Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-18

prisoners at the Dry Iortugas MADE III baltl-
more, voluntarily, four days after the assassina'
ton of President Lin coin, md the confession
of Atzerodt, made in his cell on the night be-
fore the execution Both Of these confessions,
says the American Eve have in our possession
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 oil
Arnold was made in the office OF Marshal NC
Phail, on the 18th Of April, 1868, Immediately
on his being brought to Baltimore from fort-
ress Monroe. He sat down at desk and yo iuI
tarily wrote it without any questioning. Inc
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 a
lead penci. the disconnected manner of it indl-
eating the state OF mind of the prisoner. The
statement of Arnold details plan which Booth
had formed, and in which he (Arnold) agreed
to Join, for kidnapping and abductlng Presl-
dent Lincoln-but Booth never said any thing
to him about killing President Lincoln. lie
also states that Booth knew and was in COM
muuication with John Surratt. The public are
already familiar with the reported plan tor the
abduction. The following incohereEt statement
is given as that made by Atzerodt:
Harold came to the Kirkwood House and
left the knife, pistol and coat, on the evening
of the murder, about halt past six clock, as
| was about leaving, | having told the clerk to
tell whoever might call that [ was gone out.
This was before Harold came in. Harold and
[ then went to the Herndon House, Mrs Muir
rays corner of Ninth and streets. 1t was
then about O'clock and saw Booth, Wood
and Payne in Wood room. Here the proposed
murder was first mentioned. | refused to take
part in it, when Booth said 'Then we will do
it, but what will become of you you had bet
ter come along and get your horse. l then
lett them and went to the Oyster Bay on the
avenue, and stayed some time then to the
stable and got my horse and ntup D. street.
This was about 10 o'clock. L called at the
Rinnel House and got drink. [ saw none of
the party after we separated about CLOCK
that evening. | then went out q street toward
the Baltimore depot; went between the old
and new Capitol came on the avenue again,
and concluded to come back. | rode down the
avenue and the cavalry were dashing by me.
This was the first heard Of the murder. |
then went up Eight street, lett the horse at TIE
stables opposite the Franklin House, and then
went to the Herndon House, and heard = little
boy talking about the murder. | then took
car and went towards the Navy Yard. This
was about II o'clock, and met two young
men named Brscoe and Spatcs, with whom |
had some talk. After walking some distance
took car to the c)rneg Of Sixth street and
Pennsylvania avenue. Here / met man in
curing for place to sleep at. | took him
around to the Rinnel House, and we retired to
one room with six beds in it. | lett early next
morning and passed through Georgetown on
my way to Montgomery county No one lett
the hotel with me.
| saw Mike O'Laughlin about week before
the President was killed, | never wanted
O'Laughlin and Arnold 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 murder, Harold said he had . letter from
printer to Andy johnson. y said he was 90.
ing to give it to him. md he wanted me to
give him the kew Of my room, which | refused
to do.
- Pr',,yious to the arrangement for the murder,
f>ooth heard that the President was to visit a
camp. The coach was to be taken on Seventh
street. Surratt was to jump on the box, as he
was the best driver, and drive through Ola
Fields to the Long Bridge. This was about
the middle of March. O'Laughhn, Samuel
Arnold, Payne, Surratt, Booth, AtzTodt and
Harold went to the Long Bridge with Two car
bines, and were to wait for us, They did so
until midnight and returned to Washington
next morning. This failed. All was quiet
then for some time Booth went to New York.
Arnold to Baltimore, O'Laughn also, and
Payne left for New York. After this Howe Il
brought woman across the Potomac. Howell
vas made prisoner, and Suratt took her North,
about week before the murder. Booth told
me- that Surratt was in the Herndon House,
N. the night of the murder, the l4th OF April,
We were not altogether at the Herndon House.
Booth told me Surratt was to help al the box,
that he expected others in the box. Booth
went from the Herndon House, down Ninth
street. The words OF Booth were II saw Sur
raft few months ago" All the parties APP
reared to be engaged at something on that night
and were not together. Booth appointed
me aud Harlod to kill johnson, in going down
the street | told Booth we could mot do it. -
Booth said Harold had more cottage and he
would do it. Harold and | were on Penn
avenue together. told him | would not do 1t,
and should not go to my room for fear he would
disturb Mr.. johnson. He left me to 60 for
Booth. This was after niue o clock, | went to
the Oyster Bay and Harold came in and said
that Booth wanted to see me. Harold lett me
here. promised to get my horse and come.
Was not at inc hlrkWOOu i1OuSc dltol o"o
O. clock. | have no recollection of being there
after that had nothing to say at any Of the
meetings One of the attempts was at the
theatre; the gas to be put out, &c. N o dis
cusson was had about failure, and what to do
in that case. The coil Of rope at Lloyd's was
to stretch across the road to trip the cavalry.
[ know nothing about Spanglers rope; | be-
lieve him Innocent. Booth told me an actor
was to be the best assistant in the theatre to
turn off the gas. Arnold and O'Laughlin
were to grab the President and take him off;
and Booth said, when applied to for money.
he would go to New York and get some, as he
had it there Mrs. Surrrtt, Mrs. Slater, Major
Banon and John Surratt left Washington to-
gether got horses at Howard. Mrs. S;
stopped at Surrattsville. John Surratt and
Mrs Slater crossed, and Banon and Mrs. Sur.
raft came back. Banon was in the rebel army. [
don thinkBanon knew anything about the con-
spiracy. | sold horse for Booth and thought the
affair was about over. The murder was
preached first on the 14th, at night, when
Harold came for me- did hear Booth say