The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-05-22
rg wFEnIIEa nTIIIaNNoER FRIDAY NoRN1a. 1858


sassin on board ns soon as the deed was
done, and convey him to southern
port, where he would have been re-
ceived with acclamations and houored
as hero. But who should do the
bloody deed7 1t was feared by some
that Hill lacked the nerve and GOODNESS.
To determine this question meeting
of the conspirators was held the night
of the 18th of February. Some twenty
persons were collected, each of whom
had taken an oath of secrecy; and also
sworn; If designated, that he would
take the life of the President elect. 1t
was arranged that ballots should be
prepared and placed in hat, and that
the person who drew red ballot should
be the assassin"
. Mr.. Pinkerton found it hard to per-
suade Mr.. Lincoln of the existence Of
the conspiracy. The writer says:
awhile Mr.. Judd detailed the cir
cumstancs of the conspiracy, Mr.. Lin
coin listened very attentively, but did
not say a word, nor did his counte-
nance, which closely watched, show
any emotion. he was thoughtful, Sc
rious, but decidedly firm.
"Pinkerton then himself went over
all the ground detailing to Mr.. Lincoln
all the facts connected with Fernando
ma, Hill, and others, the condition OF
popular feeling, and the plans of the
| assassins: also the fact that Kane, Chief
of Police, declared that he would give
him no police escort BE told him
there were perhaps ten or fifteen des-
peradoes-wild, enthusiastic young
men-who had been wrought up to
pitch of fanaticism, in which they re-
ally believed they would be patriots
and martyrs in taking his life, even at
the cost of their own; that they mad
bound themselves by oaths to assassi-
nate him; that a vast, excited croWo
/ would meet him at the depot OF the
| Northern Central Railroad, hight
would be got up in the crowd, and this
would be the signal for the attack on
his person, and In the melee a dozen
| of desperate men, armed with reviewers
and dirks, each sworn to take his lie,
would be put upon his path, and that
he, TMr. Hinkertonl, felt a moral con-
Calvert street depot to the Washing
ton depot, a mile and half. in
an open carriage alive. Both Judd
and Pinkerton pressed these
| and other corroborating facts
upon him with all the power which
they possessed. He remained silent q
few moments, and it was suggested
that he should change the programme,
and take the night train for Washing
ton that very night. Mr.. Judd said to
him: these proofs cannot be now
made public, as the publication OF the
facts would involve the lives OF several
of Pinkerton's force, and, among
others, the life of Webster, serving in
rebel company under drill at Perry
mans, in Maryland Some other con-
yersation was held between him and
Mr.. Judd, in regard to the construction
which would be placed upon his con-
duct if he changed the programme and
went directly to Washington. Mr..
Judd then asked: will you, upon any
statement which can be made, consent
to leave for Washington on to.night,s
tramp Mr.. Lincoln promptly replied:
NO, cannot consent to do this. shall
| hoist the flag on Independence Hall to-
morrow morning (WashinGton's birth
day., and go to Harrisburg tomorrow
| and meet the Legislature OF Pennsyl-
yania: and then 1 shall have fulfilled
all my engagements. After this. II you
| (Judd), and youI Allan (FlnkeFtohl !
| think there Is positive danger In my
attempting to go through Baltimore
openly, according to the published pro-
| Cramme, If you can arrange any way
to carry out your purposes, Will place
myself in your hands, Mr.. LlncoInI
says Pinkerton, said This win tohe
and manner so decisive we saw tha'
no more was to be satd.'
SIT was finally arranged between
Judd, Pinkerton, and the officers Of
| the Pennsylvania Railroad that spe-
cial train should leave Harrisburg at
| six p. NJ, the next evening, ana prlhe
Mr.. Lincoln to Philadelphia in time
to take the eleven o'clock train going
through Baltimore to Washington, on
the night of the 22d. This train was to
be detained until Mr.. Lincoln arrived
every contingency in regard to the con-
nection of the trains and possible de-
lays, was most sklfully planned, so as
to secure connections and the certainty
of going through on time.
"Meanwhile, to prevent this change
being telegraphed to Baltimore by 9
confederate, or information OF this
change of route being known, and leak
ing out in any way, the superintendent
of:the Telegraph Company, at the in
stance of Mr.. Pinkertou, sent practi-
cal telegraph climber to isolate Harris
burg from Geographic communication
with all the world until Mr.. Lincoln
should reach Washington"