The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-26

play again; am in the oil business: Witness

play again; am in the oil business: Witness
continued:
The next saw OF Booth l heard the speech
and saw him jump out of the box at the
theatre, and when he fell he fell on one hand
and one knee, and recognized him he fell
with his face towards the audience; I said,
the President; made that remark right there;
that is the last ever saw of him, when he
was running across the stage.
Q. You say you are certain you saw him and
Sanders drinking together as well as talking
A. Yes, sir, did; | am sure of it. Sanders
says he never saw him but Sanders tells lie,
because he did know him. saw him talking
to him.
By the Court-Q. Why did you say it was
John Wilkes Booth, and that he had shot the
President? A. did not know Mr.. Lincoln
had been shot, but it flashed across my mind
when Booth jumped out of that box that had
done such a thing, because 1 knew the Presi
dent was in the box. I saw him go in, and
heard the pistol shot, and the words 'Sic SEM
per tyrusnis, and knew from my schoolboy
knowledge that was the motto of the State OF
Virginia
By the Judge Advocate-Q. You say Booth
shouted ".Sic semper tyrdnnis ?" A. heard the
words in the box; think it was Booth said
that; | heard the words before saw the man.
". t1dQ u6 DIS kQlIc III QaQQ as uc WcuL
across the stage? A. He did.
Q. Did he make the remark as he crossed
the stage? A. 1t is said he did, but did not
notice it the excitement was so great that l
did not notice it; can safely swear that did
not hear any remark; at least. l cannot call to
mind that did.
BOOTHS OIL sPECULATIONs.
Joseph A. Simonds was called to give evi.
dence in relation to the Oil speculations in
which Booth was engaged. His investments
in Pennsylvania petroleum stocks amounted to
six thousand dollars, and witness was his agent.
ASSASSINATION PLOT DISCUSSED IN REBEL
CAMPS.
Samuel P. Jones, q blind man, testified that
he had lived in Richmond during the war, and
in going about among the camps heard rebel
officers. in common conversation, discuss the
question of assassinating Mr.. Lincoln. Witness
having been desired by the court to give the
particulars of such conversations, replied:
In general way have heard sums offered,
to be paid with confederate sum, for any per-
son or persons to 60 North and assassinate the
President.
Q. Do you remember anv occasion when any
such offers were made, or any amount named,
and BY what kind of officers? A. At this mo-
ment cannot tell you the particular names of
shoulder straps, sc.
q. Do you remember any OccasiOn-some
dinner occasion? A. can tell you this.
heard citizen make the remark once that he
would give from his private purse ten thousand
dollars in addition to the confederate amount
to have the President assassinated-to bring
him to Richmond, dead or alive, for proof
BOOTH ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE THE ACTOR CHEs.
TER IN THE PLOT.
s. K. Chester, an actor we'll known in New
York, was called as q witness. He testified
that Booth offered him money to engage in q
plot to capture the President but he refused to
have anything to do with it. This proposition
was first made by Booth in November last, the
day before Booth was to play in Julius Ca-
sar," at the Winter Garden. Chester testified
rs follows as to subsequent conversations with
Booth;
He asked me to walk up Fourth st. because
Broadway was crowded; he said Fourth street
was not so full of people as Broadway, and he
wanted to tell me about that speculation.
walked up there with him, and when we got
into an unfrequented portion of the street, he
stopped, and told me then that he was in
government, including the President, and take
them to Richmond. asked him if that was
what he wished me to 90 in. He said it was.
l told him could not do it, that it was an i'm.
possibility; only to think of my family. He
said he had two or three thousand dollars that
he could leave them l still said could not do
it; he urged it, and talked with rue for, sup
still refused; he then told me that at least l
would not betray him, and said dare not he
said he could implicate me in the affair any
how; he said that the party were sworn to-
gether, and If l attempted to betray them /
would be hunted down through life, and then
talked some more about the affair; I cannot
remember it now, but stX urging me, saying
had better go in l told him no, babe him
good night and went home
Q. Did he indicate to you what part he
wished you to play in carrying out the conspir-
acy? A. Yes, sir.
Q. What did he say? A That was to
open the back door of the theatre at a given
signal.
Q. Did he indicate at what theatre this was
to occur? A. Yes; he told me Ford's Thea
tire; because 1t must be some one acquainted
or connected with the theatre who could take
part In it.
@. Fords Theatre in Washington? A. Yes,
sir.
Q. Did he urge you upon the ground that it
was an easy affair, and that you would have
very little to do? A. Yes, he said that; that
was all would have to do he said !; said the
thing was sure to succeed.
Q. What preparations did he say, if any, had
been made towards the conspiracy? A. He
told me that everything was in readiness ,that
it was sure to succeed, for there were parties
upon the other side ready to cooperate with
them.
In February and April other conversations
occurred, which are thus described:
Booth said that there was plenty of money in
the affair; that If I would do it I would never
want again so long as l lived; that would
never want for money. He said that the Presi-
dent and some of the heads of the government
come to the theatre very frequently during Mr..
Forests engagements / still urged him not
to mention the affair to me: to think of my
poor family. He said he would provide for
my going with him. still refused. He said
he would ruin me in the profession if did not
go. told him could not help that, and
begged him not to mention the affair to me-
When he found would not go he said he
honored my mother and respected my wife,
and he was sorry he had mentioned this affair
to me, and told me to make my mind easy, he
would trouble me about it no more. / then
returned him the money he sent me. he said
he would not allow me to do so but he was
YerV short of funda-a0 verv short that either