Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-06-16

4
in this matter; he was a cousin To Beale
who was hanged in New Y ork he added
that ii they could dispose OF Lincoln it would
be an easy matter TO dispose Of Mr.. John
son in some of his drunken reyelries that
| if they could dispose of the President, Vice,
President and Cabinet, and that if Mr. Sew
ard could be disposed Of it would satisfy the
| people North and that peace could be OBJ.
tanned that they had endeayored to bring
about war with England, but Mr.. Seward
through his energy and sagacity, had thwar-
ted their efforts, and for that reason they
wanted to get rid of him.
On the 9Th or 9th of April last, / met
Harper, who said they were going to the
States to kick up the damndest row, such
as had never been heard Of; he added that
| if / did not hear of the death of Old Abe,
the Vice President and Of Gen. Dix, in less
than ten days, | might put him down as a
damned fool that was on the 9th Of April
he mentioned the name of Booth as one OF
their friends there he said they had plenty
of friends in Washington, and that fifteen OF
twenty We're going. He had startedto go to
Washington as early as the Sth, together
with others i Communicated this fact on
the 10th OF April to justice Of the peace,
named Davidson, who, after the assasina-
nation, communicative it to the Government;
Harper returned to Canada after the assas-
slnation; | had a conversation with G. G..
Clay IN Toronto in February last; he spoke
OF the letter of Davis, which Sanders had
exhibited; he seemed TO understand the char
acter of the letter perfectly, and said he
thought the end would justify the means ;
Surratt was pointed out to me in Toronto
last February. [ think; | saw Booth there
two or three times, and sat at table with him
once, at the st Lawrence, with Sanders,
Scott and Steele; they were conversing with
Booth, and drinking wine with hima San
der,s expense | saw Harold in Canada,
in February
Richard Montgomery testified knew
Jacob Thompson, Clement G. Clay, whom
l have met in Canada number of times
since the summer Of 1864 up to this time
also, George n Sanders, J p Holcome.
Beverly Tucker, w. G. Cleary, Harrington,
Hicks, and others, under fictitious names.
Thompson had several names one was Car
son Clay was Holt and Lacy, and Tracy
Jacob Thompson SAID he had friends of the
Confederacy all over the Northern States,
willing to 90 any lengths, and that he could
at any time, have the tyrant Lincoln, and
any of his advisers, put out Of the way that
his friends would not consider it crime,
and that ii would be done for the cause Of
the CoDfederacy IN January, 1868, Thomp-
son SAID, at Montreal, that proposition had
been made to him to rid the world of the
tyrants, Lincoln, Stanton Grant, and some
others he knew the men who made it were
bold, daring men able to execute ANYTHING
they would undertake that he was in favor
Of the proposition, but deferred his answer
until he had consulted his Government at
Richmond that he was then only waiting
their approval He thought il would be a
blessing to the people, both North and South
to have them the tyrants) killed In the
Summer OF 1864 repeated what Mr.. Thomp-
son first told me, to &. G. Clay, who said
that he was really devoted to our cause, and
ready to 90 any lengths, to do anything un-
der the sun to save it. | have seen PAYNE.
the prisoner, number of times in Canada,
about the Falls, In the Summer of 1864.
and also at the Queens Hotel, at Toronto
Canada West, where ! conversed with hi1h.
| had an interview with Mr.. Thompson
several others had sought an interview while
| was closeted, and had been refused. On
leaving Thompson room, | saw Payne in
the passage way, near the door, with Glenn
ent {. Clay talking to him. Mr.. CLAY stop
ped me, and finished his conversation with
this man in an undertone. When he left
me, he said, ''wait for me; | will return. -
he soon came back and bade me goodbye.
and asked where he could see me after a
time. ! told him, and appointed meeting.
| spoke to this man Payne in Clay 5 absence
and asked him who he was He SAID "Oh
1 m Canadian which was to say, don't
wish YOU to ask me anything more. | men
tlone HIM to Clay when ! met him after a
time Clay asked, What did he say?'
| told him, and Clay answered, That so
he is Canadian, and laughed. He added
We trust him. Canadian" is an ex-
preston for their friends, and his conduct
was an indication that their intercourse was
Of a very confidential nature.
| have been in Canada since the assassi-
nation; few days after. | met Beverly
Tucker at Montreal. He said Mr. Lincoln
deserved his death long ago, that 1T was
a pity he did not die long ago, and that it
was too bad the boys had not been allowed to
go when they wanted TO- = He referred to
the men who Wele TO assaSsinate him.
had a conversation with VIM g. Cleary,
and told him what Mr. Thompson said in
January, He said that Booth was one of
the parties to whom Thompson had refer
red he said also that it was too bad, that
the whole work had not been done, referring
to the assassination Cleary, who was a
confident Of Mr. Thompson, told me So
Thompson said Cleary was very close
mouthed man. Cleary also said that they
had better look out, we have not done vet.
He remarked that they would never be con
quered; would never give up. He also said
that Booth had visited Thompson in the
Winter and in the Summer These parties
knew they were suspected of the assassina-
ton few days after, and were destroying a
great many papers, so they told me-
l acted as a Government detective in Can
ada, and assumed thename ofJames Thomp-
son, though | never registered it. but always
some other name. My whole object was to
serve the Government | saw this cipher
found among Booths effects in Mr.. Clay S
house, at st. Catherine in the summer Of
1864. l carried dispatches from Canada to
GordonsVllle, and received reply, which |
carried back. | came through Washington
each time, and delivered the dispatches to
the United States Government; received the
dispatch at GoTdonsYilIe from a man in the
Rebel State Department, from their Secre-
tary OF State; | carried this paper to Thomp-
son. All these persons, named Thompson,
Clay, Cleary, DC, represented themselves III
the service OF the Confederate Government. |
KeceIyed this dispatch in October last Clay
claimed to represent the War Department;
tney approved the burning OF our Northern !
cities, and they represented themselves as
having full powers from the Rebel Govern |
me4t to act, without referring their project |
to lRlchmond Thompson and Clay both |
sad SO; the attempt to burn New York City |
4 know they Wera f,,,,rasy rod IN and Vvan+ e, /