The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-08

gates opening towards the south, as tnougn tney
expected danger from within, and not from
without. At this meeting l explained the con-
stIuction of the gates, ETC., and stated that l
was confident the Government had wind of our
movement, and that the best thing we could do
would be to throw up the whole project Every
one seemed to coincide in my opinion, except
Booth, who sat silent and distracted. Arising
at last and bringing down his fist upon the table,
he said:-"Well, gentlemen, IL the worst comes
to the worst, shall
KNOW WHAT TO Do."
Some hard words and even threats then passed
between him and some of the party. -Four of
us then arose, one saying.-'1t understand
you to intimate anything more than the capture
of Mr.. Lincoln, l, for one will bid you good bye"
Every one expressed the same opinion. We all
arose and commenced putting our hats on Booth
perceiving, probably, that he had gone too far
asked pardon, saying that he had drank too
everything was amcably arranged and we
separated at o'clock in the morning. Days.
weeks, and months passed by without an oppor-
tunity presenting itself for to attempt the
capture. We seldom saw one another, owing to
the many rumors afloat that conspiracy of
some kind was being concocted in Washington
We had all arrangements perfected from Wash
ton for the purpose. Boats were in readiness
to carry us across the river. One day we re-
ceved information that the President would
visit the Seventh Street Hospital for the pur
pose of being present at an entertainment to be
given for the benefit of the wounded soldiers.
The report only reached us about three-quarters
of an hour before the time appointed, but SO
perfect was our communication that we were
instantly in our saddles on the way to the hos
pital. This was between l and o'clock in the
afternoon. 1t was our intention to
SEIZE THE CARRIAGE,
which was drawn by a splendid pair of horses,
aud to have one of our men mount the box and
drive direct fer southern Maryland via Ben
ning's Bridge. We felt confident that all the
cavalry in the city could never overhaul us.
We we're all mounted on swift horses, besides
having thorough knowledge of the country, it
being determined to abandon the carriage after
passing the city limits. Upon the
sUDDENNEss OF THE BLOW
and the celebrity of our movements we depended
for success. By the time the alarm could have
been given and horses saddled, we would have
been on our way through southern Maryland
towards the Potomac river. To our great dis
appointment, however, the President was not
there, but one of the Government officials-Mr
Chase, if mistake not We did not disturb
him, as we wanted a bigger chase Qaughter)
than he could have afforded us. 1t was certainly
a bitter disappointment, but yet L think most
fortunate one for us. 1t was our last attempt.
| We soon after this became convinced that we
| could not remain much longer undiscovered
and that we must abandon our enterprise.
| Accordingly q separation finally took place.
and never after saw any of the party except
| one and that was when was on my way from
! Richmond to Canada on business of quite diff
ferent nature-about which, presently. Such is
| the story of
OUR ABDUCTION PLOT.
| Rash, perhaps foolish, but honorable l main
| tain in its means and ends; actuated by such
motives as would under similar circumstances
| be acknowledgements to thousands of South
| ern young men to have embarked in similar
| enterprise. Shortly after our abandonment of
! the abduction scheme, some dispatches came to
me which l was compelled to see through to
Richmond. They were foreign ones, and had
no reference whatever to this affair. l accord
mol ly off for Riph md md iunA thara
safely on the Friday evening before the evacua-
| tion of that city. On my arrival l went to the
| Spotswood Hotel, where / was told that Mr..
Benjamin. the then Secretary of War of the
! Confederate States, wanted to see me. / accord
! ingly sought his presence. He asked nae if
| would carry some dispatches to Canada for him.
l replied "yes" That evening he gave me the
dispatches and 5000 in gold with whi ch to pay
| my way to Canada. That was the only money
/ ever received from the Confederate Govern
ment or any of its agents. 1t may be well to
remark here that this scheme of abduction was
concocted without the knowledge or the assist
ance of
| THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT
| in any shape or form. Booth and often con-
suited together as to whether it would not be
well to acquaint the authorities in Richmond
with our plan as we were sadly in want OF
money, our expenses being very heavy. In fact
| the question arose among us as to whether,
AFTER GETTING MR.. LINCOLN,
authorities would not surrender us to the United
States again. because of doing this thing with
| out their knowledge or consent. But we never
| acquainted them with the plan, and they never
had anything in the wide world to do with it,
In fact, we were jealous Of our undertaking aud
wanted no outside help. | have not made this
statement to defend the officers of the Confede-
rate Government. They are perfectly able tc
defend themselves. What have done myself
am not ashamed to let the world know. l LEFT
Richmond on Saturday morning before the
evacuation of that place, and reached Wash.
ington the following Monday, at o'clock
NJ, April g. 1865 AS soon as l reached the
tives knew of my trip South and were on the
lookout for me. IL had been South several time
before for
THE SECRET SERVICE
but had never been caught. At that time wa
carrying the dispatches Mr.. Benjamin gave me
in book entitled "The Life of John Brown.
During my trip, and while reading that book
learned, to my utter anazement, that
JOHN BROWN
was a martyr, sitting at the right hand of God
! (UprOarious laughter,) Isucceeded in reaching
Washington safely, and In passing up Seventh
street met one of our party, who inquired wha
had become of Booth l told him where hat
been; that was then on my way to Canada
and that had not seen or heard anything o
Booth since our separation. In view of the fac
that Richmond had fallen and that all hopes O
the abduction of the President had been givel
up, l advised him to go home and go to work
That was
THE LAST TIME
l saw any of the party. went to hotel an
stopped over that night, as a detective had bee
to my house inquiring of the servant nay where
abouts. In the early train next morning, Tues
day. April f. 1865 / left for New York and tha
.. L. I -,