The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-06-26

he added, turning to Capt. T, n CO op'
eru,or, "we viii, II necessary. all die TO-.
gether. Every captain will In that day
froys himselfa hero. The first shot fired,
the head traitor Lincoln dead, and all
Maryland will bc with us and the South
freed. Mr.. II -" said he, turning to
Pinkcrton, "iff alone must do It shall not
hesitate! Lincoln shall die In this city,
The next day Pinkerton met the same
Captain T., one Of Fernandina's asso.
ciaies, who called Pinkenon aside and
whispered: at is determined that that
lG-d id Lincoln shall never pass through
here alive! The d-d aboltionist shall
never set foot on Southern soil hut TO find
grave" tie added: III have seen COL
Kane, Chief Of Police, and no il all right,
and in one week from to-day the North
shall want a new President, for Lincoln
will be dead" Among tho associates Of
Howard no meets with fast young gentle
man by the name Of Hill, who proudly cx-
hibits gold Palmetto badge, aud repre-
J scnts himself as lieutenant in the Palmct.
to Guards, secret military organization IN
Baltimore. Howard, thc nnlent secession.
ist from New Orleans, chding the slower
aud moro cautious action of the friends In
Maryland, and Hill, of the Palmetto Guanls
become bosom friends. They drink, 60 to
conccrts, theatres, and other places OF
amusement together. HUI, who has social
position in Baltimore, introduces his &C.
complishcd friend from Louisiana. and
finally opens to him, In part, the secrets TO
nssasinate Lincoln. He himoelf goes into
j, with reluctance. "tYhat a pity" says
lu to Howard, 'Shat this glorious Union
mhs, be destroyed all on account Of that
monster Lincoln !" .rr.I '.'.f
The plan was to excite and cxasporaie
the popular feeling against Mr., Lincoln to
the utmost. On the published programme
he was to enter Baltimore from Harrisburg
OH the 22d OF Feb. by tho Northern Central
Railroad, and would reach Baltimore about
tho middle Of the day. A vast crowd would
meet him at the Calvert St. Depot, ut which
II wus expected he would tnke an open
carriage, and ride, nearly mile an'l half,
to the Washington depot.-lt would be
very easy fort determined man to shoot
him Oh his passage. Agents OF tho con-
spirators had been in The principal North.
ern cities, watching tho movements Of the
Presidential party really to telegraph 10
Baltimore my change OF route. A cipher
was agreed upon, 30 that The conspinioB
could communicate To cach other without
tho facts leaking out through the telegraph
offices. Meanwhile tho idea Of ussassinn.
ton prcyc,i upon the mind Of Hill he grow
sad and melanc choly and plunged still deeper
into dissipation Howard is his constant
companion and confidential friend, bis
"shado,o" in the language Of the profession;
ut times he Is thoughtful, and then he
breaks out into rhapsodies. lie talks to
Howard Of dreains nnd death. "i nna des.
tined TO die," said iiill, 'shroudcd viii,
glory. II n man bad tho nerve he could
imnortalize himself by plunging knife
into lincoln's heart. Let u.s." said he,
"have another BrituA ! swear" said he,
az will kill Lincoln before he reaches tho
Washington Depot, not that ] love Lincoln
less, but my country more. am ready TO
,lo the deed, and then ] will proudly mn
nounce my name, and say "Gentlcncn
arrest the, ain the man y and then will
be called one that gave bis country libar.
w. When our company draws lots, u the
red ballot falls to mo, will do it willingly.
PERHAPS" said he, "Liucoln may con.
cludo TO come by way Of Havre dc Grace |;
IL SO, tho ferry.boat across tho Susquehan..
Ina will i,e the best place to do the deed.
will 90 ont there and kill him if It is 30 or
dered." Notwithstanding his contemplated
crime he had some good traits; he was
warmly attached to his mother, spoke tell
,lcrly of her, and talked to Howard orpe-
cuniary provision being made for her. IL he
should sacrifice his lifo in tho enterprise.
Webster had gone to PerymonvilIe. and,
securing the confidence Of the secessionists
there, had joined military company which
was drilling with view of destroying The
ruilroads, burning tho bridges, and the fer
y.boat on the Susqucl'nnna.
The time for Mr.. Lincoln's passage
through Baltimore wns rapidly approach
ing, bu, the exact plan OF operation by the
conspirators had not been agreed upon.
The popular feeling against linn had,
through The press, and by hurangucs, and
all tho means by which the public mind is
operated upon, been innamed and exaspcr
atcd to the highest pitch. Thousands Of
the more ignorant had been wrought upon
Ivy the intelligent until they wero ready Tor
auy act of violence and atrocity. The
leaders finally fully determined that the
assassination should take place at the Cal.
vert st. depot. A vast crowd OF secession.
lists was to assemble ut that place and await
the arrival Of tho train with Mr.. Lincoln.
They were to 20 carly and ill tho narrow
streets and passages Immediately surround.
ing It. II was known among tho leaders
that George p. Kane, tho Marshal OF Po:.
lice, subsequently arrested by General
Banks, and aitcrwarti an officer IN tho rebel
army, would detail but small police fore
TO attend the arrival aud nominally clear
and protect n passage for MIR. Lincoln and
his suite, and that that small force would he
synpathzers with the secessionists. When
tho train should enter the depot, and Mr..
Lincoln should attempt to pass through The
narrow passage leading to the street, some
roughs were 10 raisc row on the outside,
and all tho police were to rush away 10
quell tho disturbance. At this moment, tha
police being Withdrawn, Mr.. Lincoln would
find himself in dense, excited and hostile
crowd. hustled aud Jammei, AMI then the
fi,,al blow was to be struck. A swift steam.
er was to be stationed IN Chesapeake Bay,
wnl, boat concealed. ready to take the
assassin OH board us soon as the decd was
done, and convey him to southern port.
where he would have been received with
acclainations and honored as q hcru. but
who should do the bloody deed! Il was
feared by some that Hill lacked the nerve
and coolness. To determine this question, n
meeting Of the conspirutors was held on the
night Of the 18th Of Feb. Some twenty
persons were collected, each Of whom had
taken nn oath Of secrecy, and also sworn,
ir designated, that he would take the l,fo Of
the President elect. 1t was arranged that
ballots should bo prepared and placed in n
hat, and That the person who drew red
ballot was to 10 the ASSASSIN. The draw.
ling was to take place in a darkcne,l room,
50 tina, none could know who drcw tho To-
tal ballot except he who had il, and no QUO
war to disclose to the Others the color Of
the ballot hc drew. And now tho leaders.
to make success moro certain, placed eigh
red ballots in the hat, and eight rcd ballots