The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-01-28
ASsassinatHOn Of President Lin
cOln---COnfesSio of two o.
the Prisoners.

ASSaSSEnataOn o. afeSsGSEas 1AAh-
cOln---COnfession of two Of
the Prisoners. -e
Now that the trial Of John Surratt for
participation in. the assassination of Mr..
Lincoln has been thrown out of Court
through the technicalities of the law, and
he is announced as preparing for the press
a narrative of the whole transaction 1t
may serve good purpose to give publicity
to the following statement of Samuel Is.
Arnold, one Of the prisoners at the Dry
Tortugas, made in Baltimore voluntarily,
four DAYS after the assassination. We al
so give the confession of Atzerodt, made
in his cell on the night before the execu-
ton Both of these confessions we 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 of Arnold was made in
the Office of Marshall McPhail on the 18th
Of April, 1865, Immediately on his being
brought to this city from Fortr ess Monroe.
He sat down at a desk and voluntarily
wrote it without any questioning.
ilC COillSSSlOlI VI AtACLOOG w ID IloCIC
in his cell, at Washington, on the night
before his execution. He asked for pa
per, and it is written with lead pencil,
the disconnected manner Of it indicating
the state Of mind Of the prisoner
CONFESSION OF SAMUEL L. ARNOLD, MADE
APRIL Is, 1865.
To Whom 1t Nay Concern:
Know that I, Samuel 3. Arnold, about
the latter part of August or first part Of
September, 1864, was sent fer by J. Wilkes
Booth, who was guest at Barnum's Ho-
tel in the city Of Baltimore, Md, to call
and see him. | had not seen the same J.
Wilkes Booth since 1852, when we both
were schoolmates at St. Timothy's Hall
President L. Van Bokelin then having
said Hall as place of tuition. His recep-
tion of ne was warm. Calling for wine and
cigars, we conyersed short time upon
our former sehool-boy days. We were in
terrupted by a knock at the door, when
Michael O'Laughlin was ushered in. Af-
ter formal introduction, we sat slipping
our wine, and all three smoked cigar
During smoking, he having heard pre-
viously Of my political feelings or senti-
mcnts, he spoke in glowing terms of the
Contcderacy and the number of surplus
prisoners in The hands of the United
States. Then ensuod the proposition by
j. Wilkes Booth, and which lie a. Wilkes
Booth) thought could be accomplished
viz: Of kidnapping President Lincoln, as
he frequently went unguarded out to the
Soldiers Home and he thought could be
picked up, carried off to Richmond, and
for lis exchange produce the exchange for
the President Of all the prisoners in the
Federal hands
He, j. Wilkes Booth, the originator Of
the scheme, asked if we would enter into
it. After painting the chances of success
in such glowing colors, we consented, viz ::
Michael O'Eaughlin and myself. We
were bound not to diyulge it to a living
soul. | saw him once more in Baltimore
and then he, o. Wilkes Booth) left to ar
range his business up North, first to New
York, thence to the Oil Regions, and from
there to Boston, and finally to Canada
He was to be back in a month / re-
ceivcd letter, which | destroyed, stating
that he was laid up with erysipelas in his
arm, and rs soon as he was able he
would DC with Us. Months rolled around
and he did not make his appearance until
some time in January. In his trunk he
had two guns, cap cartridges, which were
placed in the un-stocks-Spcncor rifles |
think they were called-ravUlvers, knives,
belts, cartridge-boxes, cartridges, caps,
canteens-all fully fixed for service
which were to be used in case Of pursuit,
and two pair of handouts 70 handcuf the
President. His trunk being so heavy, he
gave the pistols, knives and handouts to
Michael O'Laughlin and myself, to have
shipped or brought to Washington. He
then returned from Washington, to which
place he had gone, bought horse, har-
ness and buggy wagon, leaving the team,
etc, with US to drive on to Washington.
We started from Baltimore about twelve or
one O'Clock, after having shipped the box
containing the knives, handouts and pis-
tolls, arriving 10 Washington about seven
or half-past seven in the same evening
We met him on the street as we were pas
sing the theater. We alighted, took a
drink, and he told us of the theater plan
slightly, saying he would wait until we
put the horse away, and tell us more fully
He had previously, as | now remember,
spoken Of the chances at the theater if we
could not succeed III the other plan at the
Soldiers Home We went to the theater
that night, he g. Wilkes Booth) telling
us about the different back entrances, and
how feasible the plan was. He had rem
ted a stable in the rear of the theater,
having bought two horses down the coun-
try One was in the stable behind the
theater, the other at the livery. Met him
next day went together to breakfast with
him. He was always pressed with bust
ness with a man unknown to US then, by
the name of John Surratt most Of his