North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-05-10
The Assassination Plos-.D.alals OF ,ver.
ly Tucker and VIM. w. Cleary
WHAT AEvERLY TUCKER SAYS.


ly Tucker and VIM. w. Cleary
WHAT AEvERLY TUCKER SAYS.
MONTREAL, May A.
To the People of Canada:
have this me meHt been the proclamation
OF Andrew johnson, acting President of the
United States. stating that sit appea rs from
evidence in the Bureau of Military Justice
that the atrocoius murder of the late Presi-
dent, Abraham Lincoln and the attempted
assassination OF the Hon. VIM. Fl. Seward,
Secre tary of State was melted, conceited and
procured by and between Jefferso n Davis
late OF Richmond Virginia, and Jacob Thomp
son, Clemen G. Clay, Beverly Tucker, Geo
N. Sanders, William c. Cleary and others,
rebels and traitors against the Government
of the United States, harbored in Canada,
and offering rewards for the apprehension of
the accused, twenty y.five Thousand dollars
oeiDg the sum offered for my arrest. 1t is
scarcely possible that such proclamation
would have been issued unless some such
evidence had beed adduced. What such "ev-
idence" is am totally at loss to conjecture.
am compelled therefore, to content mYsel
with the declaration that whosoever hath
sworn to any thing authorizing in the slight.
est suspicion of my having 'incited, concert
ed or procured" or of any knowledge what
ever by me of the attacks made on the Pres.
ident and Mr.. Seward OF any acts OF projects
of kindred character, or of any plan to KID
nap or capture either Of them, or any of the
Federal authorities, hath blackened his soul
with di abolical perjury. Until information
reached here Of the attack on President Lin.
coin by Mr.. j. Wilkes Booth, and that on
Mr.. Seward by some other person, did not
know that any such person as j. Wilkes
Booth existed. had never heard OF him
before. | do not know any of the persons
in arrest at Washington, and never heard of
them till read the notice in the United
States newspapers of their apprehension. |
have within day or two made inquiry and
ascertained that Mr. Booth left ST. Lawrence
Hall, Montreal, on the 9th Of October last
The officers Of the Ontario Bank state that
on that day he purchased of The bank bill
on England for Eel Is Id, for which he
paid in American gold, and at the same made
deposit Of three hundred end fifty five dol
lars Canada money, which yet remains t
his credit: and that he stated he intended
to run the blockade. Whether he made
such attempt or went into the United States
by railroad have not ascertained.
The clerks in the St. Lawrence Hall inform
me that he arrived at the house on the 18th
OF October, being here nire days. | was no,
in Montreal during tnat time. My associa
ton with the other gentleman named in this
atrocious proclamation has been intimate for
years, and admit it would be strange if they
had any know ledge Of Mr.. Booths purpose,
that should be in utter ignorance of it.
The whole business is. in my deliberate
Judgment an attempt to get up pretext for
a difficulty with the British province, and
the consideration that since / have been here
I have received nothing but hospitality and
kindness from you, impels me to make this
brief address to aid in the dissipation Of such
pretext, have tn-day appealed to Presi-
dent Johnson and Secretary Stanton to allow
me copies of the alleged "evidence" with
respect to myself, to give me chance ia dis
prove it,
I will add that will go before any magis-
trate here and verify the above by my sol
emn oath, and that will agree that the
United States Consul, or any respectable
counsel that he may designate, shall cross
examine ne in relation to the alleged "ev
dence," or any other and all acts of nv life.
Beverly TUCKER.
STATEMENT OF WILLIAM w. CLEARY.
From the Toronto Leader. May 5.)
To the Ed itor OF the Leader:
SIR-The reward Vi $4,000 offered for
nay capture by President Johnson, imperi-
lively de emands that should take the first
opportunity and the most public means of
referring to the proclamation which brands
me before the world as a participator in the
murder of the late President of the United
States. The other gentlemen whose names
are associated with mine | leave to speak for
themselves.
In this proclamation I am referred to as
the clerk of Mr.. c. G: Clay. I deny mos,
emphaticaIIy that ever occupied such po-
stitn.
As to the assassination of Mr.. Lincoln. |
declare befnre high Heaven aud the whole
world that knew nothing of it until it had
been committed and announced in the news
papers. There is not a particle of truth in
the statement that "concocted and ircited"
the assassination. The announcement of the
great crime came upon me, as it no doubt
did upon thousands of others who read it in
the papers on the day succeeding Good Fri
day, like clap Of thunder, and shared, with
all my heart, in the general regret that so