The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-05-25

Sanders. - =
John Deveny of Washington. testi.
fed that be cav Booth talking with
Sanders. las fall in the St. Lawrence
Hoteli Montreal, and saw them take a
drink. together at pewley's saloon
HI He had seen Clay, Aolcomb and
thompson ia Montreal. and thought
lie had seen Booth in conversation with
them, but was not positive. He was
sure, however, that he had seen him
talking TO Sanders. He himsolf spoke
to Booth. and asked him if he was in
Canada as an actor He said no. but
that he was on pleasure trip: Ho
next saw Booth in Washington ON the
l4th of April, about p. NJ, near the
hlrkwood House. lie asked Booth
~ he was going to play again. Booth
replied that he was not, for he was in
the oil business Booth shortly after
rode down the street on q bay horse.
Witness was at Ford's Theatre that
night, and SAW the assassin leap from
the Presidents box. He recognized
him rs Booth.
Lieutenant. General Grant was the
next witness called. He related how
he met Jacob Thompson at Alilliken's
Bend in 1868. under u flag OF trucc.-
Thompson said be had declined mil
ita"y position in the rebel service, and
had accepted civil commission as In
spector- General, with tho rank Of
LienteHant Colonel. The General was
Cross examined BY the counsel for tho
defense as 10 the limits of the Military
Department Of Washington, and as to
the operation Of the civil courts in the
department butnotbing of importance
was elected. Joseph Ii. Simonds,
Booth : business agent. testified in re-
gard to Booths oil speculations that
he owned 1 third undivided interest
at frst-in 4 lease Of three and a half
acres on the A lcghany river, near
Franklin. The land interest cost s4,-
go. on which lie paid $4,000. He al
bought for 81 eco an interest in an
association owning an undivided thir-
t enth Of Il tract he never realized
Il dollar from these inyestments-they
were in iact.s total loss He convey
ed all bis interest in these purchases,
on the 2Tih Of September, 1854, 10 his
brother Junius Booth and TO the wit
ness, nomina!ly with, but in reality
without compensation.
Samuel p Jones, blind man, who
resided in Nicbmond during the war,
testified tLat it was common subject
Of conversation among the rebel off
GERS in camp that Il reward would be
paid to any one who would go North
and ass;.ssiuato the President
They were cautious when any per-
son came near not regarded as sin
ccTcly zeaIons for the Confederate
cause, and wonld generally change the
subject. lie had heard a citizen make
the remark that he would give SIG, 900
from his private purse, in addition to
the tonicderatc amount, TO have the
President as.i,s>inated-t0 bring him
TO Richmond, dead or alive, for proof.
The wilnc.gs. On being asked what was
meant by confederate amount" said
he only knew that it was a common
phrase He judged that there was any
amount Of trashy paper offered by tho
rebel authorities to assassinate any
or even citizen, who was hin
derlng their cause. lie knew Of q
Kentuckian named Webster, who was
at Richmond ostcnsibly to buy goods,
also was arrested and hanged as spy,
and possibly the phrase might have
been used in connection with his death.
He had frequently heard rebel officers,
while sitting in their tents, say they
should like to see Lincolns head bro't
there dead or alive and they should
think it could be done. Witness had
also heard such things stated as they
had certain persons undertaking it.
Samuel X Chester, an actor, tcsti-
fed that he had known Booth for
several years; that in New York City
last November, alter some preliminary
and rather cvasiye conversation, about
a great speculation that Booth wanted
witness to 20 into, the former said
there was Il large conspiracy to cap
ture the heads Of the Government, in
cluding the Pres deaf, and take them
TO Richmond. lle invited the witness
10 join in il, promising him two or
three thousand dollars Witness re-
fused. but Booth continued to urge
him tor twenty or thirty minutes
Witness still refused. Booth then said
that at least he would not bctray him,
adding that he dare not do so; the par
ty were banded together and could
hunt down any one who would reveal
the.r designs. The part he wanted
Chester to perform was to open the
back door Of Fords Theatre, because
some one must do that who was ac-
quaiutcd with the bEilding He said
everything WAS in readiness; said be-
tween fifty and ono hundred persons
were engaged in the conspiracy
Booth never mentioned any conncc-
ton OF the rebel Government with the
plan. After this conversation, as late
as last January, he wrote to witness
arging him to join him and sending
$50 to pay his expenses to Washing
ton. Witness still refused. He had
burned all the letters he had received
from Booth. Booth again camo to
New York and continued his entrea-
ties. He told witness that he had tried
to secure tho services of another man
named John Matthews, but that Mat
thcws was very much frightened and
rnrnsnd. On the FridaY previous TO