The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-08-23

exclusively on the recommendation of
prominent Radicals, to the end that,
Whe nj should come to expose the afro
ciOuS plot of Ashley and company, the
Radicals would not be in position or
able to charge me with doing so in con-
siderdtiOn of pardon; or that the
President had pardoned me on condi-
tion of my duplicating his enemies in
an infamous conspiracy.
From the moment | was forced into
association with these traitors and con-
SpiratOrs, | determined, as soon as |
should be released, to place in the
hands of your EXcellency or lay before
the public Il complete exposure oftheir
diabOlical designs and most astounding
proceedings. This, | believe, would
be my sacred duty; for, although ac-
cused of crime, | am not so destitute Of
honor and patriotism as not to feel some
interest in and obligations to my coun-
try.
The interest these persons have felt,
and the effort they have made (which
would have succeeded ere this but for
the blunder of one of them, and which
they still propose to make for my re-
lease +. g., | know were prompted by
lIlC lllOSU SCIlioIl lllOilNCS, III OIuCI ClIclO
they might use me as an instrument to
accomplish their devilish designs and
| shall not, therefore, be guilty Of in
gratitude in abandoning and exposing
their villainy.
My wife has, [ believe, explained to
you how Ashley, first through his man
Friday, Matchett, and afterwards in
person, managed to make known to
me his wishes, aims and purposes, and
enlist me, as for as a forced promise
would go, in his enterprise. | shall,
therefore, only advert here to some
things which have been said and done
by the conspirators> which are suscept-
bic of being proved against them by
the most irrefutable evidence.
After obtaining my promises to rem
der all the assistance i'll my power, Mr..
Ashley explained to me the kind Of
evidence he thought it most advisable
to present against you. He thought
it would be very plausible to prove:
First. That Booth had on several oc-
casiOns paid you familiar visits at the
KirkWood. This, it was hoped, |
might be able to induce some Of the old
female servants to testify to. If this
could not be done, then it should be
proved by some of my friends who
happened to be at the house at the
time, who knew Booth, &C., and saw
the visit
Secondly. That your correspondence
with Booth, which should be shown by
one or more persons who had taken
notes from Booth to you, and your re-
plies contents unknOWn) thereto to
Booth. The witnesses shOnld be per-
sons who would profess to have been
intimate with D0OttI, 9nd TO haVe been
enlisted by him to take part in the as
sassination.
Thirdly. That the placing Of Atzerott,
with weapons, at the KirkWOod House,
was only a sham-althOugh Atzerott
was not aware of ito make it appear
that you were intended asa victim, and
thus distract all suspicion from you of
cOnniVing at Lincoln's murder. These,
also it was suggested, could testify that
they had been induced to enter into the
conspiracy with Booth, and had per-
formed a part of organizing it, etc.,
which persons, it was to be understood
were induced to testify under an assur-
ance from the government that they
should not be presented for any part
they had taken.
The resolution under which Buffers
committee was appointed, it will be
observed, provides for the protection
of such perSOnS-WhO are furnished
with IA good excuse for not coming for
ward before-by offering immunity to
all who were connected with the con-
Spiracy who will now come forward
and disclose their knowledge on the
subject.
FOurthly. That Booth, Just after the
4th March, stated to intimate friends i'll
n. York, WhOmhe endeavOred to enlist
in the conspiracy, that he was acting
with the knowledge Of the Nice-PreS-
ident, and that it had been arranged to
kill Lincoln on the day of the inaugur-
alton, which would account for Mr..
JOhnsOn'S strange conduct on that Oc-
casion, which had provoked so much
comment in the press. That you eX
and had taken several pOtatiOns to COM
pose and nerve you for the event and
that you were not so much intoxicated
as nervous and excited.
| feel much delicacy in referring to
such topics, but | cannot inform you OF
your enemies plans and projects with
out being plain, and | am obliged to
write in too great haste to be choice III
my language.
| assured Ashley that should have
no difficulty in finding persons OF good
standing and moral character to prove
these matters, and it was agreed that l.
would do SO as soon as released. n.
f. G.
As an earnest that | possessed the
ability to do what | engaged, and In
order to satisfy some Oftheir party who
doubted the existence of evidence to
connect you with the assassination con-
spiracy, Ashley and Butler desired
and pressed me to send for two or three
persons of whose intelligence and
qualifications they could satisfy them
selves, and whom they could parade be-
fore their increduIous friends.
| consented, and Ashley supplied the
facts it was desired they should know
and repeat, and | forwarded them to
trusty friend, with secret eXplana-
tions for him to procure two other
friends to commit to memory the
statements enclosed to him, and when
sent for to come here and repeat them
(but not under OATH to such persons as
i should indicate.
After allowing my friends sufficient
time to learn their parts, the Rev. Mr..
Matchet OBJ was sent for then, in order
that i, might be said that he, agent for
the impeachers, had found the wit
nesses, and that their character for
veracity was above suspicion.
On arriving here these persons were
inspected by Ashley and Butler, and
were found to possess the requisite
qualifications as to intelligence and