsequently
recognized hy Others as the who Iegpedatce tie
murdcrous deed az Secretary Stewards aud testimony has
been procured tracing him step 10y step from the time
Of his sepsrat on from Booth until be entered Stewards
house The chain Of evidence is complete, and fasens
upon him as the pepetrator Of the horrid crime hch
has shocked the whole comm unity. The villain was
hiavy roned and placed in confinement on one Of the
guEboats The trail of John Wilkes Booth las also fesn
discovered and expected that he too II be in Gus
tody before morning Several other part e. are now IN
confinement who have been ascertsined TO be accom-
pces before the fact IN the awful tragedy The inyes
legations already made reveal plot well laid and Ion
and carefully matured for murder and arsn on scale 80
grandly diabolical as TO be hardly conceivable.
CONDITION OF Mr.. sEwARD AND MS son.
WASHINGTON April lS.-Secretary Seward is much
be ter to-day as is also Mr.. Frederick Seward who is
grao uay regainng foil consciousness 1t is conf
IDENTIFY hoped and expected that both the Secretary and
Assstant secretary will speedily recover.