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

there ana XIII MN III IL Is so Oruered. -
Notwithstanding his contemplated crime
he had some good traits he was warm
ly attached to his mother, spoke tenderly
of her, and talked to Howard of pecun-
iary provision being made for her, if he
should sacrifice his life in the enterprise.
Webster had gone to Perrymansville,
and, securing the confidence of the Sc
cessionists there, had joined military
company which was drilling with view
of destroying the railroads, burning the
bridges, and the ferry-boat on the Sus-
quehanna.
The time for Mr.. Lincoln's passage
through Baltimore was asrapidly approach
ing, but the exact plan of operation by
the conspirators had not been agreed up
on. The popular feeling against him
had, through the press, and by haran-
CUES, and all the means by which the
public mind is operated upon, been in
famed and exasperated to the highest
pitch. Thousands Of the more ignorant
hadbeen wrought upon by the intelligent
until they were ready for any act of yio-
lence and atrocity. The leaders finally
fully determined that the assassination
should take place at the Calvert street
depot. A vast crowd of secessionists was
to assemble at that place and await the
arrival of the train with Mr.. Lincoln.-
They were to- go early and fill the narrow
streets and passages Immediately sur
rounding it. 1t was known among the
leaders that George p Kane, the Mar
shall of police, subsequently arrested by
General Banks, and afterward an officer
in the rebel army, would detail but a
small police force to attend the arrival
and nominally clear and protect a pas
sage for Mr.. Lincoln and his suite, and
that that small force would be sympa-
thizers with the secessionists. When the
train should enter the depot, and Mr..
Lincoln should attempt to pass through
the street, some roughs were to raise
row on the outside, and all the police
were to rush away to quell the disturb
ance. AT this moment, the police being
withdrawn, Mr.. Lincoln would find him
self in dense, excited, and hostile
crowd, hustled and jammed, and then
the fatal blow was to be struck. A swift
steamer was to be stationed in Chesa-
peake Bay, with a boat concealed, ready
to take the assassin on board as soon as
the deed was done, and convey him to a
southern port, where he would have been
received with acclamations and honored
as hero. But whoshould do the bloody
deed ? 1t was feared by some that Hill
lacked the nerve and coolness. To de-
termine this question, a meeting of the
conspirators was held on the night of
the 1Stn of February. Some twenty
persons were collected, each of whom
had taken an oath of secrecy, and also
sworn, if designated, that he would take
the life of the president elect. 1t was
arranged that ballots should be prepar-
ed and placed in hat, and that the per-
son who drew red ballot should be the
assassin. The drawing was made in a
darkened room, so that none could know
who drew the fatal ballot except he who
had it, and no one was to disclose to the
others the color Of the ballot he drew
And now the leaders, to make success
more certain, placed eight red ballots in,
the hat, and eight red ballots were drawn
each man drawing one believing that up
on his courage, strength, and skill alone
depended what he regarded as the cause
of the south, each supposing that he
alone was charged with the execution Of
the deed.
The weapons and the mode of death
were to be left to the person who drew
the red ballot.
, A knowledge of all these facts having
been obtained by Pinkerton, he on the
night of February goth, hastened to NEE
the presidential party at Philadelphia.
4 While these plots had been going on
} Mr.. Lincoln and his friends, unconsciou.
} of danger, were pursuing their journey
towards the capital. Vast crowds hat
: everywhere assembled to welcome ant
! congratulate him, and pledge to him theil
! support in the maintenance of the integ
: rity of the Republic, its constitution an,
. laws. At Philadelphia Mr.. Pinkertol
met the presidential party, and laid be
: fore Mr.. Judd, of Chicago, confden
: tial personal friend of Mr.. Lincoln, il
detail the facts in regard to the conspi
t racy Assassination was then crim'
s scarcely known in the United States, ant
: assassination for political reasons was al
= most incredible. 1t is sad commenta
b ry on the wickedness of the rebellion
4 that plot to assassinate prominen
e public man would to day be credited up