Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1869-01-26

| think. He said be wished to
sec ms on very urgent business. and my
father sent for me- came from thu coun-
try, and be had gone to Warrington,
whereupon | wrote him the letter which |
found in his trunk. The Richmond au.
tho,i,ies. SO far as know, fn,w nothing
of the conspiracy. The letter was written
after my return TO the country, after tind>
ing he could net wait TO tee me in Balti-
more. During the week | came to the city
and me. Michael o Laughiin, whs asked me
to % to Washington with him to finally
arrange his affairs. went In the morn
ing Friday, l shink-and returned the
same evening heos, having cut loose for
ever fran il. Next dav l received frsm
j. ". Wharton, at Fortress Monroe, Civ
ing me employment. Went to the couns
Try, got my clothing. and on Saturday.
the 1st day Of April, left Baltimore Tor
Fortress Asnrss. at which place 1 have
remained, never corrsspsnding With Bssth
Or seeing him frsm the above named
date to the present writing. TIE grsund
work was 70 kidnap the President With
out violence. lie never - me said that
he would kill him. Further than this !
know nothing, and am innocent of having
taken any active part in the dark deed
committed. SAnrsL J. AhsoLp.
CONFESSION OF ATZERopr.
had no. seen John Surratt for about
eight days before the murder. Booth told
ms, a few DAYS before the murder, that he
vas in Washington. Kate Thompson,
alas Brown, came from Richmond with
John Surratt about the time that Richmond
fell. He had come previously with Gustssus
Howell, now 10 the Old Capitol Prison.
Kate Thompson stopped .. Mrs. Surfatts,
aud also at the National aud Rinnsl hotels.
The woman vas about 81 years Of age,
spruce and neat, medium aize. black eyes,
aud fair complexion. She had sister in
New York, who, it Was said, was widow.
Surratt was made known to her In New
York BY . signal conveyed BY . small
switch with waved end and piece offsd
ribbon on the butt, handled hetizsntally
through the 2ogsrs. This sign was given
on . hetel pavement on Broadway. He
vent With her south. ard hired horse At
Hswsrd's stables fer the purpose.
Harold came 10 the Kirkwood House and
left the knife, pistol and coat. on the eve
ming Of the murder. about halfpast si1
o'clock, ~ I vas absus leaving, l having
told the clerk TO tell Whssvsr might call that
| was gene cut. This was before Harold
came in Harald and then vent TO the
Herndsn House, Ars. Aurny's, corner Of
Ninth and streets. 1t was then about 8
o'clock, and saw Booth, Wood, sad Payne
in w Gods room. Here the proposed muir
der Vas fret mentioned. refused to take
part in it, when Booth said, "Thsn We will
do il, but what will become Of your You
had better como alsng and get your horse"
then left them and vent - the Oyster
Bay on the avsnus. and stayed some time !;
then . the stable and ess my horse, and
went up d street. This was about 10
o'clock. ! esllsd q ahs Ksnnel House and
got drink. l cav nsps Of tAs party after
We Separated, absut o'cleGk that evening.
| then went out o street. tsessd ths Balti-
more depot; went between the Old and the
now capitol; came On the avenue again,
and concluded to GENE back. rode down
the avenue, and the cavalry we're dashing
by me This was the 6rst heard Of the
murder. then went up Eighth street,
left the horse At the stables opposite the
Franklin llsuse, and then went to the
Hsrndon House, and heard o little boy
talking about the murder. then took 4
car and went toward The navy yard. This
was about | | o'clock, and met two young
men, named Briscoe and Spartes, with
whom | had GONE talk. After WALKING
aoma a,......,I 1900 . car % the corner OF
Sixth street and Psnnsyl vania avenue
Here met man inquiring for place to
sleep at. l took him round to the Binnell
House. and We retired to one resm nth six
beds in IL. l LETT early next morning and
passed through Georgetown on my way to
Montgomery county. No one left the hotel
with the. saw Mike O'Laughlin about .
week before tho President vas killed.
never wanted O'Laughlip and Arnold's aid
met O'Laughlin once or twice At Suthard's,
and few times in the street. When We
were at Murray's, On the night Of the muir
der, Harold said he had . letter from .
printer to Andy johnson. He said he was
gong to give it to him, and he wanted ms
to give him the key Of my room, which
refused 10 do.
Previous to the arrangement for the mur-
der, Booth heard that the President was to
visit = camp. The coach was to be tax en-
out Seventh street. Surratt was to Jump on
the box, as he was III. best driver, and
dive through Old Fields to Long Bridge
This was about the middle Of March
O'Laughn, Samuel Arnold, Payne, Surratt,
Booth, Atz.rodt, and Harold went to Long
Bird se with two caibines, ard were to wait
for us. They did so until midnight, and
returned to Washington next morning
THIS failed. All was quiet then fer some
time. Booth went to New York, Arnold
to Baltimore, and O'Laughlin, also, and
Payne, lett fer New York. After this, Hew.
ell brought a woman across the Potomac.
Howell was made prisoner, and Surratt
took her north. about . week before the
murder. Booth told me that Surratt was
1t the Herndon House on the night of the
murder, the l4,h Of April, ws were not to
gsther at the Hsrndsn House. Booth told
expected others in the hex. Booth went
from the Hsrndon House down Ninth st.
The words Of Booth were, ~ saw SurSatt q
few moments age" All the parties appeared
10 be engaged At something on that night,
and were not together. Booth appointed
me snd Harold to kin johns On. 10 ssine
down the street, l told Beslh W could not
do it. Booth said Harold had more courage.
aad he would Do it. Harsld and were On
Psnnsylvania Avenue together. I told him
! would net do il. aud should not 70 to nv
rosm for fear he would disturb Mr.. John
son. lie left me to 60 for Bsoth. This vas
after o'clock. went to the Oyster Bay,
and Harold came in and said that Dssih
wanted to see me. Hsrsld left me there.
promised 70 get nv horse and come. was
not at the kirkwsod House after 2 o'clock.
l have no recollection Of being there after
that. | had nothing 10 do With any Of the
meetings; enc Of the attempts was ct the
theatre; the gas was to Be put eut, &c. Ne
discussion was had about failure, end what
70 do in that case. The coil Of rope at
Lloyd's was 70 stretch across the read to
trip the cavalry. know nothing about
Spasglst's rsps; I believe hin Innocent.
Booth ted me On aeto9 va 70 b The best
assistant In the theatre 20 turn Of the gas
Arnold and O'Laughlin were 10 grab The
President and take him OF, and Booth said,
whom applied to for money, be would 60 to
New York and get sems, ~ he had it there.
Mrs. Surratt, Mrs Slater. Msj. on, and
Jshn Surratt. left washin kton together; 90.
hsrsss At Howsrd's. Mrs Surratt stopped
at Surrattville. John Surrstt and Mrs.