Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-06-12
THE KNOXVILLE WIG.
Knoxville, Tenn, June 70. 1867.
THE ASSASSINATION.
The Investigation by the Judiciary
Committee.


Gazette writes under date Of the 2sth Of May:
The Investigations which has been in progress fol
year past have reached point where they oper
DID some new and startling chapters in the story Of
that great mystery-the assassination.
More than enc hundred people are in this thing,
were the words Of one Of the couspirator as he
swung IF into eternity--words thus sent back from
the confines Of another world, if 20 urge upon the
living full solution Of the tragedy
The ASSASSINATION PLANNED FOR INAUGURATIoE
DAY.
Spies in the Lodges Of the Knights Of the Golden
Circle bad revealed the fact that there plot to
murder Mr.. Lincoln during the Inauguration exer
cises Of March, s65. Every precaution was taken
% hsfe the conspirstors, though no clue had been
obtained az 70 who these we're.
Wilkes Booth WAS in Washington at the time.
Having known Mr. johnson IN Nashville he called
upon him the day after Mr.. Johnson's arrival here
During the exercises at the Capitol Booth was in the
building
So certain were the Authorities that an attempt to
kill Mr. Lincoln would be made, taat every avenu"
IN the building BY which IN assassin could escape
wss carefully gtHded. Booths own observation Of
the sustion may have deferred him from the act il
contemplation.
From November 9Th 70 February 18th, Booth was
in Washington times the periods of his alb
seHce varying from two 70 ten days each. On the
Isl Of March, 1865 be arrived again, aud upon tn
three succeeding days was called at eight O'Clock A.
NJ 0y ms own express orders.
BOOTH AT NASHVILLE
After the Republican party had nominated its
ticket, Booth passed some time IN Nashville. There
be vas well acquainted With Mr. johnson Both
bs1 misresses there and these mistresses were said
70 be sisters. Booth was also well acquainted with
Mr. Bro~ning, the Private Secretary of the Vice
President.
BETRAYIEe THE PARTY.
There Is abundant evidence that from the frst it
II
Toe Republican party. Prominent rebels seem t.,
have understood his terrific ansthemas against trai.
tors and treason rs simple blinds. Certainly sab
ilont events furnish no other satisfactory expla-
nation.
Al Cincinnati, when on his way to Washington.
be expressed himself decidedly that if the country
was 10 bs saved at all IL could only be saved through
Che reorganization Of the Democratic partv
A lew weeks before the ASS nation, he declared
With Hn oath TO friend, that if he was ever Presi-
dent be would crush out all Yankee influence from
The Government. Soon after the assassination meet
ag ihe same friend, he said /" Do you recnllect
what told you when We met lRst7 Well. I am
President now, and this Yankee influence shall b.
crushed ont" These remarks are pertinent as show
ing that from the first the purpose betray BIZ
party IL Is by no means all the evidence upon
which this charge rests
BROWNING AND ELECTION RETURNS.
The private secretary above referred to was talk
election we're coming in. Enough had been receiv-
90 TO make the result turn on Indiana. When the
dispatch came showing that the State had gone Re
loAcan, Brownngs exclamation was swell, old
Ll0on IS good for second term, and if be dies, we
have goJ lHst as good man TO put in bis place"
On several DIVERSIONS when intoxicated after his
arrival IN Washington, and when discussing politi-
cal matters, he exclaimed, Well, wait till Mr..
johnson is President he viii show you Yankee alb
o.tonists how TO mansge things Browning and
booth saw each other frequently, and were intimate.
BOOTHS coMMUEIcATIoN WITH RICHMOND.
Booth made several trips between Washington
ana Canada. On one OCCASION while in this city, he
received package of documents from Canada One
gI These was for Mr.. johnson; this Booth delivered
subsequently, no received answer 20 it, and this
s SAID be dispatched 10 Richmond and its char
s',er u known, has not been allowed TO transpire
MOVEMENTS AROUND THE KIRKwooD HOUSE.
IL VII be remembered that the Vice President
'oafdtd AZ the Kirkwood House, and that Atzerott
VINO 10 was alleged was TO kill him, had room at
i5e same hotel
Early in the evening of April l4th, Mr. johnson
oD' ""Td to the office that he could not be by
-.y one Tor any purpose whatever. So particular
vas 10 about The matter afterwards to go himself
70 see whether the order was fully understood. In
card
IL rs now said Mr.. johnson saw Booth after that
cara was put in his box. The pistol and knife found
D Al1srotts bed were pat there by Booth. accord
ing 10 statement made by Atzerott while being
saNel 10 the gHllOws Atzsr0tts connection with
toe conspiracy seems to be reduced nearly 10 Whist
ne declared II 10 be in his confession, namely That
-e lad been party TO the Arst project Of kidnsp-
ping out bad positively refused 10 have anything 10
~ WIN the subsequent PLOT to asssssinate and that
1' uad no desire 70 XIII ME johnson, and further
tlai be could have done after Booth had shot Mr.
Lnc1ln ss be Mr.. JOHNSON on one OF two oo
ea'lcns later III the evening. He was probably
party so far 70 aid IN creating the impression that
i was part Of the plan 70 kill the Vice President
AT THE ARSENAL
A strange thing connected with the imprisonment
Of The conspirators at the Arsenal that the at
'endants were most strictly charged 10 hold no COM
municston whatever with the prisoners and espe-
c'ally TO ask no questions. One Of the attendants
says The caution wss in the form of an oath, and
mat copies OF It are in existence and will be pro-
ouced Payne it is said, made a written confession,
bul no Traces Of his paper can now be found. Al!
tue prisoners expected be reprieved up the very
moment they were swung of, and when the order
W execution was taken in 70 be read, some Of them
80 'n great geei supposing the reprieve hsd GER
my come There are grave reasons forsupposing
-A' some OF the prisoners believed reprieye and
-NA' pardon to be elements in the plot.
WIDE SPREAD KNowLEDE OF THE PLOT.
uae oil the most singular matters brought 10 light
~ Tue investigation, is the fact that not only was
cue poi known IN distant parts Of the country but
~ wa a'sNu no we're TO be the victims.
mere Pc mucn evidence going 20 substantiste the
s4pposiuon that there was no Intention &c 90,
Mr.. Johnsons life and that All the ,,T,,-o.s
around the Kirkwood House were simnlv - -
mislesd The following will suffice Specimens If
this kind Of evidence: u
At town ia Minnesota, at Eve O'clock in Al,
afternoon Of April l4th, citizen stated 10 III,
friend that Mr.. Lincoln and Secretary Seward hud
been HssassiE,ated. At ~ o'clock noon of Aprl
l4te at another town In Minnesota several citizens
came 10 the Postmaster % inquire whether any news
had been received Of the assassination OF M Lin
coin and Secretary Seward. In neither CAGE was the