Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-05-21
spirators that a v.s. u,oh villa ..v.

spiratos; that vast mob, wild, savage
and blood-thirsty, was organized and
ready to act their part, the character of
which was not long after fully disclosed
by the attack upon and murder of the
Massachusetts soldiers ON their march to
Washington yet, knowing all this,
Pinkerton feared he should have Difficult.
ty in inducing Mr.. Lincoln to adopt
measures to secure his safety. The pres
ident elect was an unsuspecting man.
After laying the matter in all its de-
tails before Judd, and satisfying him Of
the existence Of the plot, and of the ex-
treme peril Mr.. Lincoln would incur by
attempting to pass through Baltimore
according to the programme, Pinkerton
and Judd had an interview with the
president elect, and laid the matter be-
fore him. On the night of the 21st of
February, after the interview, Mr.. Pink
erton made this entry in his journal
"While Mr.. Judd detailed the circum-
stances os the conspiracy, Mr.. Lincoln
listened very attentivsly, but did not say
a word, nor did his countenance, which
closely watched, show. any emotion
He was thoughtful, serious, but decided
ly firm"
Pinkerton then, himself, went over the
ground, detailing to Mr.. Eincoln all the
facts connected with Fernandina, Hill
and Others, the condition of popular feel
ing, and the plans of the assassins also
the fact that Kane, chief of police, had
declared that he would give him no
I" Police escort" He told him there were
perhaps ten or fifteen desperadoes-wild,
enthusiastic young men--who had been
wrought up to q pitch of fanaticism, in
which they really believed they would
be patriots and martyrs in taking his
life, even at the cost Of their own that
they had bound themselves by oaths to
assassinate him /; that vast excited
crowd would meet him at the depot of
the Northern Central railroad, a fight
would be got up in the crowd, and this
would be the signal for the attack on his
person, and in the melee dozen despe-
rate men, armed with revolvers and
dirks, each sworn to take his life, would
be upon his path, and that he, Mr.. Pink
erton, felt moral conviction that he
could not pass from the Calvert street
depot TO the Washington depot, a mile
and halt. in an open carriage, alive
Both Judd and Pinkerton pressed these
and other corroborating facts upon him
with all the power which they possessed.
He remained silent few moments, and
it was suggested that he should change
the programme, and take the night train
for Washington that very night. Mr..
Judd said to him : These proofs can.
not be now made public, as the espublica-
ton of the facts would involve the lives
Of several of Mr.. Pinkerton's force, and,
among others, the life of Webster, serv-
ing in q rebel company under drill, at
Perrymanss in Maryland" Some other
conversation was held between him and
Mr.. Judd, in regard to the construction
which would be placed upon his conduct
if he changed the programme and went
directly to Washington. Mr.. Judd then
asked, /" Will you, upon any statement
which can be made, consent to leave for
Washington on to-night's train p Mr..
Lincoln promptly replied, No, / can.
not consent to do this. shall hoist the
flag on Independence Hall tomorrow
morning (Washington's birthday, and
go to Harrisburg tomorrow, and meet
the legislature of Pennsylvania then I
shall have fulfilled all my engagements.
After this, if you (Judd), and you Allan
| (Pinkerton), think there is positive dam
ger in my attempting togo through Balti-
more openly, according to the published
| programme-if you can arrange any
way to carry out your purposes, will
place myself in your hands," :" Mr..
Lincoln" says Pinkerton, "said this
with tone and manner SO decisive, we
saw that no more was to be said"
1t was finally arranged between Judd,
Pinkerton, and the officers of the Penn.
sylvania railroad that special train
should leave Harrisburg at P. NJ. the
next evening, and bring Mr.. Lincoln to
Philadelphia in time to take the II
o'clock train going through Baltimore to
Washington, on the 22d. This train
was to be detained until Mr. Lincoln ar
rived every contingency, in regard to
the connection of the trains and possible
delays, was most skillfully planned, SO
as to secure connections and the certain
ty Of going through on time.
Meanwhile, to prevent this change be.
ing telegraphed to Baltimore by con.
federate, or information of this change