Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-01-29
The IT,. nation oon,pirar,.

The confessions % Arnold and Auerlit.
the assassination cou-vratlrs, were made
public yesterday That 0l Arnold wac made
voluntarily, only four DAYS after the as-t>-iu-
alton Atzerldt wrote bis confession n biz
cell 100 the night before be- was executed
We copy from the Irars4.r the main points
of ArnliI'- statement lie -ay-
b. know that ! Samuel b Arnold about
zine latter part of August ur the first part of
september. lo6f, was sent for hy j. Wilkes
Booth. who was "a guest at Bauum Hotel.
iu thr city ai Baltimore Nd, 90 call ami -ec
him. ! bad not seen the same y. " Booth
since SD when We both were -cb1.lmatc-
at St. Iimo,hy- liall.-His reception Of me
was warm. he calling tor wine and cigar
We were interrupted by knock al the door
when Michael O'Lau.hlu was u-lered iu
After formal Introduction we sat slipping
our wine. and all three -m1ke1a cigar. Dur
ing the smoking. having heard previous
ly of uy political feelings or ~eutimcut--
spoke iu glowing terms Of the Coniedeury
ami number OF surplus prisoners IN the hands
uf the I uit,i States. Then eu-uei the prop
o-iti.n by j. Vs. Booth. and which be thlr.ht
could De- acr1mV mVl.-hrd-viz Of kidnapping
President Lincoln. a- he frequently went lu-
guarded Nut to the Soldiers Home. and boz
Thought Ae could he picked uu. carried 20
Richmond and for his exchange produce tnc
exchange tor the President of all the prison
er- u The federal hands lie asked 10 We
would enter into 10. After painting the
chances of success IN such CLOWN. cliHr- We
consented viz. Michael O1aughIu and
mvsc.f.-We were bound ult o. diyul.e it 90
q living soul saw him once in Baltimore,
and then be- leit 90 arrange bis business up
NurJh-f--t o. New York. thence To the oil
regions. and FROM there % Boston and finally
tn Canada"
Arnold then remarks upon the delay which
en-uei and The return of Booth In january
with % quantity Of fire arms, ammunition,
and handouts designed for the President
These were sent ahead Of the party 20 Wash
iugtlu from Baltimore, Booth gong hy rail
road. and Arnold and % laughlin hy wagon.
The narrative continues
90 We met him 1n the street as We were
passing the theatre. We alighted. took q
drink. and he told us of the theatre plan,
slightly, saving Dee would wait till We put
the horse away and then tell us more fully.
lie had previously. as now remember. spOk-
en- of the chances NJ the theatre ii we could
not succeed in the other plan at the Soldier,
Home. We went 20 the theatre that night.
be telling Us about the different back entrsu-
ces, and how feasible the plan was lie had
rented 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 ut livery. Met him the
next dav. when We went together % break
fast with him. lie was always pressed with
business with a man unknown To us them
10y the name Of John Surratt. Most of bis
(Bolth's) time was spent with him. We
We're entirely in the dark Mr.. O'laughlin
and myself rented a room ON d. Street, No
i2O, and obtained meals at the Franklin
House, ON the corner of d and Nth streets.
We thus lived for nearly two whole months,
seeing him perhaps three or four times dur
ing the week, and when seen always hut for
a short tme,-haying still pressing business
always ON hand, viz. to sec John Surratt.
lie then relates how O'IaughlIn and him
self passed their time, and remarks that they
used the story about oil stock as a blind for
their companions and families
" During the latter part Of March while
standing on Rullman' porch, between ! and
- O'Clock T. NJ, a young man. name un-
known, as ! cannot remember names, called
Micheal O'laughlin aside, and said j. ".
Booth wished % see US both at CATERS soon.
On the avenue. | was then for the first time
introduced to HIM, but forgot his name. We
walked up together. Micheal O'Laughlin,
this unknown. and myself were ushered into
the presence Of J. Wilkes Booth. who intro
duced me to John Surntt. Atzerodt, making
in all seven persons.
~. Wilkes Booth hadlsent word to Micheal
O'Laughlin to bring me up in good humor,
still always in the dark. Then commenced
the plan for seizing the President. Each had
his part TO perform. First. was to rush
into the private box and seize the President,
whilst Atzerodt and J. Wilkes Booth were to
handcuff him and lower him on the stage
whilst MOsely was to catch him and hold him
till We got down. Surratt and the unknown
were to be on the other side of the Eastern
Branch bridge. to facilitate the escape. 1t
was afterwards changed to NIosely and Booth
to catch him in the box and To lower him to
me on the stage OIaughlin and the un-
known were to put out the lights, and Sur
raft and Atzerodt TO be on the other side Of
the bridge. was opposed to the whole pro-
ceeding, and said it could not be accomplish
ed. If even (Which was an impOssibility) we
could get him out of the box and over the
bridge, we would be stopped by the sentinel.
Shoot the sentinel, said Booth said
that would not do, for if an alarm was given
there the whole thing was up, and as for me
| want the shadow Of chance for escape and
success O'LaughlIn wanted to argue the
same way whereupon j. Wilkes Booth said
you find fault with everything concerned
about it. | said no, that wanted to hayea
chance, and intended to have it; that be
could be the leader of the party but not my
executioner. Whereupon Wilkes Booth re
marked in a stern, commanding and angry
voice - Do you know you are liable to be
shot? remember your oath" told him the
plan or basis had changed, and the compact
by one broken is broken by all If you feel
inclined to shoot me you have no further to
90. shall defend myself This, if | remem-
Der Alright, was on Friday or Thursday night
when said, Gentlemen, if this is not accom-
plished this week forever withdraw from
it"
1.-The groundwork was to kidnap the Presi-
dent without violence. He never, to me,
said that he would kill him. Farther than
/ this know nothing ,and am innocent Of hav-