Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-01-28

was to catch him and hold himtill
we got down. Surratt and the un-
known were to be on the other side
Of the Eastern Bridge to facilitate
escape 1t was afterward changed
to Moseby and Booth to catch him
ip tlie box and to lower him to me
on the stage 0'Laughlin aud the
unknown were to put the lights out,
and Sdrratt and Atzerot, alias Pert
Tobacco, to be on the other side
of tie bridge, ] was opposed 10
the whole proceeding, and said it
could not be accomplished. If fey-
er--whieh WAS an impossibility-we
could get Him out Of the boz, and
to the bridge, We would be stopped
by the sentinel. "Shoot the senti-
mel, y said Booth. i said that wo'd
mot do, for if an alarm was given
there the whole thing was up, and
as for me, l wanted the shadow Of
chance for escape and success. -
Michael O'Laughlin wanted to urge
the same way, whcrenpon J. Wilkes
Booth said: "You find fault with
everything concerned about it." ]
said no that I wanted to have a
chance, and l intended to have it;
that he could be the leader Of the
party, but not my exccutioner-
Whereupon J. Wilkes Booth re
marked in a stern, commanding
and angry voice; do you know
you are liable to be shot? Remcm-
ber your oath"
l told him the plan or basis had
changed, and compact on the part
Of one broken, is broken by all. If
You feel inclined to shoot me, you
have no farther to go; | shall de-
fend myself, This, if remember
Alright, was on Friday, or maybe
a Thursday night, when I said -
gentlemen, if this is not accom-
p,ished this week forever with
draw from it," / stayed up till
about Corr o'clock next morning,
Friday or Saturday, and then went
to bed / remained indoors until
II, 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, jim a measure, together
N1Snt tS-ped mat evening aboat
N 80 O'clock This day that I went
TO bed so early, we met about 2 or
thereabouts told mel spoke angri-
ly the night Of meeting; said | had
been drinking, | told him no |
was in my sober senses, and meant
every word ] said; if not accom-
Iplished this week | withdraw. Next
day the thing was to be accomplish
ed on the Seventh street road and
failed. On Sunday l stayed in
Washington, and on Monday or
Tuesday l returned to the city of
Baltimore, and thence to Hooks
town. John Wilkes Booth in the
meantime went to New York, and
returned to Baltimore during the
week-on Saturday, | think. He
said he wished to see me on very
urgent business, and my father sent
for me. / came from the country,
and he had gone to Washington,
4 whereupon wrote him the letter
which was found in his trunk The
IRichmond authorities, so far as
know, knew nothing of the conspir-
acy. The letter was written after
my return to the country, after
! finding he could not wait to see me
iu Baltimore. During the week |
came to the city and met Michael
O'Laughlin, who asked me to 60
/ to Washington with him to finally
arrange his affairs. / went in the
morning-Friday, | think-and re
turned same evening home, having
cut loose forever from it. Next
day l received letter from j. w.
Wharton, at Fortress Monroe, civ
ing me employment. Went to the
country, got my clothing, and on
Saturday, the 1st day of April, left
Baltimore for Fortress Monroe, at
which place 1 have remained, never
corresponding with Booth or seeing
him from the above named date to
the present writing. The ground
work was to kidnap the President
without violence. He never to me
said that he would kill him. Fur
ther than this I know nothing, ano
am innocent Of having taken any
active part in the dark deed com
mitted. SAMUEL B, ARNOLD,
The plan of escape was to place
Mr.. Lincoln in the buggy purchas-
ed for that purpose, and eros;