The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-07-10
BY TELEGRAPH,


time before his death. .a9
/ L George Andrew Atzerott was born in tn
kingdom of Prussia irA1SS5, and came to thi
country, with his parents, in 1874. He al
rived at Baltimore, in which place he resided
with bis family, for about one year; when
with his parents, he moved to Westmorelan,
County, Va, His father formed and carries
on his business, that Of blacksmith at TIL
Court House. Atzerott was placed at the bins
mess o. coachmaking. He remained at tn
Court House until 1856, when he went Il
Washington, and worked for different employ
4 ers as coach-painter, In 1858, he Joined hi
brother in the coach-maling business at Por
tobacco. This continued for four years, whe1
the firm was dissolved. After this. he carried
on painting in Port Tobacco until last fall
when he went with John III. SurTatt and
man named Harline Surratt induced him t.
| dent. 2qFt iiffa = 3f l5Til@8 -9t'9G IS ~
Atzerott's knowledge of the men and the
country in the vicinity of Port Tobacco, anG
in fact of all the counties bordering on the Pc
tomac, gave to the ,copspirators a valuable as
sistant. He was well acquainted with Har.
rold whom he was not long in finding out. who
was also engaged in the conspiracy. Stlrrati
went several times to Port Tobacco, and often
sent to Atzerott to come to Washington where
ne was known to many, and looked upon as
| very weak-mlnded man. In fact, he was re-
garded as very harmless and silly fellow
Surratt introduced Atzerott to Booth, who
toasted him, and furnished him with horses,
the horses being held in the name Of Surratt
who appeared to be the principal in the alb
sence of Booth. ~ - 4 - a -
The first meeting Of all the conspirators ac-
tually engaged was at a saloon on Pennsyl-
vania Avenue, called Gautiers.l At the meet
ing OLaughlin, Arnold, Booth, Surratt, Har-
rold and Atzerott were present. The first at
tempt to abduct the President was to, be on
the 18th Street Road. This was to be about
the middle of March, when they expected the
President to visit camp. O'Laughlin, Ar
mold, Payne, Surratt, Booth and Atzerott were
present. Harold left with the buggy with
the carbines for I. B. The plan was to seize
the coach of the President, Surratt to jump on
the box as he was considered the best driver,
and make for I. B., by way long Oldfelds, to
the Potomac river, in the vicinity of Mont
gomery Greek, where they had boat waiting
with men to carry over the party. The boat
was capable OF carrying fifteen men, 1t had
been bought by Booth for the purpose from
Two men named Branner and Smoot. This
plan failed, the President not coming as they
desired '-ief 81 nal laas7is 5al n '7a'a
Harold went next morning to Washington
All things remained quiet for some time after
this Booth wentN orth, Arnold and o. Laugh
I'M to Baltimore, Payne and 0rwood left also
forNew York. A man named Howell was
about this time arrested, which alarmed Sur
raft, and he leftwith Mrs. Slater for the North.
This was about the first of April. The next
plan was to visit the theatre on the night the
President was expected to be there. 1t was
arranged that Surratt and Booth were to 90 to
the box; Arnold, O,L aughlin and PAYNE were
to act some important part in getting him out
Harrold and ,Atzerott were to have charge of
the horses, and an actor was to be secured to
put out the gas. Booth represented that. the
best assistant he had was an actor
IN In this plan buggies and horses were to be
prepared and ropes were to be stretched
across the road to impede the cavalry in the
pursuit The route at this time was to be the
same as before, except that they were to cross
the Eastern Branch Bridge. This whole af-
tar failed, and Booth said, at is all rpn and
spoke of going to Richmond and opening q
Theatre, and promised Atzerett employment in
itin some capacity. 'sia +, 3 -is.'ls Asssess
e .Atzerott was waiting for Booth to arrange
his going to Richmond, when the affair was
renewed again. He had taken a room at the
Kirkwood House. Harold called on him and
left his knife, pistol and coat in the room, and
told him Booth wished to see him at the Hern-,
don House, to which place he repaired in COM
pany with Harold. This was In the evening
They there met Booth and Payne. Booth told
Atzerott, "you must kill Johnson Atzerott
demurred, when Booth replied, Harold has
more courage; he will do it; go get your hor-
SEES; what will become of you anyhow" At
zerott and Harold went down 9th Street to-
gether. Atzeroot sale to Harold, 1--WE must
not disturb Mr.. Johnson Harold laughed
and wanted the key of the room. 1t was re-
fused by Atzerott, who expressed himself as
fearful that harm would be done Mr.. johnson.
Harold left to go to see Booth, and Atzerott
went to Oyster Bay Harold came after him
and said Booth wanted to see him. Atzerott
did not return to the KirkWood House that
night. Booth told Atzerott that Surratt was
in the city. Atzerett didnot see Booth after
leaving him at the Kifkwood House, and
roanled about the streets nearly all night. He
first heardof the murder about 10 IL o'clock,
while passing up the Avenue. The cavalry
was rushing by at the time in pursuit. He.
threw away his knife that night, and parted
with his pistol next morning to a friend in
GEORGETOWN. $50 a1 OF sasaroaA 1I84x51I 4
Atzerott had nothing to say at any of the
former meetings. He knew nothing about the
rope found with Spangler, and declared Spang-
Ter, SO far as knew Booth, when applied To-
for money would remark that he had money
in New York and would getsofne. At one time
in the spring or late in the winter Mr.. Slater,
Mrs. Surratt, John Surratt, and Major Barrow,
formerly of the rebel army, left Washington
together. They got horses from Towards
stable. Mrs, Surratt stopped at Surrattville,
but the Others went to the Potomac. Major
Barrow returned. Atzerott did notthink that
Barrow had anything to do with the conspir-
acy. One of Booths plans to obtain an en-
trance ito the society of the State House was
an invention, If successful, would have involved
others In his foul acts. he made the acquain-
lance of a woman of strong Southern feeling,