Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-06-16

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was early in February.
Thompson did not say in April, when
these dispatches were delivered, that this
was the first approval they had received
of this plot from Richmond, but knew
of no others. l only inferred that that
was the first approval. Thompson said,
ln his conversation with me, that killing
tyrant In such a case was no murder,
and asked me if / had read letter call
ed killing, no Murder" addressed by
Titus to Oliver Cromwell. This was in
te6ruary. Mr.. Hamlin was also named
IN February as ena of the victims of this
scheme. In April, the person before
named were mentioned, but Mr. Hamlin
was omitted and Vice-President j Johnson
put in his place. [ ran the blockade from
Richmond. These commissions were all
blank but the signature; they were to be
given as cover, so that in case Of detec-
. ton, the parties employed could claim
that they were rebel soldiers, and qcOuld,
therefore, claim to be treated as prisoners
Of q0dr. 1t was understood that they
would be protected as such. Thompson
said If the men who were engaged in
this enterprise were detected and execu-
ted, the confederate government would
retallate; that it was no murder, or kill
ing. think Booth was specially COM
missioned for this purpose. / saw Booth
in Canada In the latter part of October,
with Sanders, at Mr.. Thompson's, at the
st. Lawrence Hall, where he was strut
ting about, dissipating and playing bill
iards. [ have heard these men talk OF
the burning of New York, and other
enterprises which they have under cop-
sideration now.
There was a proposition before the
agents of these rebels in Canada to de-
stroy the Croton Dam, by which the city
of New York is supplied with water. x
was supposed it would not only damage
manufactures, but distress the people
generally. Mr.. Thompson remarked that
there was plenty of force, and the city
would be destroyed by general conha-
grafton, and if they had thought of this
sooner, they might have saved a great
many necks. This was said few weeks
ago. Thompson, Sanders, Castleman and
Gen. Carroll were present. They had
arms concealed, and large number Of
men concealed, in Chicago-some eight
hundred-for the purpose of releasing
rebel prisoners there.
The DIR. Blackburn charged at Nassau
with importing yellow fever into this
country, IS the same person referred to
by me as intimate with Thompson, ia
Canada. I saw him in company with
him, G. N. Saunders, Louis Sanders,
Castleman. VIM G. Cleary, Porterfeld,
Capt. Magruder, and a number Of other
rebels of less note. Blackburn was rec
ognized there as the agent of the confed-
crate States, and so represented himself
In January last DR.. Blackburn employed
person named Cameron to accompany
him, for the purpose of introducing yell
low fever into the Northern cities, to-Wit
the cities of New York, Philadelphia,
and Washington. He went from Mont
real to Bermuda, about year ago last
fall, for the purpose of getting the cloth
ing infected with yellow fever. saw
him after his return, in Canada, and
heard Jacob Thompson and VIM. G.
Cleary say that they favored his scheme
and were much interested in it. This
was last January.
About the same time Il gCas 31TOposel55 10
destroy the CrOton Dam, Or. Blackburn
proposed to poison the TeserUOirs, and made
o. calculation of the amount Of poisonous
matter 1t a0ould require to in1pregnGte the
10Gter, so as to make an ordinary draWgh
poisonous and deadly. He had the ca
pacity of the reservoirs, and the amount
of water generally kept in them. Strych-
nine, arsenic, prussic acid, and number
of other things | do not remember were
named. Mr. Thompson feared it would
be impossible to collect so large a quanti-
ty of poisonous matter without creating
suspicion, and lending to detection
Thompson appreciated the enterprise and
discussed it freely. Mr. Cleary did the
same it was also spoken of by a Mr..
Montrose A. Pallen, of Mississippi, and by
a person who had been a medical purveyor
In the rebel army. John Cameron, who
lived in Montreal, told me that he was
offered large compensation. think Mr..
Thompson was the naoneyed agent for all
the other agents | think they all drew
on him for all the money they required
| know some of them did When Thomp-
- rrro,r11 he 1sGG Gor,1k 10 oo11ook -,
much poison, without detection, Pa len
and Others thought 1t could be managed IN
Europe Pallen is physician. / think
l have heard Hyams also mentioned in
connection with the pestilence importa
ton. I think he lived in Toronto. There
were other parties, in Montreal, that
Blackburn employed, or endeavored to
employ, but / do not remember their
names.
saw DR.. Stewart Robinson, a doctor of
divinity, residing In Toronto; he edited
paper in Kentucky. I have seen him with
Thompson and Blackburn, and he was
present when some of these schemes were
discussed he approved them He said
anything that could be done under hea-
ven would justify them under the circum-
stances. He appeared upon very intimate
terms with Blackburn and Thompson
Three or four days after the assassination
in Canada, with Porterfield, a Southern
rebel. now declared a British subject. by
the Canadian Parliament. | learned i'm
mediately afterward that Surratt was sus-
pected, was pursued, and had decamped.
l had knowledge that JEFF. Davis was
the head of these called confederate states,
was called its President, and had control
of its civil administration. General Car
roll was present when Surratt brought the
dispatches from Richmond, and when they
were read by Thompson, | believe there
were one or two others. General Carroll,
of Tennessee, then said he was more anx-
ious that Mr.. Johnson should be killed
than any one else. He said if the damn
ed prick -louse was not killed by somebody
he would kill himself He referred to
Vice President johnson. His expression
was a word of contempt for a tailor, il
means tailor's louise. Booth was known
in Canada by the nickname of pet"
think [ have heard Thomson so name
him, certainly Cleary. Kennedy, who
fired the city of New York, and was exc
cuted, was spoken of as having performed
that deed by authority of the rebel Gov
ernment, under the direction of Thomp-
son. This was communicated to me by
Thompson himself, or in conversation in
his presence. Thompson said Kennedy
deserved to be hanged, and he was devil