Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-08-02


Gently the enemy had committed the most barba-
rous outrages and shown an utter disregard of the
laws of nations and the laws of war; and that he
now felt not only justifiabe in adopting the mea-
sure proposed, but that he would prove recreant
to his duty to rel ject any scheme, however harsh,
calculated to lay the enemy at his feet, or bring
him to honorable terms of peace that he (Davis)
further observed that since this subject was first
mcoted before him he had become fully convinced
| on mature study and reflection that the President
of the United State being the commander-in- chief
of the army, it would be proper and as fully in
accordance with the laws of war to send small
party within the enemys lines to capture or kill
him to do the same by any of his officers or SOL
diers ; that he then complimented the plan
submitted by Lamar and expressed the opinion
that if it resolutey acted upon success would
be certain that reference then made on
the subject of money to carry out the
plot when Davis said he would arrange that matter
with General Winder, who would furnish from
time to time such as might be required that
deponent and Lamar then left, and on the after
noon OF the same day received considerable sum
of money from Winder and entered on the desrer-
ate business that they engaged number of reck-
less, but reliable men, who were to work them
selves through the federal lines and take quarters
in Baltimore and Georgetown and wait until called
upon for action that several days after said in
terview with Davis one of the parties associated
with deponent and Lamar named Mccullough,
was arrested on the charge of betraying their Sc
cret that deponent and Lamar and another asso-
clate named Powell supposed to be Payne, who
was executed with Mrs. Surratt) called at General
Winders Office to learn the facts of the case, and
were there informed that the General had just
gone to Davis quarters in regard to McCullough's
case, whereupOn depOnent and his companion also
repaired to Davis office that they found Winder
there with the detective who had arrested McCul-
lough, and that said detective was in the act of
explaining to Davis the circumstances under which
he made the arrest that Davis then said to depo-
nent and Lamar that it was to be regretted that
bod o+1
enterprise person of McCullough's habits, and
that he hoped they had confded in no more of
the same character that the blockade runners
who had heard McCullough's boasts might be yam
kee spies, many of their class were, and that he
feared the project mi ght be communicated to the
authorities at Nashington and frustrated; that the
utmost haste must be used in putting the scheme
into execution or failure would be certain that
the blow should be struck at once that General
Winder, who was in rage over the conduct of
Mccullough, added, eyes, you must strike at
once bring the id baboon here, dead or alive
as soon as possible if you can't fetch his whole
carcass bring his id scalp !" that Davis, with a
smile, interrupted Winder, observing, "Gentle-
men, you will not forget the directions have al
ready given you, prefer that you should, if pos
sible, capture MI. Lincoln and bring him within
our lines without injuring hair of his head but
If you find 1t impossible to capture him, it is your
duty to destroy him if you can reach him, the
you would any officer or soldier in his SER
vice and If you succeed in making him prisoner
and find there is danger of his being recaptured
you will take that he does not return to Wash
ington alive: but let me again adjure you to lose
no time; If q knowledge of your intentions reach
Washington your labors will be in vain and the
surrender of Vicksburg to Grant, and the defeat
of Lee in Pennsylvania who is being driven back
our capital, render it necessary, perhaps the
only means of saving the country, that the enter
prise should be carried out at once 90 on, and if
successful you will be hailed the savors of your
country, and receive unbounded reward )" that
deponents then said they were prepared to strike
as soon as they could get North with the balance
of their party, who already engaged and
eager to start, but that they should require more
money for operations when they should get to
Washington; Davis replied, Yes that is all right
that the General referring to Winder) would see
to that )" that on the same day Winder furnished
them with large sum of money, and deponent,
Lamar, Powell and others, started for Washing
ton that arriving North they found that many
of the men forwarded by them had been arrested
and confined in the Old Capitol and other prisons,
on suspicion of being spies and that they were
obliged to abandon their undertaking.
RoGUs EVIDENCE OF F. B. WRIGHT
The witness, Wright in his affidavit for the B1l-
reau of Military Justice, deposed that he was ma
tive of Nova Scotia that in 1862 he went to the
Confederacy, running the blockade into Whining
ton ; that for time he engaged in specula-
ting in provisions and military stores, but that in
the beginning of 1868 he was employed by Gene |
ral Winder, in Richmond as detective that in
July, 1868, he learned from Winder that there
was project on foot to kidnap, and, if necessary
to kill, President Lincoln that evening short
ly afterward, while passing q public house, he |
heard boisterous talking within, and on entering
found man named Mccullough, half inebriated |
boasting to some blockade runners that within a
month the old rail splitter would be in Richmond |
cutting wood to cook the Yankee officers rations
ut the Libby that knowing Mccullough was be-
traying important secret of the government, ,
he as was his duty, arrested and confined him in
Castle Thunder that on the following day he was
informed by Winder that the President was cx-
ceedingly annoyed at the arrest of Mccullough, /
as his father, very wealthy and influential man
had interceded with the President in his behalf /
and had represented that his son had been arrest
ed maliciously and without cause, and that he .
(Winder) wished deponent to accompany him to
Davis and explain precisely what he had heard
Say and all the circumstances under
which he had made the arrest that thereupon
deponent and Winder called upon Davis, when
deponent, at his Excellency's request made the
desired explanation that while they were talking
on the subject three men named Patten, Lamar
and Powell called in relation to the arrest of .
The deposition then proceeds to recount what
was said and occurred by and between Davis and
the other parties referred to, and cOrroborates in
almost the precise language the account given in
Patterns affidavit of his second interview with the
rebel chief
Thus it will be seen that the aim of the conspi-
rators was to fasten upon Davis murderous de-
sign far back 1863, by making him party to
plot at that time for the killing of the President
fact which, if established it was supposed would
taken in connection with the testimony the per-
fdious Campbell and Snevel expected to
give, leave doubt in the minds of court of the
guilt of the accused. The affair SO ingenious
y contrived that it would be impossible to contra
dict these Witnesses Winder and Powell Paynel
nj only