The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-24
Adventures of an Alleged COn-
spiTatOT.

spITatOT.
We noticed yesterday the alleged
confession of Sterling King (now in
prison in this city on a charge Of
felony of being n Of the conspira
tors that operated IN Washington city
last spring, causing the death of Presi-
dent Lincoln and very nearly producing
that of Hon. VIM H. Seward, Secretary
Of State King, it is said, cOntesses TO
having participated in the muraerous
attack upon Secretary Seward
We chance to be personally cognizant
of the antecedents of this pretended
conspirator lie claims 10 be a native
Of Virginia, and states that he was a
cousin of Uorato King, formerly Assist
ant Postmaster General His first sp-
pearauce i'm Kentucky was at CsseyvIlle,
lust prior 10 the war, where he pre-
tended to be a man Of means, and
contemplated the purchase OF large
property, including the wharf boat lie
successfully diddled the landlord, and
came near doing IA ieweler out OF
several watches. But one dark night
he left the hotel to go to a drug store
after medicine, and left on an upward
bound boat
In 1868 he figured as a lawyer in Gin
cinnati, and also obtained permits for
the shipment of goods to Memphis
While thus engaged he was arrested
by the military authorities, charged
with uttering disloyal sentiments, tried
by court martial, and sentenced to six
mouths labor on the Notifications back
of Covington, with a ball and chain at
tached to his leg. For some reason the
sentence was not carried into effect,
and in September he escaped from Nc
Lean Barracks, in company with Oliver
A Patton, of Covington. The two
bribed the guard at the front entrance,
descended by ropes to the ground, and
then in the darkness OF early morning
| paid the sentinel (who could not read }
in Confederate money.
After this sharp exploit they pro
ceeded through Kentucky, and near
| Paris captured a horse, buggy and "A
small negro from a gentleman Of Bour
bon county. With these be drove
through 10 the Confederate lines in
| Southwestern Virginia Subsequently
he returned 10 Cincinnati and was re
taken by the Government detectives
in house on Sixth street He was al
most Immediately heavily ironed and
taken 10 the Notifications TO work out
ms sentence But the fellow was ire
pressible. aud timing of hard labor and
poor ratious hs determined 10 escape
While doing 20 IA watChiGl sentinel se
verely bsyoneted King lie was then
removed TO the Government hospital
in Covington, whence he managed to
escape while conyslcsciug.
His next turuup was in Abingdon.
Virginia, where he was sporting the
uniform of n Confederate Colonel
gen. John H. Morgan arrested him as q
spy he was tried by a court martial
and sentended to be hung. But 10 THIS
case, as in so many others, good luck
attended him, and he managed to es-
cape 10 the Federal lines
We know nothing Of Kings opera
tons subsequent to his escape from
Virginia, until he was lodged in our
city jail on the charge Of stealing
horses and buEg,es
The idea Of his cOnfessiuC 10 com
plicity IN the assassination plot al
Washington Is so strange, that we ina
CINE Il 10 be a mere sub.erlure 10 cs-
cape present criminal prosecution for
ielonlous practices We are the further
persuaded Of this from King pencaaut
for drawing the long bow. BE is a
miniature Munchausen, of a highly
imaginative temperament and par
u~culaTly fond of notoriety. One of his
prominent characteristics in prison
was uarrating his interviews with
prominent personsgcs, especially those
be had with Lady Byron To persons
at ali acquainted with either politics or [
Literature, these always bore upon their
face the stamp OF ahsurGity.
King Is, however mar of decided
nerve, desperate. determined. cool and
uuhlnohlog n his purposes That be
wss q consplrator, however. or the az
tempted assassin of Secretary Seward I
is a story gotten up for the marines
DESPERATE tgrEsrc ar srI,lBr-ENg
orEss As AbIsA AsU aaASlf s.rrps
10 uE,rH
L yesterday morning. shout four o'clock
prisoners IN the cell OF the city prison.
that IN which Sterling King
confined, heard groaning from The
direction Of his apartment They I'M
mediately gave the alarm. and il was
soon discovered that King had made a
most desperate effort TO XIII himself
With small knife he penetrated the
orachial artery in his arm Just above
he elbow, whence howed a current of
blood 70 the amount Of fully & gallon