Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-23

Surratt and Atzerodt, alias Port Tobac'
co, to be on the other side of the bridge
l was opposed to the whole proceeding
and said it could not be accomplished
If ever, which was an impOssibility, we
could get him out of the box and to the
bridge, we would be stopped by the
sentinel. Shoot the sentinel" said
Booth. | said that would not do, for il
an alarm was given there, the whole
thing was up, and, as for me, | wanted
the shadow of chance for escape and
success. Michael 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 have chance, and
intended to have it that he could be
the leader of the party, but not my exc
cutioner. Whereupon, j. Wilkes Booth
remarked, in a stern, commanding and
angry voice "Do you know you are
liable to be shot ? Remember your
oath" l told him the plan or basis had
changed, and the compact on the part OF
one broken is broken by all. Ifyou feel
inclined to shoot me, you have no further
to go. l shall defend myself. This, if l
remember Alright, was on Friday, or
may be a Thursday night, when | said,
Gentlemen, if this is not accomplished
this week | forever withdraw from it."
l stayed up till about six or seven
O'Clock next morning, Friday or Saturday,
and then went to bed. remained in
doors until twelve O'Clock, when l arose
and went to get my breakfast. Michael
O'Laughlin and myself roomed together,
both arose at the same time, and were
always, in a measure, together. Went
to bed that evening about seven and a
half o'clock This day that l went to
bed so early we met about two of there>
abOuts told me Ispoke angrily the night
Of meeting said | had been drinking.
| told him no was in my sober senses,
and meant every word | said if not &C
cOmplished this week withdraw. Next
day the thing was to be accomplished on
the Seventh street road and failed. On
Sunday | stayed in Washington, and on
Monday or Tuesday returned to the city
of Baltimore and thence TO Hookstown. j.
Wilkes Booth, in the meantime, went to
New York, and returned to Baltimore
during the week, on Saturday, l think.
He said he wished to see me on very ur-
gent business, and my father sent for me.
| came from the country, and he had
gone to Washington, whereupon | wrote
him the letter which was found in his
trunk The Richmond authorities, as
far as | know, knew nothing of the con-
spiracy. The letter was written after my
return to the country, after finding he
could not wait TO see me in Baltimore.
During the week | came to the city and
met Michael O'Laughlin, who asked me
to go to Washington with him to finally
arrange his affairs. / went in the morn"
ing-Frsday, / think-aad returped, the
same evening, home, having cut loose for
ever from it. Next day l received let
ter from j. w. Wharton, at Fortress
Monroe, giving me employment. Went
to the country, got my clothing, and, on
Saturday, the lst day of April, left Balti-
more for Fortress Monroe at which place
| have remained, never corresponding
with Booth or seeing him, from the above
named date to the present writing. The
groundwork was to kidnap the President
without violence. he never, to me, said
that he would kill him. Further than
this know nothing, and am innocent OF
having taken any active part in the dark
deed committed.
SAMUEL B. ARNOLD.
THE PLAN OF ESCAPE
Was to place Mr.. Lincoln in the buggy
purchased for that purpose, and cross
Eastern Branch Bridge. Surratt and
Atzerodt alias Port Tobacco, were to
follow them to where he had boat cons
cealed, turn the horse loose, place the
President in the boat, and cross the
Potomac to the Virginia shore, and thence
to make our way to Richmond. Surratt
knew the route, and was to act as pilot.
SAMUEL B. ARNOLD.
A box painted black, like unto sword
box, was sent by Booth from the hotel
by the porter there to our room. The
next day it was transferred in wagon,
O'Laughlin acting pilot, to some place
was not present. After giving the box
to the driver, went to Georgetown, and
O'Laughlin had the full charge Of it. M
O'Laughlin said he took it to Mr.. Heard's
and from thence the unknown carried il
home Took the guns out and carried
them to Pedee. This latter clause Booth
told me. SAMUEL B. ARNOLD.
Witness: V. Randall, L. G. Horner.
Baltimore, April Is, 1865.
NoTE.-Besides this written statement
of Arnold's, he verbally communicated
the fact that Booth was the correspondent
of Drs. Mudd, Garland and Queen. Thi!
fact was told tie Secretary when pre-
scented him ArnOld's statement.
j. L. MCPHAM.
/ CONFESSION OF ATZERoDT RELATIVE tt
THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LIN
COLIN.
| had not seen John Surratt for abou
eight days before the murder. Boott
told me a few days before the murder
that he was in Washington. Kate Thomp
son, alias Brown, came from Richmond
with John Surratt about the time that
Richmond fell. He had come previously
with GustaVus Howell, nOw|1n the OLD
Capitol Prison. Kate Thompson stopped
at Mrs. Surratt's, and also at the Nationa
| ard Rinnel Hotels. This woman wa:
about twenty-one years OF age, spruce
and neat, medium size, black eyes, anC
fair complexion. She had a sister il
New York, who, it was said, was {
| widow. Surratt was made known to bel
in New York by signal conveyed by I
small switch with waxed end and {
piece of red ribbon on the butt, handled
horizontally through the fingers. Thi:
sign was given on a hotel pavement OF
Broadway. He went with her South
and hired a horse at Towards stable:
for the purpose.
Harold came to the kirkwoOd HOUSE
| and left the knife, pistol and coat, on thu
evening of the murder, about half-pas
| 6 O'Clock, as | was about leaving, l hav
| ing told the clerk to tell whoever nigh
call that was gone out. This was be
! fore Harold came in. Harold and l theI
went to the Herndon House, Mrs. Muir
| ray's. corner of Ninth and F streets.
was then about 8 O'Clock, and saw Booth
Wood and Payne in Woods room. Her
| the proposed murder was first mentioned
refused to take part in it, when Boot
| said, Then we will do it, but what vii
become of you; you had better com
along and get your horse" then LEI
them and went to the Oyster Bay on tn
avenue, and stayed some time then t
the stable and got my horse and went u
d street. This was about 10 O'Clock,
called at the Rinnel House and got
drink. l saw none of the party after W
separated about O'Clock that evening
II then went out C. street
| .o.-o,1 tha Roltimnpa danot