Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-01-27
The Assassination Conspiracy.

the assassination oonspirators, were made
public yesterday. That Of Arnold was made
voluntarily, only four days after the assassina.
ton Atzcrodt wrote his confession in his
cell on the night before he was executed. We
copy from the Trareiier the main points Of
Arnold's statement lie says
." Know that /, samuel b. Arnold, about the
latter part Of August or the first part Of Septem.
Der, 1854, was sent for by J. Wilkes Booth, who
was guest at Barnum's Hotel, in the city OF
Baltimore, Md. to call and see him. had not
seen the same j. W. Booth since 1859, when We
both were schoolmates at st. Timothy's Hail.
His reception Of me was warm he calling fof
wine and cigars. We were interrupted by q
knock at the door when Michael O'Iaughlin was
ushered in After q formal introduction we sai
slipping our wine, and all three smoked a cigar.
During the smoking, behaving heard previous
ly of my political feelings or scntiments--spOke
in glowing terms of the conlederacy and the mum
Der Of surplus prisoners in the hands Of the
United States Then ensued the proposition by
j. W. Booth, and which he thought could he
accomplshed--yiz. of kidnapping President
Lincoln, as he frequently went unguarded out TO
the Soldiers Home, and he thought he could be
picked up, carried 10 Richmond, and for his ex-
change produce the exchange for the President OF
all the prisoners in the federal hands. lie asked
if we would enter into it. After painting the
fiulNit@ Nl NutftHs IN SUCH Hl0MlnH tlllN We fOll-
sented-yiz., Michael OLaughlin and myself
We were bound not to diyulge it to a living soul.
! saw him once in Baltimore, and then he lett To
arrange his business up North--iirst to New York
thence TO the oil regions, and from there 10 Bos-
ton, and finally 10 Canada"
Arnold then remarks upon the delay which
ensued, and the return Of Booth in January
with quantity Of firearms, ammunition,
and handouts designed for the President
These were sent ahead of the party to Wash
ington from Baltimore, Booth going by the
railroad and Arnold and O'Laughln by
wagon The narration continues
" We met him on the street as we were passing
the theatre. We alighted, took drink, and he
told US Of the theatre plan, slightly, saying he
would wait till we put the horse away and then
tell us more fully lie had previously, as | now
remember. spoken Of the chances at the theatre il
We could not succeed in the other plan at the Sol
diers Home. We went to the theatre that night
he telling us about the different back entrances
and how feasible the plan was lie had rented d
stable in the rear OF the theatre, having bought
two (2) horses down the country, One was in
the stable behind the theatre, the other at livery
Met him the next day, when we went together e
brea kiast with him. He was always pressed with
business with man unknown to US them BY the
name Of John Surratt. Most Of his Booth 81
I time WIS spent Win nun We were tnAtItiN II
the dark Mr. O'IAughln and myself rented
room ON d street, No. 400, and obtained meals al
the franklin House, on the corner of ID and Stt
streets We thus lived for nearly two months
seeing him perhaps three or four times during
the week, and when seen always but for shor
time, - having still pressing business always on
hand, viz. to see John Surratt."
He then relates how O'Laughlin and him.
self passed their time, and remarks that they
used the story about oil stock as blind fol
their companions and families.
During the latter part Of March while stand.
ing on Rullman's porch, between II and ~ o'clocE
p. NJ, young man, name unknown, as cannot
remember names, called Michael O'IAughliu
aside and said j W Booth wished to see us botl
at Caters soon, ON the avenue. was then ioi
/ the first time introduced to him, but forgot
his name. We walked up together. Michae
I OLaughlin, this unknown and myself were ush
cred into the presence Of j. Wilkes Booth, whC
introduced me to John Surratt Atzerodt, making
in all seven persons
j. Wilkes Booth had sent word to Michae
/ O'lAughlin to bring me up in good humor still
always in the dark. Then commenced the plar
for Selling the President. Each had his part t
perform. First, was to rush into the priyat,
/ box and seize the President whilst AtzerOdt ana
j. Wilkes Booth We're to handouf him and lowei
him on the stage whilst Mosely was to catch hin
and hold him till one got down Surratt and the
unknown were to be ON the other side of the East
ern Branch bridge, to facilitate the escape i
was afterwards changed to Mosely and Booth L
catch him in the box and to lower him TO me Oh
the stage. O'Laughlin and the unknown wer,
10 put out the lights, and Surratt and Altered
to be on the other side Of the bridge. was op
posed to the whole proceeding, and said it coull
not he accomplished. If even (which was an i'm
possibility we could get him out of the box anC
over the bridge, we would be stopped by the sen
tinel. Shoot the sentinel, said Booth | sait
that would not do, for if an alarm was givei
there the whole thing was up, and as for me
wanted the shadow OF chance for escape ant
success. OIAughlin wanted to argue the sam
way, whereupon j. Wilkes Booth said, yol
find fault with everything concerned about it,.
sad no. that | wanted to have chance, AM
l intended to have it that he could be the leade
I Of the party but not my executioner. Nhereupol
Wilkes Booth remarked in stern, commanding
and angry voice -" DO you know you are liabl
to be shot? remember your oath" told hin
the plan or basis had changed, and compact o.
the part of one broken is broken by ALL If yo
feel inclined to shoot me you have no further +
20. | shall defend myself This, il | remembe
Alright, was on a Friday or Thursday night, whe
, | said, Gentlemen, ii this is not accomplshe
this week forever Withdraw from it. y
." The groundwork was to kidnap the Presiden
without violence. He never, to me. said that h
would kill him. Farther than this know moth
f ing, and am innocent of having taken any part i
the dark deed committed"
The plan Of escape was to place Mr. Lincoln j
the buggy purchased for that purpose and eros
2 the Eastern branch bridge. Surratt and Altered
were to follow them to where he had boat col
cealed, turn the horse loose, place the prisoner
the boat and cross the Potomac to the Nirgini
] shore, and thence 10 make our way TO Richmond
Surratt knew the route and was to act pilot
box, painted black, like unto sword bon
= / Nv .atI from tho lotai lx-f tho
there 10 our room. The next day il was transle
red in wagon, and O'LAughlin acted as pilot
! some place. ] was not present. After giving III
box TO the driver, went to Georgetown, an
0'Laughlin had the full charge Of it. Nj
0'IAughlin said he took it TO Mr.. Heard's, an
: from thence the unknown carried il home, Too
e the guns out and carried them to Pedes. Tn
iatter clause Booth told me.
The confession of Atzerodt, written Ii
night before his execution, is a tumble
relevant and irrelevant statements. The onl
+ matter in it new or important in any way
the following The idea of assassinatic
y was first uncovered so far as he kew, b
j. Booth on the evening it took place, to Payn
+ Hcrold and himself Atzerodt says he ref
+ sed to have anything to do with the matter
o that Booth tainted him with cowardice, al
: said that he and Herod must take care
A Andrew johnson. He himself saw Surra
in Washington about a week before the mu
n der did not see him on the fatal evenn
n but Booth, at nine o'clock, said, A." saw Su
+ raft few minutes ago" Azterodt state
e that he separated from Booth and Hero
a soon after nine o'clock, and did not see eth,
+ of the conspirators afterwards
MUSICAL CONVENTION AT ESosBuRGH.-A co
= respondent of the St. Adams Messenger says !.