Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-21
NO 267 MAIN STREET OPPOSITE COURT SQUARE MEMPHIS TENN
NO. 3G UNION STREET,
The Alleged Plot to Assassinats President
Johnson.
Correspondence Baltimore Sun. Oct. l3.]

The Alleged Plot to Assassinate President
Johnson.
Baltimore Sun. Oct. l3l
The Express this evening gives cur
rency to the report of the discovery OF an
alleged conspiracy to assassinate Presl-
dent Johnson. The facts as alleged are
certainly very startling, and are we'll cal
culated to inspire alarm, if they have the
least foundation in truth. Whether true
or false, names and dates are given with
a freedom which would hardly be in
dulged in if the report was roarback,
manufactured out of whole cloth. 1t
seems, so the story goes, that pending
the impeachment trial q number OF ne
groes, led by few white men, banded
together in the first ward Of this city, and
took the most solemn oaths to assasslnate
the President, if he should be convicted
by the high court Of impeachment, and
should attempt to resist its judgment
When impeachment failed, the object for
which they had banded together failed
with some, who abandoned the organiza-
ton, while others, more bold and reck-
less, continued to meet and talk over the
matter until they renewed their oaths to
kill the President anyhow. By some
means or other, man named Frank
Evans, who resides on X street, near
and who has for some
time been employed in the machinery
department of the note-printing bureau OF
the Treasury, became cognizant OF what
was going on.
Evans made the facts known, and sus-
picion was at once directed towards GER
tain localities in the upper part OF the
city, where it was ascertained the ne
groes were in the habit of secretly meet
ing and drilling. Last night Brigadier
General Morris Miller, of the Quarter.
master Generals Department, United
States army, called at the Note-printinP
Bureau, where Evans was engaged, and
in company with the latter proceeded to
the places where the negroes were wont
to assemble, and it is said General Mil
Ter was thoroughly convinced of the ex-
istence of the plot, and the name of one
individual is given who is alleged to be
the head and front of the plot. Measures
were Immediately inaugurated to effect
the arrest of all the parties engaged in
the schame, and it was deemed important
that the discovery should be kept as
secret as possible. 1t leaked out, how
ever, the newspaper men got hold OF 1t,
and whether true or false, the country
has another exciting feast and another
nine days wonder.
Cor. New York Herald.]
WASHINGTON, October l3.-Consider-
able excitement exists here to-day among
those who have obtained possession of
the news, over the supposed development
of plot said to be for sometime in prep
aration in this city to procure the assas-
sinaton of President johnson. Yester-
day evening friend Of the President 8
went to the currency printing division OF
the Treasury Department and asked for
man named Frank d. Evans, q night
fireman to the engines of the printing
division, stating that he was wanted at
the White House. Mr.. McCartee, the
Superintendent of the printing division
being absent, Mr.. Lamar, the Chief En-
gineer, gave permission for Evans to
leave his work, Mr.. Evans was taken to
the house of Colonel William c. Moore,
the Presidents Private Secretary, where
he was examined as to what be knew of
the assassination plot. His story looks
remarkably like false alarm, and
can be briefly repeated: Last spripg
Evans and his wife were boarding at the
house of his brother-in-law, named Hime-
bur, on Twenty.frst street, First Ward,
of this city. Himebur was formerly a
rebel officer, but is now an intense Radi-
cal, aud holds an Office under our city
One night during the i'm
excitement Himebur, in the
presence Of Mr.. and Mrs. Evans aud his
own wife, stood up in his own parlor and
displayed with great fourishing an
American flag. This flag, he said, had
been given him by General Butler as one
of a company of couspirators, organized
for the assassination of President john
son. Evans said he felt alarmed at the
disclosure, and did not know how to act
whether to tell the President or not
Finally he resolved to leave Himebur's
house, and went to housekeeping for him
self But the fear of fatal results from the
still haunted him, and he told |
several friends the story of Butler and |
his flag. Evans says that bis wife as
well as himself was prepared to swear to
its truth. Himebur, it appears, was
captain of negro company, composed |
Of fifty men, whom be drilled every |
night, and those negroes were supposed
to be in the plot. Colonel Moore told
the President something about the con-
spiracy last Sunday, while out driving |
with bis Excellency, but the latter paid
no attention whatever to the matter.
Mr.. johnson treats the matter with in
difference. he has not seen either
Himebur, Evans or his wife at all, and
therefore the story, which has been most
circulated, that he sent
for Evans TO pump him or ordered
him to be sent to Hancock's headquar-
ters, is entirely erroneous. The whole
story is evidently q piece Of extravs-
rsnce on the part of Himebur, msgnihed
aRd perhaps embelished BY the fears and
imagination Of Evans By some friends
Of The President It is regarded in a more
serious light They believe that con
spiracy really did exist about the time Of
he impeachment, but that Il failed TO
ripen IN time, and that now ell danger Is
past, and that nothing is 70 ts gained By
serious Investigation. Others say that
Evans and dHimebur have been uufriend.y,
- fhat the sfn~v VS. invented hV II