Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-05-21

/ puitililOic IdiiiouuS Sie"ul SAuopSidtcu
the conspirators in Baltimore and else
where, and threats were openly made,
and organizations effected, to destroy the
railroad tracks, burn their bridges, and
the great steam ferry-boat by which the
Susquehanna was crossed at Havre de
Grace.
In February, Pinkerton was employed
by the officers of the Philadelphia, Will
mington and Baltimore road, to investi-
gate and ascertain the facts in regard to
these matters, with view of protecting
their road. For this purpose he remov-
ed to Baltimore, taking with him such
of his detective force as he thought best
suited to his purpose.
While thus engaged an officer of the
road learned that young gentleman of
high social position in Baltimore, the son
of very prominent citizen who had
held high official position under the state
and national governments, had declared
that he was one of the band who had
sworn to take the life of Lincoln on his
way to Washington. The officer COM
municated this fact to Pinkerton, and he
Immediately asked and obtained permis-
sion to investigate this conspiracy. 1t
was now to be plot and counter-plot.
A warm admirer of the president
elect whom he had known in Illinois,
Pinkerton determined that if coolness,
courage and skill could save the life of
MIR. Lincoln and prevent the revolution
which would follow his violent death, he
would accomplish it. His plan was,
with his detectives, to enter Baltimore as
residents of Charleston and New Or
leans, and by assuming to be secessionists
of the most extreme violence, to secure
entrance into their secret societies and
military organizations, and thus possess
themselves of their secret plans. In
looking over his corps he found two men
admirably adapted to the object he had
in view, both young, and both able to as
sumo and successfully carry out the char
acter of a hot blooded, fiery secessionist.
One of these, whom | shall call Howard,
was of French descent. He had been
carefully educated for Jesuit priest,
and added to his collegiate studies were
the advantages of extensive foreign trav-
ell and the ability to speak, with great
facility, several modern languages: and
a knowledge of the south, its localities,
prejudices, customs, and leading men de-
rived from several years residence in
New Orleans and other southern cities
With these qualifications he possessed a
fine personal appearance, insinuating
manners, and that power of adaptation
to the persons whom they wish to infu-
ence, popularity attributed to the Jesuits.
Howard was instructed to assume the
character of an extreme secessionist, to
go to frst-class hotel, register his name,
and his residence at New Orleans, visit
places of amusements, seek the acquain-
tance and secure the confidence of the
young aristocracy of that city; enter
their clubs, penetrate their secrets, and
learn the wild projects it was known they
were then forming. He was also in
structed to make daily reports to his
chief then under an assumed name, oc-
cupying an office and nominally carry
ing on regular business in Baltimore.
Those reports now lying before me, are
curious and interesting. They show that
Howard was eminently successful, that
he soon became welcome guest among
many of the first families in that old and
refined city; that he was favorite with
both sexes, among the ardent and mer.
curial young aristocracy, which furnish
ed to the rebellion Harry Gilmor, the
French Lady," Stuart, and many Other
partisans, and in whose circles " Dixie,
and My Maryland" are still mournful
ly sung over "tte lost cause" Many
Baltimore bellies are living who NIGH
innocently blush at the disclosures of th,
daily reports of one whom, in Feb, 1861
they called "the fascinating Howard o
New Orleans"
Another of Pinkerton's agents was o
graver character, one whose devotion t,
his country in the most perilous ant
thankless character of a spy, led to hi
|, ignominious death at Richmond. ma,
therefore call him by his real name
, Timothy Webster He was adapted t,
operate on the middle and low classes o
society of great physical strength ant
endurance, skilled in all athletic sports
good shot, and with a strong will an,
a courage bordering on rashness; yet al
ways justifying his boldness by an inge
nuity and fertility of invention whicl
saved him from a thousand perils, an,
, at last falling victim only because sick
ness rendered him incapable of execut
n