The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-02-10
THE ASSASSINATION.
CONFESSION OF ARNOLD AND
ATZ ERODT,
Now First Made Public
The Conspirators' Plans and Places of
Meeting.

The Conspirators' Plans and Places O
Meeting.
Wilkes Booth Supplied with Money IL
New York.
From the Baltimore American.
Now that the trial of John Surratt fo,
participation in the assassination of Pres.
'dent Lincoln has been thrown out of court
through the teclnicalities OF the law, and
he IS announced as preparing for press a
J narrative OF the whole transaction, it may
serve good purpose to give publicity to
the following statement of Samuel B. Ar.
mold, one Of the prisoners at the Dry Tor.
tugas, made in Baltimore voluntarily, four
days after the assassination. We also give
: the confession of Atzerodt; made in his cell
on the night before the execution. Both
OF these confessions we have in our nos.
session, in the handwriting of the prisoners
and they have hitherto not been made
public, under the expectation that they
would be used in the trial of John Surratt.
The confession Of Arnold was made in the
office of Marshall Nc hail, on the 18th of
April 1868, Immediately on his being
brought to this city from Fortress Monroe.
He sat down at desk, and voluntarily
wrote it without any questioning. The
confession of Atzerodt was made in his
cell, at Washington, on the night before his
execution. He asked for paper, and it is
written with lead pencil the disconnec.
TED manner OF it indicating the state of
mind of the Drisoner
CONFESSION OF SAMUEL B. ARNOLD, MADE
APRIL Is, l965.-To WHOM IT NAY CONCERN.
Know that I. Samuel B. Arnold, about
the latter part of August or first part of
September, 1864, was sent for by J. Wilkes
Booth, who was guest at Barnum's Ho-
tel, in the city of Baltimore, Nd, to call
to see him. had not seen the same J.
Wilkes Booth since 1852, when we both
were schoolmates at st. Iimothy's Hall.
President l.. Van Bokelin then having said
ball as place oftuition. His reception
OF me was warm. Calling for wine and ci.
CARS, we conversed short time upon our
former school-boy days. We were inter
rupted by knock at the door, when Mich
ael O'Laughlin was ushered in. After
formal introduction, we sat slipping our
wine, and all three smoked q cigar. Dur
ing smoking. he having heard previously of !!
my political feelings or sentiments, he !,
spoke in glowing terms of the Confederacy
md the number of surplus prisoners in the !.
lands Of the United States. Then epsued I
ne proposition by j. Wilkes Booth and
which ne II. Wilkes Booth) thought
'ould be accomplished, viz: Of kidnapping
resident Lincoln, as he frequently went
nut nnguarded to the Soldiers Home; and =
10 thought that he could be picked IN,
arrled to Richmond, and for his exchange
roduce the exchange for the President Of
IL OF the prisoners in the Federal hands. e
lie. y. Wilkes Booth, the originator of m
he scheme, asked if we would enter into it, W
liter painting the chances of success in al
UGH glowing colors, we consented, viz j.
lichael O'Laughlin and myself. We we're m
ound not to indulge it to single soul. I G
Nv him once more in Baltimore, and then p
Q III. Wilkes Booth] left to arrange his S,
lsiness up North, first to New York. r
renee to the oil regions, and from there q
Boston, and finally to Canada. He was ST.
DC back in month. I received letter ha
hlch l destroyed, stating. he was laid up so
it'll erysipelas in his arm, and = as soon as kr
was able he would be with us. Months co
He'd around, and he did not make his an. en-
arance until some time in January. In ha
s trunk he had two guns, cap cartridges IL
lich were placed in the gun stocks on
,encer rifles think they were called, re. an
lvers, knives, belts, cartridge boxes cart. thu
'ges, caps, canteens-all fully fixed for
vice, which were to be used in case Of an
rsnlt, and two pair handouts to handcuff ev'
PRESIDENT. His trunk being so heavy o'c
gave the pistols, knives. and handouts toll
Michael O.Laughlin and myself to have tina
pped or bring to Washington. He then Ha
uIned from Washington, to which place to-
had gone, bought horse, harness and ner
ICY wagon, leaving the team, etc, with abe
to drive on to Washington. We star Pa,
from Baltimore about IL or l O'Clock pos
sr having shipped the box containing the fus'
yes, handouts and pistols, arriving in "Tl
'shlngton about Z or halfpast the of
le evening. We met him on the street get
we were passing the threatre. We the
nted, took drink, and he told us of som
theatre plan slightly saying he would hor
until we put the horse away, and tell abo
more fully. He had previously, as Ho,
remember spoken of the chances at part
theatre if we could not succeed in the that
n plan at the Soldiers Home. We tow
to the theatre that night and he IT. tive.
kes Booth) telling US about the differ. the
back entrances, and how feasible the bach
was. He had rented stable in the cava
OF the theatre, having bought two first
es down the country. One was in the up l
le-the other at livery. Met him next bic
went together to breakfast with him, hear
was always pressed with business with thu
10 unknown to us then, by the name of Nav
Surratt; most ofhis Booths J time and
spent Win nm. We were left entire. Spat
ichael O'Laughlin and myself rented corn,
on D street, No. 42O, and obtained Ave,
at the Franklin House, on the cor pla
Of D and Eighth streets. We Thus the
for nearly two months, seeing him room
nps three or four times during the morn
!, and, when seen, always but for on m
time, having still pressing business one i
md, viz: to see John Surratt. During Ola
after part of March, while standing on dent
mans porch between IL and IL PM. lin on
Ing man (name unknown as cannot or tw
mber names) about FIVE feet five or six the 81
Q, high. thick set, long nose, sharp the nj
wide cheeks, small eyes (grey think had a
hair, and we'll dress {colorr 1 don't son.
nber) called Mr.. OInughlin aside him, {
old Uy:lI.o. / II,