Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-02-03
The Assassination of President Lincoln.

who IS finally free, was almost equally
I guilty with Booth. For instance
Arnold says, speaking of Booth:
/ I'VE thus lived for nearly two
months, seeing him perhaps three or
/ four times during the week, and,
when seen, always but tur a short
time, having still pressing business
always on hand, viz, to see John
/ Surratt."
| Again:
during the latter part of March,
/ whilst standing on Rullman's porch,
I between II and l. O'Clock p. NJ, a
/ young man-name unknOwn-as
/ can not remember names-abOut five
/ feet five or six inches high, thickset,
/ long nose, sharp chin, wide cheeks,
small eyes (gray, think, dark hair,
and well dressed-cOlOr L don't re-
member-called Michael OLaughlin
aside, and said J. Wilkes Booth
wished to see us both at GOteir's sa-
/ loon, on ntheavenue. / was then, for the
first time introduced to him, but
forgot his name. We walked up to-
gether. Michael O'Laughlin, this
unknown and myself were ushered
into the presence of J. Wilkes Booth,
who introduced me to John Surratt,
AtZerodt, alias Port Tobacco -,
alias MOseby, making in all seven
persons. j. Wilkes Booth had sent
word to Michael O'Laughlin to bring
me up in n good humOr (still always
in the dark. Then commenced the
plan for seizing the President. Each
had his part TO perform. First, / was
to rush into the private box and seize
I the President, while AtZerOdt, alias
f 1Tnh
were to hand-euff him and lower him
on the stage. -MOseby was
to catch him and hold him till we got
down. Surratt and the unknown
were to be on the other side of the
Eastern Branch bridge to facilitate
escape. 1t was afterward changed to
MSseby and Booth to catch him in
the box and to lower him to me on
the stage. O'Laughlin and the un-
known were to put the lights out,
and Surratt and AtZerOdt, alias Port
( Tobacco, to be on the other side of the
bridge"
CONFESSION OF ATZERODT.
''I had not seen John Surratt for
about eight days before the murder.
Booth told me a few days before the
murder that he was in Washington.
Kate Thompson alias Brown, came
from Richmond with John SuTratt
about the time that Richmond fell.
He had come previously with Gus
tavus Howell, now in the Old Capitol
Prison, Kate Thompson stopped at
Mrs. SurTatt's and also at the National
and Rinnel Hotels. This woman was
about ewenty-One years of age, spruce
and neat, medium size, black eyes
and fair complexion. She had a sis
ter in New York, who, ii was said,
was q widow. Surratt was made
known to her in New York, by a
/ signal conveyed by a small switch
with a waXed end, and piece of red
ribbon on the butt, handled horizon
/ tally through the fingers. The sign
was given on a hotel pavement on
/ Broadway. He went with her South,
and hired a horse at HOward's
/ stables for the purpose.
| Previous to the arrangement for the
murder, Booth heard that the PTesi-
[ dent was to visit camp. The coach
was to be taken out Seventh street.
1 Surratt was to jump on the box, as he
was the best driver, and drive through
| Old Fields to the Long Bridge. This
was about the middle of March.
/ O'Laughlin, Samuel Arnold, Payne,
/ Surratt, Booth, AtzerOdt and Har-
old went to the Long Bridge with
/ two carbines, and were to wait for us.
They did so until midnight, and re-
7 turned 10 washington next morning.
! This failed. All was quiet then for
some time. Booth went to New
York, Arnold to Baltimore, O'Laugh-
/ lin also, and Payne left for New
York. After this Howell brought
woman across the Potomac. Howell
was made prisoner, and Surratt took
/ her North, about a week before the
murder. Booth told me that Surratt
was in the HerndOn House; on the
night of the murder, the 14th of
April, we were not all together at the
Herndon House. Booth told me that
Surratt was to help at the box; that
he expected others in the box. Booth
went from the HerndOn down Ninth
street. The words of Booth were, 81
saw Surratt few moments ago" All
the parties appeared to be engaged at
something, and were not together.
Booth appointed me and Harold to
kill Johnson; in going down the
street 1 told Booth we could not do
it. Booth said Harold had more
courage and he would do Oit. Harold /
and | were on Pennsylvania avenue :
together. | told him | would not do
it, and should not go to my room for
fear he would disturb Mr.. Johnson. {
He left me to go for Booth. This was
after O'Clock. / went to the Oyster
Bay, and Harold came in and said I
Booth wanted to see me; he left me Z
here. / promised to get my horse |
and come Twas not at the KirkwOOd I
House after two o'clock. l have no !
recollection of being there after that. I
/ had nothing to say at any of the 1
meetings. One of the attempts was
at the theatre; the gas was to be put .
out, &c. No discussion was had about .
failure. and what to do in that case. /
The coil of rope at LlOyd's was to I
stretch across the road to trip the
cavalry. I knew nothing about
Spangler's rope; I believe him innO- .
cent. Booth told me an actor was to
be the best assistant in the theatre to
turn of the gas. Arnold and
O'Laughlin were to grab the Presi-
dent and take him Off; and Booth .
said, when applied to for money, he .
would 90 to New York and get some, .
as he had it there. Mrs. Surratt, Mrs. .
Slater, Mai. BanOn and John SurTatt I
left Washington together; got horses
at Howard's. Mrs. :. stopped at
Surrattsville. John Surratt and Mrs. I
Slater crossed, and BanOn and Mrs F.
Surratt came back. BanOn was in
the rebel army. / don't think BanOn /
knew anything about the conspiracy. 2
| sold horse for Booth, and thought
the affair was about over. The muir
der was brOached first on the l4th, at
night, when Harold came for me. 1
did hear Booth say Lincoln ought to .
be killed. y widow woman was
living near Mr.. Stewards, and Booth
said BY her influence he could get
entrance TO Seward's house, through
her influence with the chambermaid
and house servant. The girl at the
house was good looking and knew
the widow. HaTbOrn was into 1t
first he came to Port Tobacco for me
with John Surratt during the winter.
The boat was at the head of Goose Z
creek and TO moved NanjemOy creek. .
II was a lead cOlOred, flat bottom boat,
and will carry fifteen men. This
boat was bought OF James Brawner, 4
the old man. Mrs. Slater went with .
Booth a good deal. She stopped at .
the National HOtel.n
OF all the joys vouehsafed to man in .
= -. .H