Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-07-19
corfess,op of Geo. 4. lfzerodt, enc Of the
iSSsSSiu ConSpjratOIy.

below, were given the authofiieo " !
Atzerodt but a short time before MS |
death.
{, a. Atzerodt was born in Prussia, in
1885; came to this country with his par
ents in 1914, and arrived at Baltimore, IN
which place he resideI with his family
for one year. when, with his parents he
moved to Westmoreland county, Va. his
father farmed and carried on his business,
that Of a black smith, at the Court House,
where he learned the painting, branch
He remained there until 1886, when he
went TO Washington, and worked Tor
Young, also, McDermOtt, well-knowr.
coach manufacturers In 1857, he Joined
his brother in the coach making business,
ut Port Tobacco This continued four
wears. when the firm was dissolved
After this he carried on painting in Port
Tobacco until after the fall when he met
J. Ii. Surratt, and n man named Hurhne
Surratt induced him to join in the con-
spiracy for abducting the President
Atzerodts knowledge of the man and
country in the vicinity of Port Tobacco,
and in fact of all the counties bordering
on the Potomac, gave the conspirators a
valuable assistance lie was well ac-
auainted with Harold, whom he was not
long in finding out and who was also en-
gagged in the conspiracy. Surratt went
several times to Port Tobacco and after
wards sent to Atzerodt to cone to Wash
in rton, where he wa. known to many. In
Port Tobacco he was looked upon Il
very weak minded man, and regarded as
icing a harmless, silly fellow Surratt
introduced Atzerodt to Booth, who Toasted
him and furnished him with horses, they
being hired in Surratts name, who APP
relrci to be the principal in the absence
of Booth.
The first meeting of all the conspirators
actually engaged, was at a saloon in Penn
sylvania avenue, called the Gatler At
this meeting. O'Laughlin, Arnold, Booth,
Snrratt, Harold and Atzerodt, were pres
emit The first attempt to abduct the Pres
idcnt, was to be on tie Seventh street
road. This was to be about the middle of
March, when they expected the President
to visit camp Harold left with buggy
with carbines, for the plan was to seize
the coach of the President, and Surratt
to Jump on the box and make for the Po-
tomac in the vicinity of Nargomey creek
where 4 boat was waiting with men to
carry over the party The boat was ca
pable Of carrying fifteen men and was a
large fiat bottomed batteau, painted lead
color, which had been brought for the pur-
pose BY Booth, from two men named
Browuer and Sweet This plan failed,
the President not coming rs they ex-
pccted
Harold went the next morning to
Washington All remained quiet some
time Booth went North. Arnold and
OLauchlin TO Baltimore Payne or Ward
to New York \ man named Howell was
about this time arrested. This alarmed
Surratt. and he left with Mrs Surratt for
the North This was about the lst of
April The next plan was to visit the
theatre on the ,.ight the President was
expected there. IL was arranged that
Surratt and Booth were u 90 to the Box
Arnold and o Laughlin and Payne were
to act some important part in getting him
out; Harold and AtZcrodt were to have
charge of the horses, and an actor was to
be secured to put out the gas. Booth re-
presented that the best assistant he had
was an actor in this plan. Bngsies and
horses were to be used \ rope, which
was prepared, was to be stretched across
| the road to impede the cavalry pursuit
1 The route at this lime was the same as
| before, except that they were to cross the
East Branch bridge. This affair failed
| and Booth, said it was all up, and spoke
of going to Richmond and opening n
theater, and promised Atzerodt employ
ment in some capacity
Atzerodt was waiting for Booth TO ar
range his going to Richmond. When the
affair was renewed again he had taken
room at the kirkwood House Harold
called on him and left a pistol and coat in
the room, and told him Booth wished to
see him at the IIerndon House, TO which
place be repaired, in company with Har-
rold. This was six in the evening. We
there met Booth and Payne Booth told
AtzerOdt: d" lou must kill Johnson"
Atzerodt delAurred, when Booth replied
. Harold has more courage; he will do
It. 20 get your horses. What will be-
come IF you, anyhow, Atzerodt ?" Har-
rold went down on the 9th While to-
gether, Atzerodt said TO Harold we must
not disturb Mr. Johnson. Harold
laughed and wanted the kew to the room
1t was refused by Atzerodt who expressed
himself as fearful that harm might be
done Mr. Johnson. Harold left to 20 to
see Booth. | went to Oyster Bay. Har-
old came after him and said Booth wanted
to see him. Atzerodt did not return to
the klrkwood House that night Booth
told Atzerodt that Surratt was in the city.
Atzerodt did not see Booth after leaving
him at the IIeradon House, and he roamed
about the streets nearly all night and first
heard of the murder about half-past ten
while passing up the Avenue, the cavalry
rushing hv in pursuit He threw away
ms knife that night and parted with his
pistol the next morning to friend in
Georgetown. Atzerodt had nothing L.
say At any former meetings lie knew
nothing about the rope found with Span
gIer lie believed : pancIer innocent as
Tar as he knew Booth, when applied to
Tor money. would remark that he had
money in New lork and would yet some
~ one time, in the spring or late in the
winter. Mrs. Slater, Mrs Surratt, John
Surratt and Major Barren, formerly of the
rebel army. left Washington together -
They got horses from Howards Mrs
Surratt stopped ut Surrattyille The Others
went - the Potomac Major Barron re-
turned lie did not think Barron had
anything to DO with the conspiracy One
of Booth plans to obtain an entrance to
the Secretary Of States house was an in
yenti"n. which if successful, would have
involved others In his foul acts He had