Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-07-15

of Atzerott, Which was prcparedIby ODE WHO
has known htn since his arrest The de.
tails of the plot to abducb and murder the
President, Which are set forth below, were
given to the author by Atzerott himself but
short time before his death. ----
George Andrew Atzerott was born in the
kingdom OF Prussia, In 1885, and came to
America, with his pafeuts, in 1844a They
arrived In Baltimore, at which place be re-
sided, with his family, for about one year,
wher, with his parents, be moved to West
rnorlsnd county, Virginia ~
[Si ,Sutatt Introduced Atzerott to Booth, who
feasted him and furnished him with money
ard horses, the horses being held in the
name Vi Suratt, who- appeared to be the
principal in the absenc. Il Booth. The first
meeting Of all cons sp,tatbrs actively en-.
gagged was at aHsaloon y on PENNSYLVANIA
avenue, called "Getteers.n Gautiers2l OAtl
this meetings q kaaghlin,, Arnol6, Suratt,
Booth and Atzerott We're present. The first
attempt to abduet the President was to be
ON the Seventh street road, about the mid
die OF March. They expected the President
to visit camp. OLaughlin. Arnold, Payne,
Suratt, Booth, ami Atzerott were present
Harrold lettin the buggy with :he carbines
for i. Is. The plan Was to seize the coach
of the President, Suratt to jump on the box,
as he was considered the best driver, and
make for 4. b., by way of Oldfields to the
Potomac river, in the vicinity of Nanjemoy
Greek, where they had boat waiting with
men to carry loyer the party---the boat was
capable of carrying fifteen men--a large fiat
bottomcd batteau, painted lead color, which
had been bought g,foE the purpose by Booth
from two men named Brauner and Swoot
This plan failed, the President not coming
! as they desired. Harold went the next
morning to Washington, and all things re-
mained quiet for some time after this
Booth wen: North. Arnold and O,Lauyhlin
to Baltimore Payne aud Arnold lett also
for New York. A man, named Howell was
about this Wine arrested, which alarmed
Suratt, and he left with Mrs. Schalatter
for the North. This was about the lat of
! April. The next plan was to VISIT the
theatre on the night the President was ex-
pected there. 1t MAS arranged that Suratt
! and Booth were~t go to the box, Arnold,
OLaughlin and Payne were to act some
| important part in getting him out, Harold
and Atzerott were to have charge of the
! horses, ana an actor was to be secured 10
put out die gas Booth represented that
tile best assistant Inc had was an actor. In
| this plan buggies and horses were to be
used A rope which was prepared aud to
be at keyd's was to he stretched across the
! road to impede the cavalry in the pursuit
| The route this time was the same US be-
| fore except that they were to cross the
| Eastern Branch Bridge. This whole affair
I failed, and Booth said "it is all up and
| spoke OF going to Richmond and opening
theatrc and promised Atzerott employment
in it in some capacity. Atzerott was wait.
ing for Booth to arrange his going to
Richmond when the affair Was renewed
| again. He had taken a room ut the Kirk
| wood House. Harold called ON linn and
! lett his knite, pistol, and coat in the room
| and told him Buuth wanted to see him at
| the, lierndon House, toiswhicb place he re.
! paired with Harold !: This Was in the even.
| ing. about six O'Clock, and be there met
| Booth aud Payne. Booth said you must
XII johnson. Atzerott denurred, when
| Booth replied, Harold has more courage :;
he Will do 1t; 60, get your horses /; what
will 5ecome OF you anyhow" Atzcrott and
| Harold went down Ninth street together
and Atzerott said I'VE must not disturb
Johnson Harold laughed, and wanted
! the key OF the room. IT was refused by
Atzerott, who expressed himself as fearful
that harm would be done Mr.. johnson.
! Harold left to go to see Booth, and Atze
r, tt went to the Oyster Bay. Harold came
after, and said, Booth wanted TO, see him.
Atzcrott- did not return to the Khkwood
House that night. Booth told, Atzerott
1 that Suratt was in the city, and that he had
just left him. Atzerott did not see Booth
! after leaving chin at the Herndon House,
| and lie roamed about the streets nearly all
/ night, and first heard OF the murder about
half past ten O'clock, while passing up the
! eren"o. The cavalry were rushing 10y at
| the time, in pursuit. Hs threw away hls
knife that night, and parted with his pis
tol next morning, to fiiond in George
town. Atzerott bad nothing to say ut any
! OF the former meetings. He knew nothing
about the rope found with fSpangler. He
believed Spanglcr innocent as far as he
knew. Booth, when applied to for money,
would remark, he had money in New York,
and would get SOME At Que time in the
spring, or late in. the winter, MIS-, Schhter,
Mrs. Surat, John Suratt, and Major Bar
row, formerly of the rebel army, left WASH
ington together. They got horses from
Howard's, Mrs, Suratt stopped at Suratt-
4 vile, and the rest went to the Potomac.
Mayor Barrow returned, and Atzerott did
1 not think he-had anything to do with the
conspiracy, although ne was formerly in the
/ rebel army. = 81 z I'D ID % ~ 'I a
One Of Booths plans to obtain an en-
! trance to the house of Secretary Seward was
an Invention, which, ii successful, would
have involved Others in his foul act. He
| had made the acquaintance ''of man of
strong Southern feelings, lived not far from
the Secretary's house, who was to make the
acquaintance OF a servant, who was to be
introduced to Booth, and 10y this means he
would learn something of the location of
the rooms, etc. AS fur as known, this plan
faileG r.y. t-.s...r r-..... :. IL. -
Booth was well acquainted with Mudd,
and had letters of introduction 10 him
Booth told At2erott, about two weeks be-
fore the murder. that he had sent provisions
and liquor to DR.. Mudd's for the supply of
the party on their way TO Richmmd With
the President. d.
Michael oIaughhp made no regular con-
fession as fsf asit ID pablicly known, bu,
has confessed to the original conspiracy
He cenied any knowledge of the murder
OF the President and the attempt on Se-
wards life. That he knows much of all
the affair there is no doubt in the minds of
those who know ali the circumstances of
OLaughlin, and that he did visit Stsntop's q
house as charged in the testimony before
the commission. r"a a-.-u =. 5aI
/ lEeESE s-I7F--- n -