Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-10
GENERAL BUTLEHS MYSTERY.

Csneral Butler said some things on
Tuesday in his place in Congress, and on
his responsibility as q member of Con-
gress, which can scarcely fail to arouse
painfully the curiosity ofthe country, and
which demand some further explanation
at his hands, or from those who may be
supposed to have known, and knowing to
have concealed, the important facts of
which he has now for the first time given
the public Information.
We printed yesterday the press report
of General Buffers remarks. We have
now before us the full official report in
the Globe, probably revised by the
speaker, and of this we mean to make
brief analysis. AT the close of the speech,
General Butler said
am not now speaking of anything
which is mere heresay, but Of that sohish
knoio. / am speaking of that in which,
if speak wrongly, any gentleman of the
judiciary Committee who has had this
book before him can correct me.
What he thus enforces, as known to
himself and to other responsible men, is
this. We cut it from the Globe, only
omitting passages which interfere with
connected narrative:
When Booth was captured by the
force under Lieut. Colonel Conger there
was taken from his pocket diary like
the one | now hold in my hand. In
this diary Booth had set down, day by
day, his plans, his motives, his thoughts
and the execution of his plans. That
diary came into possession of the Gov.
- k,N oh k,f
the military commission. Although even
Booths tobacco pipe, spur and compass,
found in the same pocket with the diary,
were put in evidence, the diary was
not produced. That diary has been
before your committee on the Judiciary.
Let me say here, to exclude conclusions,
that do not obtain my evidence from
them. That diary, as now produced, has
eighteen pages cut out, the pages prior
TO the time when Abraham Lincoln was
massacred, although the edges yet show
they had all been written over.
There is still remaining in that
diary a most remarkable sentence, writ
ten apparently but few hours before
Booth died, give il from memory: /
have endeavored to cross the Potomac
FIVE times, but failed. l propose to re.
turn to Washington and give myself up,
and clear myself from this great crime. '"
This is Gen. Buffers story and we
remark that, though he referred to the
Judiciary Committee of the House as
knowing the truth of what he said, no
member of that committee rose TO refute
his assertions. 1t is a very strange story,
and we do not believe any American can
read it without asking the very same
questions which Gen. Butler asked
Was that diary whole when it came
into the hands of the Government If
it was good judgment on the part of the
gentlemen prosecuting the assassins Of
the President to put in evidence the
tobacco.pipe which was found in Booths
pocket, why was not the diary, in his
own handwriting, put in evidence,
wherein he himself had detailed the
particulars of that crime Who spoiia-
ted that bookf Who suppressed that
evidence2 Why was most a remarkable
piece of evidence, which was found on
the body Of the great conspirator, not
brought to the knowledge Of the public
mind
"How was Booth to clear himself by
going back to Washington, from the
great crime he had committed2 2 That
Booth thought he could do so appears
from what still remains; the other
eighteen pages are gene. We're they
gone when the book came into the
possession of the learned Judge Advo-
cater If they we're, why did he not il
quire when and where they went When
Lieutenant Colonel Conger gave il to
some one, why did he not inquire, Was
il whole then 2 When it went into the
hands of the next mau was it whole
thenf Whose was the knife that cut
out the leaves in a way that is plain to be
seen Of all menf
"How was Booth to clear himselfG
By disclosing his accompliees2 Who
are they2 Who spoliated the book
after it got into the hands Of the Gov.
srnment, if it was not spoliated before
Why was not Lieutenant Colonel Conger
allowed to state fully in regard to this
matter
"These are questions which must
pass through every ones mind as he
reads General Buffers statement; aud
they imply what his statement gives
color io-that justice has been defranded,
that the people have been hoodwinked,
that the foulest and most inexcusable
crime Of modern times has been hushed
up. that the evidences which, when il vas
yet fresh, would probably, IN the hands
Of acute and jealous men, have led 10
thorough exposure Of The conspiracy
against the heads Of our Government,
was concealed-for We don't hesitate 10
use the word which General Butler took
hack