The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-01-28

| Hef OF IL ana ElSnun Stf6cCs. w . tChuo
| lived for nearly two months, seeing him
perhaps three or four times during the
week, and when seen, always but for
short time, having still pressing business
always on hand, viz: to see John Surratt.
| Michael O'Laughlin and myself drove ont
occasionally, the horse livered at Mr.. Nail
or's stable We drove always (but once)
in city and Georgetown; the once. excepted
across the Eastern Branch Bridge, when
we went upwards OF five miles, suppose,
and returned This was the only time L
ever went over that bridge. How often
! j. Wilkes Booth crossed l cannot state,
| but from his -Wordss often. Thus
| Michael O'Laughlin's and my time spent
| for the most part-down at Rullman's
Hotel (now Sinclair House), on Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Louisiana avenue, i'll
! drinking and amusements, with other Bal
| temoreans besides ourselves congregated
all OF whom knew nothing of selling oil
/ stock Oil stock was the blind for them
as well as n,y family. During the latter
! part Of March, whilst standing on Rull-
mans porch, between eleven and twelve
o'clock, P, NJ, young man-name un-
! known, as | cannot remember names
about five feet or six inches high, thick
set, long nose, sharp chin, wide cheeks,
small eyes (gray, [ think, dark hair and
well dressed-color [ don't remember
called Michael O'Laughin aside, and
said J. Wilkes Booth wished to see
us both at Gotier's saloon on the
avenue 1 was then for the first time
introduced to him but forget his
name We walked up together. Nike
! O'Laughlin, this unknown and myself
were ushered into the presence of. Wilkes
Booth, who introduced me toJohn Surratt,
Atzerott, alias Port Tobacco, -, alias
| Moseby, making in all seven persons. j.
Wilkes Booth had sent word to Michael
o O'Laughlin to bring me up in a good hui
NOR (still always in the dark Then
commenced the plan for seizing the Presi-
dent. Each had his part to Perform
First, was to run into the box and seize
the President, whilst Atzerodt. alias Port
handcuff him and lower him on the stage
whilst -- Moseby was to catch him and
hold him till we got down. Surratt and
the unknown were to be on the other side
Of The Eastern Branch bridge to facilitate
escape. It was afterwards changed 10
Moseby and Booth to catch him in the box
Laughlin and the unknown were to put
the lights out, and Surratt and Atzerodt,
alias Port Tobacco, to be on the other side
OF the bridge. was opposed to the whole
proceeding, and said it could not be ac-
conlplished. If ever, which was an i'm
possibility, we could get him out of the
box and to the bridge, we would be stop
ped by the sentinel. ''Shoot the sentinel" >"
said Booth [ said that would not do for
If an alarm wrs given there the whole
thing was up, and, as for me, I wanted
the shadow Of a chance for escape and
! success. Michael O'Laughlin wanted to
argue the same way. whereupon j. Wilkes
Booth said, ''You find fault with every
thing concerned about it" | said no ;
that | wanted to have a change, and I in
tended 10 have it; that he could be the
leader, Of the party, but not my execution
er. Whereupon j. " likes Booth remark
ed, IN a stern, commanding and angry
voice, ''DO you know you are liable to be
shot remember your oath" [ told him
the plan or basis had changed, and com
pact on the part of one broken is broken
by all. If you feel inclined to shoot me
you have no further to go, / shall defend
myself This, if | remember Alright, was
| or Friday, Or may be Thursday night,
! when | said, gentlemen, if this is not ac-
complished this week [ forever Withdraw
from it. stayed up till about six or seven
! o'clock next morning, Friday or Saturday,
and then went TO bed. [ remained in
! doors until twelve, when [ arose and went
to get my breakfast Michael O'Laughlin
and myself roomed together, both arose at
the same time, and were always, in meas
ure together Went to bed that evening
about II o'clock. This day that | went to
bed so early we met about o'clock or
thereabouts; told me I spoke angrily the
night of meeting; said [ had been drink
ing. l told him no; was in my sober
senses, and meant every word | said if
not accomplished this week I withdraw =
Next day the thing was to be accomplished
on the Seventh street road and failed On
Sunday l stayed in Washington, and on
Monday or Tuesday | returned to the city
of Baltimore, and thence to HookstoWn.-
J. Wilkes Booth in the meantime went to
New York, and returned to Baltimore du-
ring the week, On Saturday, [ think. He
said he wished to see me on very urgent
business and my father sent for me. |
came from the country and he had gone
| to Washington, whereupon | wrote him
the letter which was found in his trunk.
| The Richmond authorities, as far as know,
! knew nothing Of the conspiracy. The let
1 ter was written after my return to the
country, after finding he could not walt to
i see me in Baltimore. During the week L
came to the city ana met Michael O,Laug-
| lin. who asked me to go TO Washington
] with him to finally arrange his affairs L
/ wont in the morning. Friday, think