The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-08


and then, before answering me, arsse and looked
under the bed Into e IN me ssys ~
close t. me- s and ii whisper. said:-"it is to
ana carry him az e pr
dent Lincoln p 1 said. / confess that stood
agnast ct the proposition and looked upon 1t AZ .
selling Mr. Lincoln in the capitalof the United states
surrounded by thousands OF his soldiers and carry
idea told him as much. He went on to tel with
what facility he could 90 seized In various places IN
aHs % sm SS MS
residence He entered int the minute details OF
THE PROPOSED CAPTURE,
actors in the performances. was amazed, thunder
struck, and IN fact might also SAY, frigntenea ~
days rejection told him was -a
believed praa;caeis At tina, oa sIms though na
dert sSM regard hope you a. WIN ''0 not blame
me for going thus far. Il honestly though.
could we have once obtained possession OF Mr.. Lin
coins person. And now reverse the case. Where
OF patriotism in his heart, who would not have
with enthusiastic ardor, Joined In any under.
ena ST 70 on Tss Is o
who would not have done so, and 80 was led on by
a sincere desire 10 assist the South In gaining her
Independence. had no hesitation IN taking part
in anything honorable that might tend toward the
accomplishment OF that object. tApplausel Such
u
heard spoken OF by any Of the party-neyer. tsen-
sation1. %fA
WHAT WAS HEARD AND WHAT WAS DONE AT A
MEETING or THE C0NSPiRAT0RS.
Upon one occasion remember we had called
meeting Washington for the purpose Of discussing
matters In gene al, ~ we had understood that the
government had received information that there
was plot or some kind on hand They had even
Sa a%
though they expected danger from within, and not
from without. Al this meeting explained the con.
,OtlA Ln off fadf n
fdent that the government had wind OF our move
ment and that the best thing we could do would be
70 coincide In my opinion except Booth, who sat
silent aud distracted. Arising at last and bringing
down his fist upon the table. he said oven, gentle
then passed between him and some Qf the party
rSHs q yo u sS aS Sne aH n more sasn
the capture of Mr.. Lincoln / for one Will
pig @ sv sa a.n sa@ os
our hats. Booth perceivlng, probably that ne had
gene too far asked pardon, saying that ne had
everything was amIcably arranged and we sepa.
rated at i've O'Clock In the morning
THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT ABDUCTION AND HOW DE-
Days, weeks and months passed by without an op.
portlny presenting itself for us to attempt the capJ
ture. We seldom saw one another, owing TO the
many rumors afoat that conspiracy OF some kind
was being concocted In Washington. We had all
arrangements effected from Washington for the pur-
pose. Boats were In readiness 10 carry us across
inc river. One day we received information that the
President would visit the Seventh Street Hospital
for the purpose of being present at an entertain.
ment TO be given for the benefit OF The wounded sol
diers. The report only reached us about three
but SO perfect was our communication tnat we
were Instantly y our s saddles on n tn na way
O'Clock In the afternoon. 1t was our intention 10
seize the carriage, which was drawn by splendid
The box and drive direct for southern Maryland Via
Bennings bridge. We felt confident that all
the cavalry n the city could never over
swift horses besides having a thorough knowledge
or the countryit being determined 10 abandon the
suddenness Of the blow and celebrity OF our move
ments we depended for success. BY the time the |
alarm could nave been given and horses saddled we
would have been on our way through Southern |
Maryland towards The Potomac river. To our great |
disappointment, however the President was not |
II l mistake not We did not disturb him, as we
want bigger ELECTROMAGNETIC a,,, he could
pointment, but yet THINK, most fortunate one
for us II was our last attempt.
THE PLOT ABANDONED.
We soon after this became convinced that we
could not remain much longer undiscovered land
that we must abandon our enterprise Accordingly
ssW ANN G ons
and that was when | was on my way
ferent nature, about which will speak presently.
such is the story OF our abduction pot-rash, per-
haps foolish but honorable maintala In its means
and ends and actuated by such motives as would,
under similar circumstances be sufflcent induce
ment for thousands OF Southern young men to have
embarked In similar enterprise.
AN INTERVIEW WITH MIR. BENJAMIN.
Shortly after our abandonment OF the abduction
scheme some dispatches came to me which was
foreign ones and had no reference whatever
10 This AFFAIR ! accordingly ). left home
on the Friday. evening before tine evacua.-
ton OF that city. On my. arrival went
Benjamin, the then Secretary of War OF the Con-
federate states. wanted to see me. accordingly
sought his presence; a s, s ss II would carry
That evening he gave me The dispatches and 5000
in gold, with which to pay my expenses 10 Canada.
That was the only money ever received from the
Confederate government or any Of its agents.
TIE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT POSSESSED NO
KSpWLEDGE OF THE PIoT,
abduction was concocted without the knowledge or
the assistance OF the Confederate government In any
shape or form. Booth ana often consulted together
as to whether 1t would not be well TO acquaint the
authorities In Richmond with our plan, us we were
sadly want Of money our expenses being very
whether, after getting Mr. Lincoln, * we succeeded
IN our plan the Confederate authorities would not
our doing this thing without their knowledge or
consent: but we never acquainted them with
in the wide world to do with it In TACT we were
jealous OF our undertaking and wanted no outside
hep, have rot made this statement statement
defend themselves What have done
myself | am not ashamed to let the
would know. left Richmond on Saturday morn
ing before the evacuation OF that place and reached
Washington the following Monday, at four O'Clock
p NJ, April 3, 1855.
WORTHLESS DETECTIVES
As soon as reached the Maryland shore under
stood that the detectives knew OF my trip South ana
were on the lookout for me. / had been South
several times before for the secret service but had
never been caught. At that time was carrying
the dispatches Mr. BENJAMIN gave me in book
entitled "rhe Lie of John Brown During my
trip, and while reading that book, learned.
10 my utter amazement that John Brown was
martyr sitting at the right hand of God.
(Laughterl ! succeeded IN reaching Washing
ton safely, and In passing up Seventh street
met one OF our party, who inquired what had be-
come or Booth / tod him where had been; that
| was then on my way TO Canada, and That had not
seen or heard anything OF Booth since our separa-
tlon In view OF The fact that Richmond had fallen
and that all hopes OF the abduction Of the President
had been given up. advised him 10 go home and 60
10 work. That was the last time i saw ans OF the
party.