Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-07-14
CONFESSIONS oFTHE coNsp1RAToRs

We publish the confessions or admissions
Of Payne (Powell,) Atserott and Harold,
from which it will be seen that they we're
each guilty, and alec that they implicate Mrs.
Surratt as knowing and aiding in the plot,
she herself only denying having any hand in
the murder. All were guilty and deserv-
Jog Of the punishment executed upon them.
These admissions Of the couspirators exclude
all doubt.
Lewis Thornton Powell, who will go into
history as Lewis Payne, thanked all the Off
GERS of the prison for kindness shown to him.
He told one Of them that on the night Of the
attempted murder he was porsued by the
cavalry while attempting to leave the city I;
that his horse stumbled and partly fell upon
him that he then abandoned him and took
to the fields that he lay under tree less
than a mile from the city limits and slept till
morning that on Saturday he went out two
or three miles and laid in the woods that be
remained there without food till Tuesday
night, and then came to town, fixing his dis
guise and picking up his pack on the way
that be belived Mrs. Surratt knew about the
plot and would help him through, but was
not sure she would not give him up; that he
even confdentialy given himself up on the
following morning, and would not therefore
have blamed Mrs. Surratt II she had caused
him to be arrested. He never has either said
that she was guilty or innocent. but has more
than once said that the conversations Of Booth
aud John II. Surratt led him to believe that
she knew in general terms what the plot was.
He condemned John II. Sunatt in strong
terms for running away, and said he was sor-
~ If any act Of his had proved harmful to
Mrs. Surratt.
He was asked about hi, motive for the
deed be had attempted, and replied that he
bad consldeted it his duty, that he had no i'll
will toward Mr.. Seward personally, that he
had believed God approved OF his course
but that within short time he had received
enlightenment about the matter, was con-
WINGED that the North had not heretofore
meant what he supposed they did, and now
felt that be had done wrong, aad that his
punishment was just He spoke in frank
manner, without any afectstion or bravado.
He held much religious conversation this
morning with his advisers. and begged them
to ask all good men to forgive him.
Mrs, Mary K. Surratt evidently had not
believed she would be hung, and the com
munication to her of the sentence fected her
seriously. At eleven o'clock last night her
attendant physician pronounced her danger
ously Frustrated, and wine and o,her stimu-
lants we're administered to her frequently
during the night. She clearly and pointedly
said she had no hand in the murder Of the
President, but was silent with respect to
knowledge of the conspiracy.
Atzerott conversed freely with his two min
letters, and before going to the gallows he
made the following statements He said he
took a room at the Kirkwood House, on
Thursday, April 18th, in order to get pass
from Vice President johnson 10 20 to Rich
mond. Booth was to lease the Richmond
Theatre, and the President was to he invited
to attend it when visiting Richmond, and
captured there. Harold brought the pistol
and knife to the room about two o'clock on
Friday he (Atzerott) said he would not
have anything to do with the murder of John
son, when Booth said that Harold had more
courage then Atzerott, and he wanted Alter
OFT to be with Harold to urge him to do it,
There was meeting at restaurant about
the middle of March, at which John Surratt,
OLaughlin, Booth, Harold, Payne, and him
self were present, when plan to capture the
President was discussed. They had heard
the President was about to visit camp and
they proposed TO capture him, coach and all,
and drive through Long Oldfelds TO T. b.,
ten miles in Maryland, where the coach was
to be left and fresh horses we're to be got,
and the party were to proceed to the river to
take boat Harold took buggy to I. b.,
in anticipation that Mr.. Lincoln would be
captured, and he was 10 60 with the party to
the river. Slavery had put him on the side
of the South. He had heard it preached in
church that the curse of God was upon the
slaves, for they were turned black. He al
ways hated the negro, and he felt that they,
tie negroes, should be kept in ignorance.
He had not received any money from
Booth, although he had been promised that
if they we're successful they should never
want ; that they would be houored through
out the South, and that they could secure an
exchange of prisoners, and the recognition of
the Confederscy.
Harold slept about -four hours during the
night. He has said to one of the officers in
charge OF him that the part be was to take in
the abduction plot was TO shut off the gas 10
the theatre at the proper moment, and asserts
that he refused to have any thing to do with
| the final plot; but at last consented to see
that Payne undertook his work. and then to
aid Booth and Payne in their escape through
Maryland. He also says A tzerott was assign
| ed to the murder of the Vice President, but
| that Booth was afraid he would not accom-
plish any thing.
Col. Doster, counsel for the conspirator
Payne, when bidding him farewell, asked If
he had any message to leAys, Payne replied !:
None, except want you to give my love
! to my parents and tell them / die in peace
with God and man. do not want to live.
Even il the President will spare my life do
not want to live. My only regret is that in
leaving the world will not be able to re-
ward my gratitude to you for your services
! in my behalf" He also said that Atzerott,
was innocent of any attempt to murder and
| at the Herndon House where Booth, Atze-
rott, Harold and himself met on the evening
of the 18th, he heard Atzerott declare, when
ordered by Booth to kill the Vice President,
that he would not do it. All the accused
who have made any statement in regard to
the conspiracy, agree that no one but Booth
knew OF any plot to sssassinate until about
eight o'clock in the evening OF the l4ih Of